The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-20
Our Daily $bcrt Story

to the shore. which. instead of sIop Ing to the bottom. was nothing bui shelf. Elaine, excited by what Rer had just said to her. jumped hastily out, removing her weight from tho bow. At shout of warning from tho others. she seized the end of the ca. noe and began to draw 1t in. Ther she stopped In dismay. The sunset was full in her eyes, bu, she could see the others too helpless with laughter to help Ren. The bis man sat helpiessly with the meat ir one outstretched arm, and the coffee pot filled with provisions in the other to save them from the water rapidly pouring into the shell, while his two hundred pounds was sinking slowly but surely into the river. Jack at last managed to snatch the sweater. the meat, and the coffee pot Everybody shouted as Ren went down, to come up shaking himself like a dog and holding to the canoe. But Elaine did not laugh.
 "oh." she said l" twas all my faul, a Hitler she asked indignantly of the other two men.
 He seemed to have too much help as 1t was" laughed the others Now, suppose its so cold we'll have to take him back to town" But Ren- wick Hardy seized his own Yale sweater and Jacks red one. and wrung the water from his fair hair.
 No, people. light a fire and wait Tor me. shall retire while Elaine and Jack go to the spring-it's over wonder Wait till I return
 When Jack and Elaine returned, Laura and Kent and Elsie were in a gale of laughter. It was dusk, and before them, huge fin the. firelight. stood Rem in a costume wonderful to behold. turning himself about for general inspection. His curly hair stood on end, his feet were bare, his upper garment was the Yale sweater; his lower garment was the red sweat CT worn like trousers with his legs thrust through the sleeves. He had added his leather belt, weli--drawn down fin front, with an exaggerated Buster Brown effect. as finishing touch.
 Between spasms of laughter and cooking. the others simply pointed at him. But Elaine was only angry-at herself. and at the others. She could have killed them for laughing.
 They ate, told stories and laughed. and the men smoked, and Ren's clothes dried about the fire. When the moon was almost gone they start cd home, the couples drifting off by themselves Ren had dressed In his leafy boudoir. and chatted as ever till the others were out of hearing Then he grew strangely silent Elaine was miserable. not knowing what to say. If she could make him see that she did carei
 Elaine" he said at last, T am like all the others-hopelessly ridiculous but somehow you didn't laugh like the others. Perhaps that is simply be- cause I wasn't funny while was ask- ing you to marry me? Do you SUD- pose can ever find q way to do that without-without- He paused for words. Her own words came hard but she spoke.
 You were not ridiculous and if you had been it would have been all my fault! It was splendid of you not to spoil the evening for us all. and I know you were uncomfortable" He put down his paddle and reached dam gerously for her hand.
 Elaine" his voice laughed. you seem to take all this seriously! If dared ask you. if could. without bcing-''
 "Ren Hardwick! Of course I ann serious-and is 1t necessary-to- ask?" The little shell rocked warn ingly.
 "Elaine. Will you-wIthout asking? VIII you?" She laughed
 "Yes-that Is, if I get your mean ing! Something has come over me. It is--"
 "What-dear?" Elaine paused be- fore answering softly:
 "A change of heart. Ren. Give me my hand. and attend to your pad ding" But of course he did not obeyl