The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-08-17


"Madamw
"Only my friends call me Katha-
rine."
"And am 1 not, may I not be, one of
your friends?''
"Well, yes; suppose SO, but you are
so young"
II am just twenty-seven, madam,
and you, I suppose, are"-
"Never be ungallant enough to sup
pose young lady's age. You may do
those things in Philadelphia if you
like, but it's not the custom here Be
sides, I mean too young friend. You
have not known me long enough, that
u.s."
Long enough! I have known you
ever since Tuesday of last week.
| "And this is Friday-just ten days,
ten long daysv' she replied triumphant
ly.
"Long daysv' he cried. every short
| ones for me-"
Long OF short, sir, do you think you
can know me in that period? Is it pos
sible I am so easily fathomed?" she
went on, smiling.
Now, it is i'll making love in a row
boat at best, and when one is in ear
nest and the other jests it is we'll nigh
impossible; so to these remarks Lieu
tenant Seymour made no further an
sWer save viciously to ply the oars and
drive the boat rapidly toward the land
ing.
Miss Katharine gaZed vacantly about
the familiar river upon whose banks
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.
wont 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?'
II am rowing as fast as 1 can, Miss
Wilton, especially with this
"Oh, I forgot your wounded Shout
der! Does it hurt? Does it pain you?
l am so sorry. Let me row."
'Thank you, no. I think can man.
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 IN
sailorly thing known as catching a
crab.
Katharine Wilton laughed. There
was music in her voice, but this time it
did not awaken a responsive chord in
the young man. Extricating his oar
violently, he silently resumed his work.
DO you like crabs, Mr.. SEYMOUR
she said, with apparent irrelevance.
II don't like catching them, Miss Will
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 dore for
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 la
Dor in silence and with great dignity.
what am 1 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 at all.''
He made no further reply.
| The young girl gazed at his pale
| face at first in much amusement, but
| the laughter gradually died away, and
finally her glance fell to the water by
her side. A few strong strokes, strong
enough, in spite of a 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
~ 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
~ came to rest. The man waited IN
til the girl looked up at him. She saw
in 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 him was lost They had near
~ arrived at the foregone conclusion.
"Well, Mr.. Seymour" she said final
~, 1--WE are here at last. For what are
you waiting?"
Waiting for you.'
'For me?"
"Aye, only for your
| Lido not understand you"
'You understand nothing apparent.
~, but 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"
ooh, thank you, Lieutenant Seymour
If only could in this little boat ]
would courtesy in return for that eff
fort" she answered, with tremulous
and transparent bravery, But wher