Morris tribune., 1905-01-21


Madam
"Only my friends call me Katha
,rine."
"And am l not, may not be, one o
your friends?"
"Well, yes; suppose so. but you ar
so young"
81 am just twenty seven, madam
and you, suppose, are
"Never be ungallant enough to sup
pose young lady's age. You may dt
those things in Philadelphia if yor
like, but it's not the custom here. Be
sides, mean too young friend. Yot
have not known. me long enough, tina
is.''
Long enough! l have known you
ever since Tuesday of last week"
"And this is Friday-just ten days
ten long daysr' she replied triumphant
ly.
"Long daysp' he cried. Every shor1
ones for me-"
''Long or short, sir, do you think you
can know me in that period? Is it pos
sible l am so easily fathomed" she
| went on, smiling.
Now, it Is ill making love in 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?"
81 am rowing as fast as l can, Miss
Wilton, especially with this
"Oh. l forgot your wounded shout,
der! Does it hurt? Does it pain you!
/ am so sorry. Let me row."
'Thank you, no. l think l 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 I'M
sailorly thing known as catching q
crab.
Katharine Wilton laughed. There
was music in her voice, but this time it
did not awaken 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 VIII
ton" he admitted ruefully.
''Oh, | mean eating them! We were
talking about your appetite, were we
not? Well, Dinah devils them de
iciously. I'll have some done 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 | 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 wounded shout
der, to indicate wrathful purpose and
sudden determination to the astute
and the little boat swung in
beside the wharf Throwing the oars
with easy skill, Seymour sat
while the boat glided swift
y down toward the landing steps. and
he silence was broken only by the
soft, delicious lip, lip. lip Of the wa
,er, which seemed to cling to and ca
'ess the bow Of the skiff until it final
Y came to rest The man waited un-
II the girl looked up at him. She saw
n his resolute mien the outward and
zisible sign of his inward determine
ion, and she realized that the game
70 bravely and piquantly played since
he met him was lost They had near
y arrived at the foregone conclusion.
SWELL. Mr.. Seymour" she said final
Y. 1--WE are here at last. For what are
'ou wafting?"
Waiting for you"
"For meT
'Aye. only for your
"I-I-do not understand, you"
''You understand nothing apparent
y, but wifi explain He stepped
vat on the landing stage. and after
aking turn or two with the painter ,
0 secure the boat he turned toward
lis captive with tremendous bow.
Permit me to help you ashore"
ooh. thank you. Lieutenant Seymour.
l only could in this little boat I
you'd courtesy in return for that ef-
ort," she answered, with tremui0us
nd transparent bravery. But when