Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-01-11
AFTER THE
SQUALL
By HONORE WILLSIE
Copyright, 1906, by Honore Willsie


gy exclaimed as Jack handed her care
fully into the boat.
1T does look squally," said Jack, TAX
ing up the oars; the sky, l 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 l thought there
was any danger in this stunt Id not
take you"
Peggy 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, T.
Gee, but you're crazyr 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 it is useless for you
to fuss and put on airs, for you are
nothing but a 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. Il guess I'll get out the extra
oars and help"
you'll do nothing of the Sort" an
swered Jack. "It's not 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 a 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. 'it's not a 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
a 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.
-sN y.
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 be drown
ed while am around. l tell you will
not go till the squall is over"
Peggy threw back her girlish shoul-
ders and eyed Jack with even greater
dignity than his own.
'Pll not speak to you, Jack Howard,
until you launch that boat" And with
this she pulled her tam O. shanter
down over her curly hair. walked back
to the edge of the pines and. sitting
down in the needles, stared with mark
ed Indifference at the sky above Jacks
head,
Jack stood irresolute for moment.
Peggy had never looked more tantaliz-
Ing. The white tam shaded face that
was almost irresistible, and he was
conscious of an insane desire 70 obey
the behests CT that capricious, curly
head even though so doing might lead
TO the bottom of the lake. But another
look at the water and he withdrew to
the foot OF the tree opposite Peggy's.
After lighting his pipe he studied his
boots with impassive face. Minute aft
er minute went by, and the cold spring
dusk came on.
I'm just freezing to this old pine
tree" thougnt Peggy, "but just won't
give in Doesn't he look dede 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 ceutd be so firm?'
little by little as the night settled
down the wind sank, and as it sank a
r1ne misting rain set in. Lake and
shore, pines and sky slowly melted
into one gray green tone thar gave
Peggy a shiyer OF desolation. JACK
it,eso.l at his watch.
Half past Z, Peggy" he said. Il
am going to launch the boat"
They roweG aat into the lake in dig
nified silence Peggy, in her old place
in the stern, snuggled down into her
sweater and wondered how long she
must maintain her difficult isolation.
Finally, I'VE ought to be home in
quarters of an hour" camo III
soothing tones from Jacks end of the
boat,
No answer from the stern.
"a nasty rain" from the rower's
bench.
No reply.
Its almost too dark TO steer, isn't
it?" was inquired tenderly
Still no reply.
IIeavier and heavier grew the dark
ness, and wetter and wetter became
the white sweater and the red Jersey.
"Oughtn't we 70 he there by now?'
asked a nervous little voice from Peg
gy's end of the boat.
Jack hauled in his oars, struck a
match and looked at his watch.
"Gadsr' lie exclaimed Its a quarter
after s. Where in thunder have we