The progress., 1904-09-03

TWO AND A
THUNDERSTORM
M ISIS EUNICE hailed the coming Of
W the launch with joy. AS soon as
BY ALAN cRARY


Ivl the launch with Joy. AS soon as
the concourse of smitten youths should
complete their last last farewells to
Gladys she would sternly marshal that
popular damsel to the end Of the wharf
and get safely into the boat and SO
to the point and the Chicago train.
In prospect Of the approaching mo
ment of relief from the thankless of.
fee of chaperon Miss Eunice sighed
with anticipative content and sat down
on a pile of suit cases to wait.
The launch footed impatiently
takers as a tall man. with iron gray
hair and handsome. sunburned face
suddenly climbed over the side OF
the wharf into their midst. He ex.
changed a few words with Gladys
and then turned to find Miss Eunice,
who, for some reason, was looking un.
easily away, with deep color food.
ing her thin little face.
Miss Brown" he said. in what she
considered a tone Of respectful but
bored politeness.s may have the
pleasure of. rowing you and Miss
Gladys over to the train? We have
plenty Of time and the luggage can
60 on the tug"
Miss Eunice bit her lip angrily; re.
bellious tears we're very near her eyes.
Il wish could let her go alone with
you," she said, "but on account of a
promise to her mother I must perse-
cute the poor child to the bitter end.
Will 1t not be too much trouble to row
me back again?"
ut will be an added pleasure, | as
sure you," he answered, perfunctorily.
All the way over in the boat he and
Gladys kept up steady flow OF frivo-
lous conversation. Yes, she would mail
him the kodak picture of herself
that would just fit his watch and he
would not forget that he was going to
send her the funny little pipe he had
smoked all summer-just in memory
Of their good times, you know! And
they both laughed gaily and Miss
Eunice looked out over the water and
tried not to listen. Down at the bot
tom of her little starved heart some
thing or other was making a very
uncomfortable disturbance.
They stood on the platform and
waved to the bright figure on the train
until a sudden curve in the track
hid 1t from view. then they walked
silently back to the loat.
Miss Eunice ignored the strong,
brown hand extended to help her, and
made her. way alone to her seat in
the stern. She turned upon her com.
panion q calm and expressionless face
and kept her eyes upon the sparkling
water beyond him. For what seemed
to the man an endless period Of time
the dip Of the oars was the only sound
to be heard.
II think I'll try to go back between
the islands. It's shorter" he said.
Miss Eunice felt the sting of the
last two words, but made no answer.
Oh, II she could only get home. Back
in her little. hot room at the hotel
she would cry her heart out and once
and for all and go home to the city on
the next train. Her poor, little, color
less, middle-aged presence should
never infiict itself upon him again.
They had reached the islands now.
Nothing more than a few small hill
locks Of sand and gravel surmounted by
scraggy bushes. The water had grown
very still and the air was heavy.
There's q bad thunderstorm coming
up," he said. pointing to the west, but
think l can make one of the small
wharves up the shore, where we can get
under sheltet. I'm sorry to keep you out
30 long"
Miss Eunice turned pale, for she had
q deadly terror of lightning, but she an
swered indifferently: DO just as you
think best" and gave the rudder rope
sharp jerk to guide the boat into deeper
water, for in watching the gathering
storm neither of them had noticed that
the way between the islands had become
very shallow.
The boat turned obediently, but In her
haste Miss Eunice had pulled the wrong
rope. The keel grated loudly On the bot
tom and the boat stopped.
II beg your pardon" said Miss Eunice.
coldly. Il should have been steering
properly"
He did not answer. but stood up and
tfed to push Oh with an oar. The boat
lid not move He tried again, but the
second effort was equally futile. There
vas an ominous rumble Of thunder and
great drops ofrain began to splash in the
water.
He laid down the oar and looked from
Eunice with the drops sliaening on her
smooth hair. to the shore. come ten fest
distant =