The Globe-republican., 1906-11-08

anu Une woman IN IL seemed mOT'
occupied with their own thoughts
than with each other-although thu
girl, 1t might be noted, ever and amor
gave the man covert glance from
beneath the long lashes, as though
she were trying to read something
in his gloomy face.
Beautiful cruise, this" he grunteo
presently, making several vicious
lunges with the paddle.
The day could not be more per
feet" she replied, with that feminine
substitute for sweetness which savors
so much Of gall and NORWOOD.
He swept the canoe along with
strong, measured strokes for several
minutes, the strength of his strokes
being reflected in the savage 1firmness
of his lips.
IF you have become permanently
tongue-tied you may take me home, "
she s.id, presently, pulling her shape
ly hand out of the water, where 1t had
been trailing idly. Il will try to find
a deaf-mute to take me out next time
just for sociability's sake"
Silently he turned the bow of the
craft toward the shore, then pausing
with the paddle resting across his
knees, he looked at her steadily and
said:
Look here, Ethel, what has hap
pened since Wednesday? For the past
three or four days stone wall seems
to have arisen between us. What is
1t? Tell me. For heavens sake, let
us have some sort of an understand
ing. If | have done anything to dis
please you, let me make amends.
Only tell me what it is all about"
you seem to have something on
your mind yourself" she replied.
Nonsense he replied sternly. 81
am as | was week ago, but | do not
seem to be able to get within gun
shot of you. Now | demand to know
what is the matter"
"Oh, do you, indeed?" she replied,
sweetly. Quite dramatic, isn't it?'
He plunged the paddle into the wa
ter again savagely.
There's that lovely new electric
launch of O'Brien's just going in. |
do wish you would take me down to
the Point in it, They are going to
have lovely supper and a dance
there tonight"
He looked at her with mingled re-
proach and dignity.
"You know perfectly well that
O'Brien charges 50 an hour for the
launch" he replied, land that | could
not afford to hire it for two hours
to say nothing about the eight or ten
1t would take to go to the Point and
hold it over the dance. Besides, the
supper tickets for tonight are S. each.
You forget that am only lawyers
clerk, although you said you under
stood it perfectly when you accepted
my ring"
That's right" she replied. looking
him coolly in the face. Il did forget,
and l beg your pardon"
'T see it all clearly now" he broke
out passionately. "You are tired of
being tied to poor man and want
your freedom. was fool to think
that girl like you could be contented
to be tied to poor devil on salary
Of SIS a week and only the prospect
ahead of being admitted to the bar
after a time and then only chance
Of establishing a practice" And he
dug the paddle into the water with
vim that sent the little craft spinning
shoreward.
THAT is all very fine talk" she re-
Piled. What does it mean?"
ut means that l thought we could
get along very happily until got my
admission by being frugal and your
helping some at first, as you said you
Intended to, by sticking to your type
writing" he replied. But | perceive
hat the glamor of the world has pos
sessed you. Well, be 1t so. God
knows it has been the dream of my
life, but | can see 1t is over now and
give you back your freedom" The
paddle bent under the desperate en-.
lrpy of his strokes
The girl looked him squarely in the
rye and slight sheer played over her
mouth.
you really should go on the stage"
;he replied, land ! would suggest
nelodrama. | do think, however, that
5ou should have given me credit for
more Of sense Of perception than
,ou did"
He paused and glanced at her in
,pen-mouthed wonder.
What do you mean?" he asked.
Il see it all very plainly now" the
,irl went on. "You have had your
fun, and the summer being
bout over, you now want to free
,ourself of the responsibilities of a
easide Irritation and go back to the
.ity and brag about your little con-
luest. Do you think 1t quite gener-
,us, however, to throw the RESPONSE
,ility of the parting on me? Possibly |
,ou mean 1t to be delicate way to
oothe my pride-but the work is too
coarse, sir. Well, accept the situa-
ion and dismiss you and return you
Lnitr t.inou