The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-10-24

BE WONDERED IF DROWNED PERSONS
SHOWED NO SIGN OF THEIR EXPERIENCES.
not seen her. Now it seemed that ON
the balmy breath of the woods was
borne her voice calling to him to re-
turn.
For a moment he pulled rapidly at
his cigar, then, with sudden determine
ton, he flung it out Of the window and
went into the chair car. They were
slowing up for a station. and he could
catch the up train In about an hour
1t seemed more than an hour before
the other train came laundering along,
for as he paced the narrow platform he
seemed to hear Rays voice, now tinged
with note of terror. He was certain
that something had happened, and he
was miles away.
1t was almost dark when the train
pulled into the station at which he had
embarked that morning, and he could
scarcely wait to stow his traps with
the ticket agent and arrange for boat
In which to row across to camp.
1t took only a few minutes, but not
until his back bent to the oars did he
feel content 1t was light skiff, but
he was cramped from the train, and
the hard work at the oars tired him
and Gained his spirit somewhat. Sud
denly the boat struck an object In the
water
With start, he sprang up to see
what 1t was, and with a cry of hor-
ror he stumbled forward to the bow.
1t was the little birch bark canoe Ray
had coaxed the guides to build for her,
the very canoe over which the quarrel
had started Now 1t was floating up
side down with a jagged rent In its
bottom.
Almost fearfully he righted 1t, and,
fastening the canoe to the stern Of his
skiff. he made the oarlocks smoke with
the power and speed he put into his
stroke
The camp was across the lake from
the station, and a small island lay be-
thoughts that he forgot the island until
the keel of the skiff grated upon the
sandy beach.
He sprang to his feet and turned to
confront Ray. She was still in the lit
tie white dress she had worn the even
ing before, but the garments were not
water soaked, and the fluffy hair. form
ing an aureole about her piquant face,
showed no sign of wetting.
He wondered vaguely as he stared
dumbly at the figure If drowned per-
sons when they returned to earth
showed no sign of their experiences. 1t
was the girl who broke the silence.
Il knew you would come" she laugh
ed. 1--WE been calling you all day"
Didn't you know bad gone homer
he asked.
Did you" she asked in surprise 81
slipped out before the rest of the peo-
pie were awake and came out for a
paddle. 1 beached here to look for ber-
ries, and when l came to look for the
canoe it had been blown off and was
floating most provokingly just out Of
reach.
Il tried to make it come back by
throwing rocks out beyond 1t to make
a ripple, but instead struck the boat,
and 1t turned over, and a wind came
up and blew it away" she added, look
ing at him provokingly. "And, please,
Howard, have not had my breakfast
yet, and it's long after supper time"
'And it is really your he demanded.
II thought when l saw the canoe that
what feared had come to pass-that
you had been drowned"
Don't scold," she pleaded. 81 know
1t was wrong, but l wanted to show
you that 1 could take care Of myself,
and
"And you could not" he finished. II
hope that after this you will let some
one go with you"
did you go awayT she asked.
abruptly changing the subject.
Yes. thought was Of no use
here"
"And l kept calling to you all day. I
thought you were still In camp"
II heard you on the train" he ex-
planned. Il heard you calling, and l
got OF and took the up train back
again. was just rowing over to
camp"
y suppose we will find no one there"