The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-31
THE EVENING STORY
A Rowing Lesson.
(By Jane Ludlum Lee. }

81 wasn't going to row that big fat
| colonel across Puget Sound just to
| exercise my muscles, and a little white
fh now and then won't hurt anybody
Come along"
Dora finally gathered up her stock
ing bag, and with suggestion of
"take-your-l -in-your-hand" express
| sion started down the hill with Julia.
Several of the hotel employees were
| about the float and helped the girls to
, find n boat that was fairly clean. One
of them stepped up, saying: "Are you
| going to row yor self Miss Abbott?
Puget Sound is bit tricky at times
and the harbor is pretty full of boats
| just now. Better take a man along"
Il don't want man along! that's
| just why am going for row-to get
them, and, anyway, Mrs. Mills and I
are both good swimmers. Push her
| off, john
Julia seemed to pull pretty good
stroke for a girl who had said in pres
ence of witnesses that she could not
row, and soon Doras frightened ex-
preston had faded into one of content
as a soft breeze blew across her fore
head.
IT thought you couldn't row,
Julia
''Of course I can row. Whoever
7 heard of college girl that couldn't?
J You see went to Cornell and we girls
had rowing club to compete with the
boys fTeQ-yOu KNOW FTeu, QOl
you? well, he used to coach me on
| Saturdays, and that is how I have such
! a good stroke"
| do you mean Fred Conroy that
went to japan last year?'
'"'Course 1 do Whom did you
| think I meant?'
ct thought you never mentioned his
| name any more. I know L referred to
/ him month or so ago, and you po-
| litely asked me never to refer to him
| IN n a
| a dead one I think you said
"WeI, he is dead-that is, as far as
I am concerned, and, oh. Dora, I
sometimes feel that maybe he really.
is dead, and it's all my fault"
With this last remark Julia gave
couple of terrific pulls on the oars as
| if to emphasize the meaning of it, and
crash they went into a little sailboat
| that lay at anchor.
] Even if he is dead, there is no use
J of our joining him in his watery
grave, Julia Please look where you
are going. or I'll get out"
did you think of walking ashore or
driving, Dora?"
well, I didn't want to come. Julia
Abbot. and you know it, and I'll just
| thank you to row me ashore and
| leave me to my darning."
"Oh, Dora, I'm sorry you're cross,
and I'm sorry I said anything
the thought of Fred way out there in
| Japan nearly drives me crazy. I'll give
| you lesson in rowing IL you'll come
! over here and take one oar
| After much persuasion and argu-
ment, Dora began to collect her be-
lo7gings and tuck up her skirts pre-
| paratory to moving over on the seat
| with Julia. Teh harbor was full of
boats and they had quite an audience,
but Julia had made up her mind that
! Dora should take a lesson and she bull
lied her into making the change. The
boat lurched about as Dora came over
and with a scream she pointed to a
large bundle that fell overheard.
! ''My stockings, my stockings" she
screamed, pointing frantically at the
bag that was still floating.
"WeTl,, of all the sillies," exclaimed
Julia. 'to bring your darning with you
in rowboat Wait a minute. I can
she leaned over the edge of the
boat, which was a small, round-bot-
toned affair, lost her balance and
dsrted over the side into the water.
Screams arose from all sides of "Wo-
! man overboard!" while Dora set UP a
frantic moan, wringing her hands, but
not daring to move otherwise in her
helpless situation.
In a second Julia was swimming
| toward the bag, and, laughingly, she
grabbed it. By this time several sail
ors were overheard to her rescue, but
she refused all offers of assistance.
She swan to the nearest large vessel,
w
had anchored there to leave its
freight.
won't you go to my friend?" she
said as they offered her assistance.
"She Is really very much frightened.
Please row her over here and then
we can go home"
Julia climbed up the gangway into
a chair that the pilot offered her. The
girl was a wreck in more ways than
one.
| "I'l1 he all right in a minute" she
said to the pilot. "Just as soon as I
| car get my breath. You see my friend
lost her bag overheard and well, I
Just fell reaching for it. Awfully
stupid of me, wasn't it?''
WAS there money in the bag, or
jewels?" asked the pilot with some
concern.
''Noither-just stockings no.-k'v
replied Julia, as she held up to his
i view an armful of sopping hosiery.
Stockings" yelled the surprised
pilot. What will women do next ?
| Hahi Hah!" Turning around he
called, 81 say, Cortroy, come along here
and see what we rescued, while I help
the rest of the party aboard"
Julia did not laugh, but sat up very
mentioned. How silly, she thought!
Conroy is a simple enough name and
she leaned back again in the easy
steamer chair. But not for very long
! tall, pale and sickly looking face ap-
peareG at the door peering around in
search of the rescued party. His
glance finally fell upon Julia and met
hers and the college girl who had won
medals for her bravery and muscle
was just woman enough to faint as