Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-05-17

nest and the other jests it Is well nigl
impossible: so to these remarks Lieu
tenant Seymour made no further an
swer save vciously to ply the oars ant
drive the boat rapidly toward the land
ing.
Miss Katharine gazed vacantly abOu
the familiar river upon whose bank!
she had been born and bred. and finally
noticing the sun had gone down, clos
ing the short day, she once more drew
her cloak closely about her and re
sumed the neglected conversation.
won't you please stop looking a
me in that manner, and won't yor
please row harder, or is your strength
| all centered in your gaze?
Il am rowing as fast as can, Miss
Wilton. especially with this
"Oh. forgot your wounded shoul
der, Does it hurt? Does it pain you
am so sorry. Let Inc row."
Thank you, no. think l can man
I, age it myself The only pain have Is
when you are unkind to me-"
| At that moment, to his great annoy
ance, his oar stuck fast in the oarlOck
and he straightway did that very un
sailory thing known as catching O
crab.
Katharine Wilton laughed. There
was music in her voice, but this time 1,
did not awaken a responsive chord IL
the young man. EXtricating his oal
violently, he silently resumed his work
do you like crabs, Mr.. Seymour?
she said, with apparent irrelevance.
Il don't like catching them, Miss VIII
ton" he admitted ruefully.
"Oh. mean eating them! We were
talking about your appetite, were we
not? Well, Dinah devils them de-
liciously. I'll have some doEe fol
YOU" she continued, with suspicious
| innocence.
Seymour groaned in spirit at her
perversity, and for the first time in his
| life felt an intense sympathy with
deviled crabs but he continued his Ia
Dor in silence and with great dignity.
What am to infer from your 81
lence on this important subject, sir!
The subject of edibles, which every.
body says is of the first Importance
| to men-does not appear to interest
You ut al"
He made no further reply.
The young girl gaZed at his pale
In,
the laughter gradually died away, and
finally her glance fell to the water by
her side. 4 few strong strokes, strong
enough. in spite Of wounded shoul,
der, to indicate wrathful purpose and
sudden determination to the astute
! maiden, and the little boat swung In
beside the wharf. Throwing the oars
inboard with easy skill, Seymour sat
motionless while the boat glided swift
ly down toward the landing steps, and
the silence was broken only by the
soft. delicious lip. lip, lip of the wa
ter, which seemed to cling to and ca
ress the bow Of the skiff until it final,
ly came to rest. The man waited un.
til the girl looked up at him. She saw
i'm his resolute mien the outward and
visible sign of his inward determine,
ton. and she realized that the game
so bravely and piquantly played since
she met hiIa was lost. They had near.
ly arrived at the foregone conclusion.
"Well, Nj. Seymour" she said final,
ly. I'VE are here at last. For what are
you waitin,;?
waiting for YOU"
"For me?"
"Aye. only for you"
"I-I-do not understand you"
"You understand nothing apparent.
ly, but will explain" He stepped
out on the landing stage, and after
taking a 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"
ooh, thank you. Lieutenant Seymour
II I only could in this little boat
would courtesy in return for that ef.
fort" she answered. with tremulous
and transparent bravery. But when
the little palm met his own brown one
1t seemed to steal away some OF the
bitterness Of the moment. After he
had assisted her upon the shore and
up the steps into the boathouse he held
her hand tight within his own, and
with that promptitude which charac-
terized him he made the plunge.
"Oh, Miss Wilton-Katharine-it is
true l have known you only u little
while, but all that time-ever since l
saw you, in fact, and even before,
when your father showed me your pic
ture-I have loySd you. Nay, hear me
out" There was an unusual sternness
in his voice. My lord appeared to be In
the imperative mood, something 10
which she had not been accustomed.
He meant to b. heard. and with beat
ing heart pcrforce she listened. "Qulet
that spirit of mockery but moment
and attend my words. pray you. No.
| will not release you until have spo-
ken. These are trOublous times. !
may leave at any mOment-must leave
when INV orders come, and l expect
them every day and before 60 !
must tell you this"
Her downcast eyes could still see
him blush and then pale little under
the sunburn and wind burn Of his face
as he went OH speaking.
81 have no one. Never had a sister
I can remember no mother. Believe
me, I entreat you, when tell you that
to no woman have ever said what
have just said to you. We sailors
think and speak and act quickly-it is
part of orr profession-but If
should wait for years I should think
no differently and act in no other way
I love you! Oh, Katharine. love you
as my soul"
There was a note of passion In his
voice which thrilled her heart with
ecstasy; the others had not made love
| this way. =
"You seem to me like that star
| have often watched In the long hours
| of the night, which has shown me The
way OH many trackless sea. l know
| am rs far beneath you as l am be
meath that star. But. though the dis
tance is great. my love cnn bridge 1t Il
you will let me try. Katharine-won'
| you answer me. Katharine? Is there
nothing you can say to me: 'Dost thot
love me, kate?'" he quoted softly. TAX
| ;u,, bar othar hand How very fair