The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-12-26
THE HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
BY MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Author Of THE MAIN CHANCE" ZELDA
DAMER0N." Etc.
Copyright 1906 by BobDs-Merriil Co.
CHAPTER VI.-Continued.


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
world-a certificate indeed of the ia.
vor Of Heaven. Show me, In October,
| girl with face of tan, whose hands
have piled a paddle or driven a golf.
ball or cast fly beneath the blue
arches of summer, and l Will suffer
her scorn in joy. She may vote me
dull and refute 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
when Pan whistled upon his reed and
all the days were long.
Her rubber-soled outing shoes had
made possible her silent approach, and
she enjoyed l was sure. my discom-
future at being taken unawares.
l had snatched off my cap and stood
waiting beside the canoe, feeling,
must admit, trifie guilty at being
caught in the unwarrantable inspection
of another persons property-particu
larly person so wholly pleasing to
the eye.
Il believe-I believe that is my pad
de-" she said, little timidly thought,
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 cool air of proprietorship.
Again, beg your pardon" said.
II hadn't expected"
She eyed me calmly, with the stare
Of the child that arrives at drawing
room door by mistake and scrutinizes
the guests without awe. / 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
son why l should not be master of the
situation. AS l fumbled my pipe the
hot Goals of tobacco burned my hand
and cast the thing from me.
She laughed 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 it floats away"
Thank you for the suggestion"
said. But / did not relish the idea of
kneeling on the dock to fish for 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-"
III 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." / 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 post-grad-
uate course But my gallantry Is
equal. | 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. tugged away at the rope.
attacking its tangle on various the
cries.
"A case for surgery, I'm afraid. A
truly gordian knot, but 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 | had
ignored, gave it a sharp tug with a
slim. brown hand and pulled the knot
free.
"There!" she exclaimed with little T,
laugh: Il might have saved you all
me DblutI
How dull of me, But 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 wood |
were deepening; chill crept over the
water. and, beyond the tower of the .
chapel, the sky was bright with the
glory of sunset.
With few skillful 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 tune upon
Il. she said, dipping the paddle.
you put me under great obllga.
lions" | declared. Are all the girls
at st. Asatha's as amlable?"