The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1907-03-07
Me
Reconciliation.
BY Elizabeth r. Thurlow.

Slowly the canoe drifted along
down the stream. A vision in pink
lay In the stern among scores Of
gayly colored sofa pillows lszily eye
ing the landscape.
1t was . beautiful landscape.
Everything was bathed In the glow
OF the setting sun, which had sunk
almost below the horizon. Ali
around lay the calmly flowing river.
On one side of 1t great mountains
rose srandly upward to the sky On
the other, low fertile valleys sloped
away as far as the eye could resch
There was not a human being in
sight. Now and then the chirp of
the crickets hailing the coming night
or the chunking of q bullfrog far
away in the distance disturbed the
ominous silence
The girl In the canoe soliloquized
thus, as she held up her tanned left
hand and gazed at the bare third
finger: II don't care, 1t was all his
fault-well, l guess perhaps 1 did
nirt with that George Harding-but,
anyway. it's time-oh, we'll with q
little sob), II he doesn't want me he
needn't have me. only-oh! dear"
Without thinking she gave a sud-
den lurch and sat up in the canoe
Without a minutes notice 1t had
capsized, throwing her into the tam
giles OF eel grass along the shore.
She did not know how to swim, butt
when she came to the surface, held
fast by the reeds, she grabbed hold
of the bottom of the canoe and hung|
on. 1t seemed to her that she hung
on hours and hours, but in reality It'll
was about ten minutes.
Slowly down the path leading to
the river came a young man. His
hands were clasped behind him-his
eyes were cast downward, and his
forehead was wrinkled into great
knots. Once In a while he would
give vicious kick to some small
rock which lay In hts path. "Oh,
d" he was saying to himself.
what q blasted fool I was to be
Jealous Of Harding last night II II
didn't know that he was head over
heels in love with her, don't believe
that l would be, but when he tells
all the fellows that he will win herl
yet, as all's fair in love and war, and
shen she seems to encourage him
oh gad--well (giving terrific
stamp) Doll will never take me
back, no she'll never take me back
Suddenly as he reached the brow
Of low hill he looked down to the
river, and there, floating along on
the wide expanse was an overturned
canoe with bit of frail humanity III
pink clinging to 1t. AS quick as a
flash he pulled of MS oxfords and
then fairly flew over the ground tol
saw and his strength almost failed
him, for that tiny sunburned face,
thrown back in mute appeal tol
heaven, was none other than his
sweetheart's, Doll.
Down the bank he ran, and along
the edge Of the water until he found
a clear stretch bare of eel grass CO.
ing out towards the middle of thel
river and towards the canoe. Hel
knew that It would be impossible toI
reach her through the eel grass, as
he himself might become entangled.
Quickly he jumped into the water
and quicker still he pulled himself
along. Stroke after stroke-wouldI
he ever reach her? Could he reach
her before she became exhausted
and let loose her grasp!
At last he got to her side and TAX
ing her now unconscious form into
his arms quickly swan to the shore
He carried her to little green knoll |
close by, and there sat down with
her in his arms, covering her face
with kisses. Slowly she opened her
eyes and gazed into his face.
"Oh! Jack" with a soft sigh.
Then with convulsive sob
Jackie dear, where Is my ring?"
Jack remembering he had forgot
ten to take 1t from his pocket since
the previous night, quickly brought
1t forth and plared 1t on her finger.
The last ravs of the setting sun
shone down on them, as they plod-
ded up the hill towards home, and AZ
she lifted her hand to fix a stray |
lock Of hair, the diamond caught the
CLEAN of the slanting rays in its own
clear depths.
Jack saw 1t and taking her hand
in his said: Dolly, dear, just til
think that the overturning OF that
canoe gave you back to me-" ano
then laughingly, SAY, Doll, l tel
you what we'll do We will enjoy oui
honeymoon by padding in this sans
canoe on the lakes of California.
And Dolls eyes looked her consent.