The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-01-30

the eye.
Il believe-I believe that is my pad
die" she said, little timidly l thought,
and yet with defniteness.
I looked down and found to my an
noyance that l held her paddle in my
hand,-was in fact leaning upon it
with cool air of proprietorship.
Again, beg your pardon" l said.
IT 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. I 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 moTe-and
such being the case there was no rea-
son why | 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" |
said. But I did not relish the idea Of
kneeling on the dock to fish for a pipe
before strange school girl who was,
l felt sure, anxious to laugh at me.
She took step toward the line by
which her boat was fastened.
ALLOW me-"
''If you think you can,-safely," she
said; and the laughter that lurked in
her eyes annoyed me.
The feminine knot 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 its tangle on various the
cries.
"a case for surgery, I'm afraid A
truly gordian knot, but l haven't my
knife"
"Oh, but you wouldn't" she ex-
claimed. Il think can manage"
She bent down. was aware that
the sleeve of her jacket brushed my
shoulder-seized an end that 1 had
ignored, gave it a sharp tug with a
slim, brown hand and pulled the knot
free.
"There!" she exclaimed with little
laugh; Il might have saved you all
the bother"
How dull of me! But I didn't have
the combination" said, steadying the
canoe carefully to mitigate the ignom
my of my failure.
She scorned the hand / extended
but embarked with light, confident
step and took the paddle. 1t was grow
ing late. The shadows in the wooC
were deepening; chill crept over the
water, and, beyond the tower OF the
chapel, the sky was bright with the
glory of sunset
With a few skfllful strokes she
brought her little craft beside my
pipe, which she deity caught on The
paddle blade and tossed to the wharf
Perhaps you can pipe a tune upol
it" she said, dipping the paddle.
You put me under great obliga
tons" I declared. Are all the girl
at ST. Agatha's as amiable?"
81 shouldn't say so, I'm a great ex
ception, -and-I really shouldn't b,
talking to you at all! It's against tn
rules! And we don't encourage smoB
ing"
The chaplain doesn't smoke, I SUI
pose"
Not in chapel; I believe it ism
done! And we rarely see him any
where else"
She had idled with the paddle S
far, but now she lifted her eyes an
drew back the blade for a long stroke
But in the wood,-this morning
by the WALL"
hate myself to this day for havYn
, so startled her The poised blad
l dropped into the water with splash
she brought the canoe a trifle neare
to the wharf with an almost impe
ceptible stroke, and turned toward n
with wonder and dismay in her eyes.
so you are an eavesdropper and d.
tective, are you? I beg that you wi
give your master my compliments!
really owe you an apology; I though
you were a gentleman" she exclaime
with whitening emphasis, and dIppe
: her blade deep in flight.
I called, stammering incoherentl
after her, but her light argosy skimme
the water steadily. The paddle ros
:, ana fell with trained precision, maxim