Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-05-30


81 beg your pardon" I said, stepping
away from the canoe.
She did not wear the covert coat of
the morning, but a 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 checks, 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 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 ssterhood 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 tho 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, tri1e guilty at being
caught in the l1warrantable inspection
of another persons prOperty-particu
larly a person so wholly pleasing to
the eye.
Il believe believe that is my pad
die" she said, little timidly I thought,
and yet With dehnteness.
looked down and found to my an.
noyance that l held her paddle In my
hand,-was in fact leaning upon it
with a cool cir Of proprietorship.
Again, beg your pardon" l said.
81 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
such being the case there was no rea-
son why / 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" I
said. But ! did not relish the idea OF
kneeing on the dock to fish for a 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-"
"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 vanly 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 woman.
This knot must come in the POSTCARD.
uate course. But my gallentry 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 It's tangle on various tho
cries.
"A case for surgery, I'm afraid. A