The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-11-28
AFTER THE
SQUALL
By HoNoRE WILLSIE
Copyright. 1906, by Honore willsie

ChSO SCI CAclJ AIOu Ile TeQ6CteC
roof Of the boathouse
Fit to give one the nightmare" Peg
gy exclaimed as Jack handed her care
fully into the boat
1T does look squally," said Jack, tax
ing up the oars; the sky, mean, moi
the reflection"
"Pooh" answered Peggy, curling her
self up in the stern of the boat. "Dc
you suppose I'm going to let the pros
pect Of mere squal spoil my first
boat ride of the year7 Besides, We
both can swim, can't wei"
Jack stared at Peggy with what was
intended for look of whitening dis
dain
You bet, Peggy, If l thought there
was any danger In this stunt I'd moi
take you."
Peggy raised her eyebrows. Jack
what Is the matter with your Are YOU
trying to be proud and naughty in ar
old sweater? My child, please recall
that you had to be spanked into having
your face washed. 1t is now, oh, Jack
too late to make an impression on my
fresh young heart, r.
Gee. but you're crazyw murmured
Jack.
And t. went on Peggy. ignoring the
interruption, II wish to state that this
sudden development of courtesy In one
who has pulled my hair and whose ears
have boxed both in sorrow and in an
ger makes me feel the necessity Of re
minding you that it is useless for you
to fuss and put on airs, for you are
nothing but freshman after all"
Jack dug his oars vlciously into the
water, splashing his own red jersey
and Peggy's white sweater.
Strikes me you entered the same
day did. What time does that bloom
in matron say you'll have to be back Y
six o'clock. Otherwise it's Peggy
before the house committee, and the
Botany club depends ON me to get the
lichens to them before T." she an
swered, making herself into a still
smaller ball in the stern seat The boat
leaked little
"Oh, Wen be back In time easy
Wen reach the pines in half an hour"
Peggy looked little anxiously at the
sky. That wind is coming up, Jack, "
she said. Il guess I'll get out the extra
oarsand help"
You'll do nothing of the sort" an,
swered Jack. Its not girls work"
Peggy looked up quickly, then smiled
to herself and settled back in her place
again. 1t was very still and sheltered
among the pines. The soft new needles
smelled deliciously of spring, and the
wind was only a faraway sigh in the
treetops. The pine trees murmured,
robins fiickered among the soft fuzz OF
the new needles. Suddenly Jack pulled
out his watch.
Gee whiz," he said, its five min
utes of 6v'
Peggy could feel herself going white
Jack" she gasped, its not funny
joke to be hauled up by the house COM
mittee. They are all seniors, and no
one is so hard on freshman as a SEN
Tor. They have been through all these
scrapes and know how to strike hard"
They ran to the shore. In the shelter
of the pines they had not realized that
a heavy squat had grown out of the
light wind of the afternoon The water
uoo tbick with xuhftoconc and tho
wind tore across the lake as If deter
mined to aid the house committee
against the delinquent Peggy.
Jack looked out at the water with
lips tight pressed. Peggy he said,
"I'll not venture out with you with a
sea like that one house committee or
no house committee"
Jack Howard" replied Peggy,
you've got to-
Peggy He threw back his shout
ders and eyed Peggy with dignity.
Peggy, you are not going to be drown
ed while 1 am around. I tell you l will
not go till the squall is over"
Peggy threw back her glrlish Shout
ders and eyed Jack with even greater
dignity than his own.
''I'll not speak to you, Jack Howard,
until you launch that boat" And with
this she pulled her tam O. shanter
down over her curly hair, walked back
to the edge OF the pines and, sitting
down in the needles, stared with mark
ed Indifference at the sky above Jacks
head.
Jack stood irresolute for a moment.
Peggy had never looked more tantaliz-
ing. The white tam shaded face that
was almost Irresistible, and he was
conscious of an insane desire to obey
the behests of that capriciouJ, curly
head even though so doing might lead
to the bottom of the lake. But another
look at the water and he withdrew to
the foot of the tree opposite Peggy's.
After lighting his pipe he studied his
boots with impasslve face. Minute aft
er minute went by, and the cold spring
dusk came on.
I'm just freezing to this old pine
tree" thought Peggy, but l just won't
give in. Doesn't he look dear and trag-
ic, though? l wouldn't have missed
this row for anything. Rows do bring
out the cha .cter so. Now, who would
have though that could be so firm?"
Little by little as the night settled
down the wind sank. and as it sank a
fine mistin" rain set in. Lake and
shore. pine. and sky slowly melted
into one gr..y green tone that gave
Peggy SILVER Of desolation. Jacl
looked at his watch.
Half past Z, Peggy" he said. g
am going to launch the boat"
They rowed out into the lake in dig
nified silence. Peggy, in her old plac
In the stern !. Struggled down into he
sweater anGHwondered how long sh
must maintain her difficult isolation.
Finally, I'VE ought to be home fl
three-quarters of an hour" came II
soothing tones from Jacks end of tn
boat.
No answer from the stern.
"a nasty RAIN" from the rover
bench.
No reply.
Its almost too dark to steer, ISM
it?" was inquired tenderly.
Still no reply.
Heavier and heavier grew the dark
ness. and wetter and wetter becam,
the white sweater and the red jersey.
''Oughtn't we to be there by now?'
asked a nervous little voice from Peg
gy's end of the boat.
Jack hauled in his oars. struck I
match and looked at his watch
''Gadsw he exclaimed. Its a quarter
after 8. Where in thunder have W,
got tor"
There seems TO be nothing AROUND
u.s." said Peggy, but water"
steer more to the right, Peggy,
said Jack. Then, after half an hour
Try 1t to the left
"Oh, dearv' sighed Peggy. ITS ~
dark. If we only could find a little