The Press., 1905-06-28
ahn asked

Sure! Something tells me this Is go- ing to be an awfully jolly trip. 1 usu- ally dread the ride into town, but them
 "Well, when I go home shall say unpleasant things to the friends who advised me to take the boat trip down the Hudson. Oh, didn't mean to be personal! beg your pardon. was merely referring to the babies and the lunch. I can't sit on the deck because the sight of lunch boxes and perpetual eating makes me positively ill.,"
 "We'l remedy that. know little corner where they don't admit either babies or lunch boxes. If you'll just wait a minute I'll fix the matter up. I have a little stand-in with the cap tain of this boat"
 He rose, but she laid a detaining hand on his arm. You really mustn't! I"-
 "Now, see here," he said frankly, you're calling yourself all sorts of things because we haven't been intro duced. It's all nonsense, don't you know. We were bound to meet after the conventional fashion some day. Something-er-tells me so"
 It may have been that Margaret wanted to get out in the fresh air or 1t may have been because she felt it her duty to change the expression in his eyes which were looking at her so eagerly. He strode down to the purs- CTS room and paid the price of the best stateroOm on the boat, which gave them access to a tiny patch of deck room shut in on the other side by a hfeboat, 8 stack of life preservers and a most uncompromising railing. From this point Margaret viewed the beauti- full panorama of the Palisades, and the young man, loyal New Yorker that he was, insisted that 1t was purely his duty to make his state show up at its best.
 The last ten or fifteen minutes of the trip were uncomfortable ones for Margaret. Mrs. Grundy whispered in one ear that she had already been in- discreet, and 1t was her duty to drop the young man forever. Her sense of fairness whispered in the other ear that she owed him something for his cOur tesy.
 As they gathered up their traps to disembark 1t was quite evident that the young man was not giving himself any anxiety over the situation. He took her checks He even accepted Pedro as a matter of course. He led the way to a hanson without asking her so much as where she was going. When she and Pedro were settled in the vehicle the young man stood with one foot on the step.
 "Win you tell him to take me to the Grand Centrally she asked.
 'I have already done so," said the young man placidly, and, without hesi tation, he sprang into the hanson and sat down beside her.
 Margaret was speechless, not sure whether she was glad or sorry. Was the young man trying to kidnap her, or was he a mind reader? She was cer- tain she had dropped no hint as to her destination.
 "You see, 1 knew you all the time. You are Margaret Trenton, and you are on your way to visit Etta Wilson at Rye Beach. saw your name on your luggage"
 Margaret looked at him in wonder.
 "Yes, but Etta! How do you know EttaT'
 ''Oh, she's my cousin! It was you I was looking for all the time. She had asked me to meet you on the boat if happened to be coming down at the same time from the Merriam house party. very nearly missed you be cause - because -w we'll - that picture doesn't do you justice"
 "Oh" said Margaret, feeling some how that there was nothing else to be said.
 "I was going on to Newport for week. but think I'll stop off at Rye" Margaret's glance fell, and a slight flush spread over her face. The young mans lips twitched.
 "I think you need me thereto let you know whether your hat is on straight"
 Then they both looked at each other and laughed, and Pedro, in sympathy, pounded the floor of the hanson with his tail. It is so good to be young.