Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-03-06


to his elbows, is welding the long
punt-pole with vigorous pushes, which
shoot the light vessel with graceful
velocity toward the bank.
May looks around, and strains her
eyes, but before she can speak, the
gentleman turns, and giving one last
push, stands erect and raises his cap
May, it's Sir Heron" whispers Car
RE. "Shall we go?"
Before May can answer, the end of
the punt runs ashore, and Sir Heron
leaps onto the bank and holds out his
hand. 1t is so sudden, and SO IN
expected, that he seems to have drop
ped from the clouds, and in Carries
eyes-to say nothing of May's-he
looks not unlike one of those heroes
of northern legends who came, stall
wart and powerful, at helpless maiden's
call.
So handsome, SO strong, so noble
might Perseus have looked when he
came-in silver armor instead of shirt
-sleeves-to fight and conquer the fell
dragon of old.
"Good-morning. Was it you heard
calling? Yes; you want to go across.
Will you let me take you?" and, with
out waiting for an assent, he turns
around and calls-there is no occa-
sion for his deep, strong voice to
shout: Call right, Rogers" and
Rogers touches his hat and trudges in
to his cottage again. What beau
tiful morning! You are quite right
to come out-quite right. Are you
tired after last nights dissipation.
s'No, not at all. / need not ask you
the same question"
'This is my sister; Carrie, this is
Sir Heron Letchford. T
Carrie gravely makes her little stiff
curtsey-half curtsey, half bow; but
Sir Heron, with smile, holds out his
palm, and encloses the soft little
hand.
"You came just in time" he says,
striding down to the punt and arrang
ing run in the stern. 81 was fishing
around by the ack, who resolutely de-
clined to be caught Just in time to
earn an honest penny; twopence,
thoughts a penny each, you know.
Now, then!' and he lolds out his
hand, and helps May to embark; but
when Carrie puts out her hand, he
takes her under the arms, Just as if
were a child as she says. laughingly,
and sets her down beside
May.
"Sit on the coat" he says; "the punt
may be damp with dew" But May
hesitates.
"You must obey the captain" he
says, with a grave smile. And so
they sit down.
which looks no heavier than match
in his strong white hands, into the
water, and the punt shoots out into
the stream, which sweeps with artful,
soft insidiousness againt it, and
trie to force it around but, with an
other sklllful thrust, Sir Heron keeps
the head of the punt toward the op-
posite shore, and with another is about
10 drive on land, when he stops its
course suddenly, and says:
"What are you going to do-sketch?"
eyes," says May.
"You can't get any views on that
side, nothing worth speaking off, he
says, with an air which he tries to
make matter-of-fact.
"Oh, it does not matter" says May,
quickly; "the sketching is only an ex-
cuse for ramble."
you'll find the grass very wet under
those trees. It's October, you know,
the sunshine. Now,
if you want to see good view for a
sketch, there's the weir!"
Thanks" says May; 1--WE will walk
up the path toward it,"
"Heb," he says, thoughtfully. I'm
afraid you won't see much that way.
What do you say to punting up the
river to it? 1t isn't far-you can hear
it. Listen!"
THANK you very much, but we could
not think of troubling you. We will
walk as far as we can get"
"It is no trouble he says. Then he
looks at Carries face, which has been
each moment more eager and
wistful. YOU'D like to go, Miss Car
rie, wouldn't you!"
ooh, yes"
Then she glances at May hurriedly,
but Sir Heron is far too quick to seize
his advantage.
"Then I'm sure your sister won't
deny you," he says. Come along"
and he sends the punt skimming into
the stream again.
isn't it delightful, May?" whispers
Carrie; Sir Heron's back is turned
toward them, and he is apparently alb
sorbed in his labor. "You don't mind
do you-not really?"
"It wouldn't matter much If did.
There's no help for it-unless we
swim to land"