The Washington times., 1906-07-08
THE HOUSE OF A THOUSAND CANDLES

what I had expected or had not ex-
pecJed, and she manifested no inten-
ti0n OF helping me 20 explain, Her
short skirt suggested fifteen or six
teen-not mOre-and such being the
case there was no reason why I should
not be master of tie situation As
fCmbled my pipe the hot Goals Of 10
bacco burned my hand and I cast the
thing from me.
She laughed a little and watched the
pipe bound from the dock into the
water
'-DOo bad" she said. her eyes upon
It; but II you hurry you may get It
before Il floats away"
Thank you for the suggestion" I
said. But ] did not relish the idea OF
kneeling on the dock 10 FISH for pipe
before a strange schoolgirl who was,
felt sure. anxious 10 laugh at me.
She took a step toward the line 5y
which her boat was fastened
ALLOW me"
If you think you can-sateIy," she
said, and the laughter that lurked IL
her eyes annoyed me.
The feminine knot IS designed for
the confusion OF man" I observed.
twitching vainly at the rope, which
was tied securely IN unfamiliar loops.
She was singllarly unresponsive.
The thought that she was probably
laughing at my cIumsiness did not
make Iny fingers more uimble.
The nautical instructor at St
Agatha's is undoubtedly a woman.
This knot must come IN the post
graduate course. But my gaIlantry s
equal. trust. 20 your patience.
The maid IN the red Jam-o' '-shanter
continued silent The wet rope was
obdurate, the knot more and more
hopeless. and my efforts 20 make light
OF the situation awakened no response
IN the girl I tugged away at the rope.
attacking its tangle on various
theories
a case for surgery. I'm afraid. 4
truly Gordian knot. but I haven't my
knife"
"Oh. but you wouldn't she ex-
claimed. II think 1 can manage"
She bent down. was aware that
the sleeve of her Jacket brushed my
shoulder-seized an END that / had Is-
nored. gave II a sharp tug with e slim
brown hand and pulled the knot free
"rheret" she exclaimed with a little
laugh. II might have saved you al
the bother
How dull OF me! But didn't have
the combination 1 said. steadying
the canoe carefully 70 mitigate the
ignominy OF my failure.
She scorned the hand I extended.
but embarked with light confident step
and took the paddle. 1t was growing
late The shadows IN the wood were
deepening; a chill crePt over the water.
and. beyond the tower OF the chapel
the sky was bright with the splendor
Of sunset.
With a few skIlfuI strokes shs
brought her little craft beside my pipes
picked UP and tossed IL 10 tie wharf
Perhaps ycu can pipe a sune upon
it," she said, dipping the paddle ten
tatively.
You put ne under great obliga-
tfons,"I declared. Are all the girls Of
St Agatha's IS z-aiable?"
7 should say not. I'm a great ex-
ception-and-I really shouldn't bs
talking TO you at all! It's against the
rules. And We don't encourage smok-
ing"
THE chaplain doesn't smoke. sup
pose"
Not In chapel; 7 believe # isn't
done. And We rarely see him else
where"
She had idIed with the paddle so far.
but now lifted her eyes and drew back
the blade for a long stroke.
But in the wo0d-1his morning
the waII"'
hate myself to this day for having
so startled her The poised blade
dropped into the water with splash;
she brought the sSQoe a tTIfe nearer
TO the wharf withkkF almost imper-
ceptibIe stroke, andtSpSg1e.ts tsepward me
with wonder and disnisSsaiA eyes.
SO YOU are an eavesdropper and de-
tective. are you? I beg II you VIII
give your master my comp. nentsi I
really owe you an apology; / thought
you were a gentleman" she exclaimed
with whitening emphasis. and dipped
her blade deep in flight
l called. sJammering. incoherently,
after her, but her light argosy skim
med the water steadily. The paddle
rose and fell with trained precision.
making scarcely ripple as she stole
softly away toward the fairy towers
Of the sunset. I stood looking after
her. gCaded with self-c0ntempL 4
glory Of yellow and red filled the west
Suddenl- the wind moaned in the wood
behind the line OF cottages, swept over
me and rippled the surface of the lake.
I watched its flight until il caught her
canoe and I marked the dlmsy craft 5
quick response, as the shaken waters
bore her alert figure upward on the
swell. her blade still maintaining its
regular dip. until she disappeared be-
hind a little peninsula that made q
harbor near the school grounds.
The red Jam-o'-shanter seemed at
last to merge In the red sky, and 7
turned 10 my ccnUe and padded cheer
lessly home.
ITO Be Continued Next Sunday.)