Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1907-04-18
CHAPTER vI.--contlnued.

She did not wear the covert coat OF
the morning, but red knit jacket, but
toned tight about her. She was young
with every emphasis of youth. A pair
of dark blue eyes examined me with
good-humored curiosity. She was on
good terms with the sum rejoiced in
the brown of her cheeks, so eloquent
of companionship with the outdoor
world--a certificate indeed Of the IA
vor of Heaven. Show me, in October,
a girl with face of tan, whose hands
have piled a paddle or driven a golf
ball or cast a fy beneath the blue
arches of summer, and l VIII suffer
her scorn in joy. She may vote me
dull and Tefute my wisest word with
laughter, for hers are the privileges Of
the sisterhood of Diana; and that soft
bronze those daring fugitive freckles
beneath her eyes, link her to times
all the days were long.
Her rubber-soled outing shoes had
made possible her silent approach, and
she enjoyed, | was sure, my discom-
future at being taken unawares.
had snatched off my cap and stood
waiting beside the canoe, feeling, |
must admit, a trife guilty at being
caught in the unwarrantable inspection
of another persons property-particu-
Iarly a person so wholly pleasing to
the eye.
Il believe-I believe that is my pad
fYN,f 1y T
and yet with definiteness.,
looked down and found to my an
noyance that held her paddle in my
hand,-was in fact leaning upon it
with a cool air of proprietorship.
Again, l beg your pardon" l said.
Il hadn't expected"
She eyed me calmly, with the stare
OF the child that arrives at a drawing
room door by mistake and scrutiniZes
the guests without awe. l didn't know
what had expected or had not expect
ed, and she manifested no intention of
helping me to explain. Her short skirt
suggested Is or 16-not more-and
such being the case there was no rea-
son why l should not be master of the
situation. AS / fumbled my pipe the
hot Goals of tobacco burned my hand
and | cast the thing from me.
She laughed a little, then caught
herself and gravely watched the pipe
bound from the dock into the water.
"TOo bad!" she said, her eyes upon
it; 'but if you hurry you may get it
before 1t floats away"
Thank you for the suggestion" I
said. But l did not relish the idea of
kneeling on the dock to fish for pipe
before a strange school girl who was,
| felt sure, anxious to laugh at me.
She took a step toward the line by
which her boat was fastened.
-. ALLOW me-"
"lf you think you can,-safely," she
said; and the laughter that lurked in
her eyes annoyed me.
"The feminine kLCt is designed for
the confusion of man." l observed
twitching vainly at the rope, which
was tied securely in unfamiliar loops.
She was singularly unresponsive.
The thought that she was probably
laughing at my clumsiness did not
make my fingers more nimble.
'The nautical instructor at st.
Agatha's is undoubtedly a woman.
This knot must come in the POSTCARD,
uate course. But my gallantry is
equal. l trust, to your patience
The maid in the red tam-o shanter
continued silent. The wet rope was
obdurate, the knot more and more
hopeless, and my efforts to make light
of the situation awakened no response
In the girl. l tugged away at the rope
attacking it's tangle on various the
cries.
"a case for surgery, I'm afraid. A
truly gordian knot, but l haven't my
knife"
ooh, but you wouldn't" she ex
claimed. Il think l can manage"
She bent down. was aware tha
the sleeve of her jacket brushed my
shoulder-seized an end that / hat
ignored, gave it a sharp tug with {
slim, brown hand and pulled the kno
free.
"There!" she exclaimed with a littl,
laugh; Il might have saved you al
the bother"
'How dull of me! But didn't hav
the combination" said, steadying tn
canoe carefully to mitigate the ignom
my of my failure.
She scorned the hand I extended
but embarked with light, confiden
step and took the paddle. 1t was grow
ing late. The shadows in the WOO
we're deepening; chill crept over tn
water, and. beyond the tower of tn
chapel. the sky was bright with tn
glory Of sunset.
With a few skillful strokes sh
brought her little craft beside m
pipe, which she deftly caught on tn
paddle blade and tossed to the whar
Perhaps you can pipe a tune upo
it," she said, dipping the paddle.
"You put me under great oblig
TONS" l declared. Are all the CIR
at st. Agatha's as amiable?"
Il shouldn't say so! I'm great e
ception, -and--I really shouldn't
talking to you at all! It's against Il
rules! And we don't encourage smo
ing"
1.-THE chaplain doesn't smoke, su
pose"
mot In chapel; believe 1t Isl
done! And we rarely see him an
where else"
She had idled with the paddle
far. but now she lifted her eyes a.
drew back the blade for a long stroll
"But in the wood.-this morning
by the WALL"
hate myself to this day for havl
so startled her. The poised bla
dropped into the water with splas