Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-10-31
AFTER THE
SQUALL
By HONORE WlLLSIE
Copyright. 1905. by Honore willsie

Copyright, 1905. by Honore Willsie
The lake lay smooth and dark like a
piece Of smoked glass. Along the shore
the early green of the trees melted into
the hazy gray Of the sky. At the col,
lcge pier the reflection Of the pier posts
wavered serenely from the reflected
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; 1.-The sky, mean, not
the reflection
Pooh" answered Peggy. curling her
self up in the stern of the boat. do
you suppose I'm going to let the pros.
pect Of mere squall spoil my first
boat ride OF the year? Besides, we
both can swim, can't we?'
Jack stared at~Peggy with what was
intended for look Of whitening dis.
dain.
You bet, Peggy, If thought there
was any danger in this stunt I'd not
take YOU"
reggy raised her eyebrows. Jack,
what is the matter with you? Are you
trying to be proud and naughty in an
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 l." went ON Peggy, Ignoring the
interruption, IL 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 1t Is useless for you
to fuss and put on airs, for you are
nothing but freshman after all"
Jack dug his oars viciOusly 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"
"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 still
smaller ball in the stern seat The boat
leaked little.
"Oh, we'll be back in time easy.
Well reach the pines in half an hour"
Peggy looked little anXiOusly at the
sky. THAT wind is coming up. Jack
she said. II guess III get out the extra
oars and help"
You'll do nothing Of the sort" an
swered Jack. 'It's not q 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 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, "it's 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 SEN
ior. 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
heavy squall had grown out Of the
light wind of the afternoon. The water
was thick with whitecaps, and the
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 shoul-
ders and eyed Peggy with dignity.
PEGGY, you are not going to he drown
ed while am around. tel you will
not go till the squall is over"
Peggy threw back her gir!lsh shoul-
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 Shantel
down over her curly hair. walked back
to the edge of the pines ana, sitting
down in the needles. stared with mark
e,i Indifference ut the sky above Jacks
head.
lack stood irresolute for a moment.
Peggy had never looked more tantaliz
ing. The white tam shaded face that
was almost Irresistible. and lie was
conscious Of an insane desire to obey
hc belests of that capriciOus, curly
head even though so doing might lead
TO the bottom of the lake. But another
look ut the water and he withdrew to
the foot OF the tree opposite Peg$yS
After lighting his pipe he studied his
boots with impassive face. Minute aft
or minute went by. and the cold spring
dusk came on.
I'm just freezing to this old pine
tree" thought Peggy. but 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 character so. Now, who would
have thought that could be so firm"
Little by little as the night settled
down the wind sank. and as 1t sank a
fiue misting rain set in. Lake and
shore, pines and sky slowly melted
into one gray green tone that gave
Peggy a shiver Of desolatlon. JACK
looked ut his watch.
"Hnlf past Z. Peggy" he said. Il
am going to launch the boat"
They rowed out into the lake In dig
nified silence. Peggy, In her old place
In the stern, snuggled down into her
sweater aud wondered how long she