Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-01-20

WAT 90 you mink OF the WeaCn-
err" the Girl asked, in passing.
The Boy put up a critical eye to
the sky and shook his head omin-
ously.
Looks squally," he answered. He
had to bite his lips and clench his
hands to keep himself from telling the
Girl she should not go.
The Girl hesitated a moment and
looked at him wistfully. The Boy re-
membering who and what he was, held
himself in check and stood silent. The
Girl fingered moment and then, with
smile and a nod, went on her way.
The Boy groaned inwardly when he
saw them leave the wharf in a boat
with the Girl at the rudder and the
Cub managing the sail.
ooh, the darn fool, not to have a
sailor along" the Boy growled, re-
senting the chances the Cub was TAX
ing with the loveliest girl in the world.
The wind, fitful and veering, had
stirred up choppy sea. The Boy saw
the boat was erratic in it's course, and,
unmfndful of his duties, he went down
to the wharf to be on watch in case
Of danger. He thought he had moi
moved his eyes from the boat, al
least it was not for more than a sec
ond when a gust Of wind tore at hiI
cap and he put up his hand to catch
it, but when he looked again. he saw
the craft lying over on it's side with
its sail trailing on the waves like
| broken wing. The Cub was clingina
to the boat with one hand and reach.
ing out the other to the Girl. She had
been flung out into the sea, and ham.
pered by her skirts, was finding diff.
Guilty in getting back to the boat. She
was a good swimmer and much at
home in the water, so there was no
real danger, but the Boy was in an
agony Of fear. He had taken the pre-
caution to have a skiff, with its oars
ready. When he saw the disaster he
| leaped into it, and, tearing it from
it's moorings, went cutting through the
water, cleaving the waves with long,
| steady strokes of the oars. The Girl
was clinging to the boat by the time
he reached her, and knowing that
safety was assured, she was moved to
mirth by his grimly anxious face.
"Its rather damp here" she said.
'I'm glad you've come"
The Boy could not smile; the danger
was too lately passed for him to make
it a jest. He forgot his stern reso-
lutions in his excitement Of fear. "Oh.
my darling" he whispered to the Girl
when he lifted her into the boat and
| felt her in his arms.
Her head rested against his shoulder
! for the fraction of a second longer
than it was necessary, and it seemed
to the Boy as if it rested there like
| caress.
I'm most disgracefully wet" she
quavered, through chattering teeth.
The Cub helped himself into the skiff
and sat in a huddle. shivering and
crestfallen, feeling the disgrace the
Boys condemning manner implied.
The Boy took them safely to shore,
and catching the Girl by one Of her
arms, hurried her to the hotel with
out speaking along the way. The Girl
glanced up at his resolute face, and
it's expression made her feel vaguely
happy in spite Of her dripping gar
ments. 1t was as if he had suddenly
become a man with mans right to
take for his own the woman he want
ed to love and cherish.
II should like to see you q few mo-
ments this evening, If 1 may" he said
to the Girl at parting. She smiled her
consent.
"There must be an understanding
between us; must know one way or
another" he told himself.
The weather was as kindly as fate
to the Boy and Girl that evening.
The wind had blown itself away, and
the big, August moon was hung in a
cloudless sky. It was a night Of still,
warm airs and soft shadows. The
Boy waited for the Girl at the edge
Of the wood where he had so often
looked up at the heavens, powdered
with millions Of stars, and dreamed
dreams he thought then there was no
| hope or fulnll1ng.
1t was strange how the Girl knew
exactly where to find the Boy. She
came directly to him across the hotel
lawn, stretching silvery and luminous
under the moonlit sky. He stepped
back into the shadows to watch the
Girl coming and to enjoy her little
moment Of hesitancy and doubt when
she reached the edge of the wood and
did not find him there-that is if he
could endure the delay.
She looked SO fair and lovely in
her white gown, moving through the
brightness Of the night, that his heart
leaped ahead and drew his feet to
meet her. He went to her with his
arms held out, and the Girl, reading
his great love in his face, sped to their
u