The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1905-02-15
Bess, Queen of
StrategiStS
BY RUTH SANTELLE
copvish,. 1904. By 7. c. Mcclure

the family worn path, landing with ;
light spring on the narrow strip of peb
bly, beach. Without breath of hesita
ton she seized the PROV of the littl'
steel boat, gave a vigorous push, 1
practiced leap and stood polling swift!
over the shadows with one oar. Tit
blue line of deep water reached, sh'
dropped into the seat and rowed will
long, strong strokes. Half across thu
arm of the lake, that lay between thu
mainland and the little island TOWARD
which she was pulling, she rested oil
her oars.
Hmm This in a tone of milo
surprise. ''The bloodthirsty pursuel
doesn't seem to be gaining very rapid
ly. Not a sign OF him yet. Guess III
give him a little chance. I've excuse
enough for wanting to remodel myself
goodness knowsr'
And she raised her arms, barred Il
the elbow and brown against the white
of her gown, to a mass of tawny hair
very bewitchingly disheveled from the
precipitousness of her launching.
I'm morally certain he saw me, too,
she reflected. braiding the heavy coils
into Il shining rope that more than
reached the floor of the boat as she sat
''for he came around the corner of the
piazza just as l crossed the road into
-. .hso,-o+ sbn,,l1 tbinl- La'1 NUopf
to say goodby fter-after-everything.
But l don't care! l said I'd never
speak to him again, and l shan't!' She
seized the oars and pulled the remain
inc half mile with vicious, snappy
strokes
1t would have been much cooler back
in the evergreens, but she disposed
herself on the open sand with the pill
lows, book and parasol which formed
part of the boats furnishings. The
bright scarlet sunshade was thus I'M
visible from the mainland.
The warm discomfort of her vigil
was at length rewarded by the output
ting of a boat with a single white fam
neled occupant. The scarlet parasol
swung around and presented broad
side view to the water. When the on
coming boat was half across, the girl,
her back persistently toward it, gath
cred up her belongings and betook her
self calmly to the friendly shadows
few yards away.
The novel must have been intensely
for she had apparently not
taken her eyes from its pages during
all the time that an athletic looking
fellow was Bleaching a boat, crossing
he sand and throwing himself on the
ground at her feet.
Il came over to say goodby, Bess,"
ne volunteered to the back of the book.
No answer.
"And to ask you to forgive me-"
Continued silence.
won't you forgive me, Bess?" with
quiet earnestness.
Over the top of the book he was
given an instant's burning glance of
eyes.
"Oh, / know you told me never to
speak to you again, and I don't sup
pose you'll answer me either. 1 was
fool not to get at least your forgiveness
last night, but some way l was too
too stunned, l guess. But whether
Tou'n speak to me or not 1 must have
he privilege of saying a few things
hat / want you to know. Tiff you'd
ust put the book down and let me
NOW that you're hearing, Bess" he
pleaded.
The leaves of the novel only turned
he faster.
''I'm going on the o'clock train" he
aid tentatively. 1T seemed the only
hing to do to make it easier for-for
10Th of us after-after-everything.
SUIT probably you heard that 1 am go
ng. l was simply thinking that as
re'I presumably never see each other
gain it wouldn't do any harm and
vould be so much more satisfactory If
ou'd just let me explain"
''Explainr' she flashed, unaware,
hen bit her lip and turned another
age.
He smiled in spite of himself, though
er anger was far from being an
musing thing to him.
''Yes, explain" he continued, evident
= encouraged. 1.-The first thing l
hould want to do if knew had your
(he paused for the re-
ponse that was not vouchsafed), sis
o tell you that so far this has been
be happiest summer Of my life and to
hank you for 1t. I've had such a good
Ime. Bess! I'm working pretty hard,
er, and wasn't intending to take any
acation. But when your aunt's note
anne asking me for the house party l
Tas too deliriously glad to care rap |
DR. the consequences. Because L knew
that it meant, you see-that you had |
uggested it and wanted me to come"
She stirred uneasily, pumped up a |
ushion behind her back, shipped an |
MT from her skirt, then took up the |
ook again. not seeming to notice that |
score of pages had fluttered over.
Il suppose you'll hardly realize what |
has meant to me-" He was on his |
ack. hands under head. and might |
ave bCCh TIC tiny pdlChCN
blue that shone between the green
oughs overhead. II went into the
usiness so very young and have been
bout so little. 1t was especially hard
fter l met you at the pier to know
lat was so different from the 9th
s." .-...-....
The soft end of the heavy braid lay
EAR him and he fell to caressing it alb
ntly. AS he still gazed overhead he
'uld not see that the book was lower
and two shining eyes were regard
& him stealthily.
And then when came you were so
'od, better than To the rest, Bess.
on gave me the most time and the
Ost favors. It-well, guess it turned
y head. that's all. And when l came
'on you Unexpectedly in the shadowy
III last night
II 1