Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-06-18

ner cloak closely about her and re- sumed the neglected conversation.
 Won't you please stop looking at me in that manner, and won't you please row harder, or is your strength all centered in your gaze?'
 T am rowing as fast as I can, Miss Wilton, especially with this"-
 "Oh. forgot your wounded shoul- 1 der! Does it hurt? Does it pain you? I am so sorry. Let me row" Thank you, no. think can man. age 1t myself. The only pain I have is when you are unkind to me-" At that moment, to his great annoy ance, his oar stuck fast in the oarlock, and be straightway did that very un- sailorly thing known as catching crab.
 | Katharine Wilton laughed. There was music in her voice, but this time 1t l did not awaken responsive chord in the young man. Extricating his oar 1 violently, he silently resumed his work ''Do you like crabs, MT. SeymourY P ! she said, with apparent irrelevance. ''I don't like catching them, Miss Will l ton,' he admitted ruefully. "Oh, I mean eating theml We were l talking about your appetite, were we not? We'll, Dinah devils them de- l Iiciously. I'll have some done for you" she continued, with suspicious l innocence.
 Seymour groaned in spirit at her l perversity, and for the first time in his l life felt an intense sympathy with deviled crabs, but he continued his la
 bor in silence and with great dignity
 What am I to infer from your si- ! lence on this important subject, sir? l The subject of edibles, which every
 body says is of the first importance
 to men-does not appear to interest l you at all"
 He made no further reply. The young girl gazed at his pale I face at first in much amusement, but
 the laughter gradually died away, and l finally her glance fell to the water by
 her side A few strong strokes, strong
 enough, in spite of wounded shoul- l der, to indicate wrathful purpose and sudden determination to the astute
 maiden, and the little boat swung in l beside the wharf. Throwing the oars inboard with easy skill, Seymour sat l motionless while the boat glided swift l ly down toward the landing steps, and l the silence was broken only by the
 soft, delicious lip, lip, lip of the wa 1 ter, which seemed to cling to and ca l ress the bow of the skiff until 1t final
 ly came to rest The man waited un-
 til the girl looked up at him. She saw l in his resoIute mien the outward and l visible sign of his inward determina-
 ton, and she realized that the game
 so bravely and piquantly played since l she met him was lost They had near
 ly arrived at the foregone conclusion.
 ''Well, MT. Seymour" she said final l ly, i've are here at last. For what are 1 you waiting :"
 l Waiting for you.''
 "For me?''
 "Aye, only for your'
 'T-I-do not understand you" 'You understand nothing apparent | Iy, but I will explain" He stepped
 out on the landing stage, and after taking turn or two with the painter
 to secure the boat he turned toward
 his captive with a ceremonious bow.
 Permit me to help you ashore"
 "Oh, thank you, Lieutenant Seymour. l If only could in this little boat
 would courtesy in return for that eff 1 fort,o she answered, with tremulous
 and transparent bravery. But when
 the little palm met his own brown one
 it seemed to steal away some Of the bitterness of the moment After he
 had assisted her upon the shore and
 up the steps,int the boathouse he held 1 her hand tight within his own. and