The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-04-05
geleet Story.
A LUCKY DISCARD.
BY WILLIAM B. KELLER, JR.

slid onto the floor of the canoe, and stretch
ing out his massive length, gazed up int
the cloudless blue with profound content
''I feel as if | could lie here forever
almost" he murmured.
However, sleep did not come as easily
as heexpected He suddenly remembered
that only two days more were left OF hl'
vacation. Besides the usual reluctance tt
90 back to work, Cartwright experienced
distinct regret at leaving, accompanied by
sense floss, vague feeling of funeasiness fol
which at first he was at a loss to account
His thoughts gradually revolved around the
most distressingly alluring bit of femininity
he had ever beheld.
He could see the free swing of her walk
the unruly little ringlets around her neck
and could almost hear the low trill of hel
laughter. Suddenly he realized exactly
why he so hated to return to the city
This discovery had a depressing effect
which soon gave way, however, to pro
nounced irritation. Cartwright became
incensed at himself for allowing his emo
lions to take so serious turn. For from
the beginning of their acquaintance he hae
had a suspicion that she was confirmed
and accomplished firt.
In the fourteen days at the hotel he haC
seen almost as many men become her alb
ject slaves, and he had firmly resolved tha
she would never make fool of him, ever
if he had to shorten his vacation to pre-
vent it, with the result that although ht
had managed to keep away from her i'm
mediate presence, he was just as much il
the tolls.
At length, wearied by these calculations
and lulled by the motion of the canoe, he
fell asleep.
How long he slept Cartwright did no
know. He was awakened by the calling
of his name, accompanied with Sigh;
JAR He sat up and found himself staring
straight into the eyes Of the girl whom, o.
all others, he tried most to avoid, bu
wanted most to see.
"Miss Sutherlandr' he calculated, re
covering himself Il little, and at the same
time noticing how bewitchingly her trim
sailor became her, "what-what's the
matter?' Then" what are you doing in {
canoe without any paddle?''
"Im sure [ don't know" she replied
looking at him, half defiantly, half appeal
ingly. 'You see, my paddle just slipped
away. See, over there it is. And be-
fore 1 knew it your silly old boat came
along and almost ran me down.
"rm very sorry he apologized lame
ly. II guess I must have been asleep.
"Possibly," she murmured, and Cart
wright could not tell whether he was beins
laughed at or not, though she returned hi
scrutiny with solemnity.
He put his hand back to where he hac
dropped his paddle, but, to his dismay, nj
paddle met his grasp.
cit must have been knocked overheard
when we collided,'' she said, weakly
sWhat on earth can we do now?'
He replied by crouching down in hi
canoe and attempting to propel it by mean
of his hands in the direction of the truan
paddle. Unluckily, his haste and his wilc
endeavors to keep the boat straight on he
course overcame good intentions and Cart
wright was precipitated into the water.
Miss Sutherland, having once heard hin
remark that swimming was not among hi
accomplishments, realized the situation t.
be very grave indeed.
The victim had gone down once and wa
about to go under again. The girls fac'
had suddenly become white and drawn
In the few moments that she watched th'
struggle, the past weeks seemed to hasl
before her mind She remembered plainl,
the first time she had seen Cartwright, OIL
the night of his arrival, and how he hat
seemed to fill her thoughts ever since.
She had been piqued in the beginnin!
at his seeming Indifference toward her, unit
she had surprised look on his face which
her intuition told her was something NOR
than an expression of mere curiosity
Since that time, with true feminine per
versity, she had delighted in tantalizins
him, by carrying on series Of Irritation
with nearly every man in the place. AM
now she knew that his life meant every
thing, and more, to her.
Being an excellent swimmer, she woul'
have gone to his assistance Immediately ly
but the magnitude of the stake for whicl
she was to fight for the moment held he
powerless. However, the delay was scarce
iy noticeable. Calling to him not to Civ
up, she was about to plunge in, when t
her astonishment Cartwright, ceasing hi
struggles, calmly raised his head AM
shoulders above the water and regarded he
with broad grin which plainly betokene
both profound sheepishness and immens
relief.
Perceiving that they were in shallo0
part of the lake and that all immediat
danger was over, Miss Sutherland began t
feel the strain through which she mad jus
passed. She sank to the bottom of tn
canoe and began sobbing.
"Don't mind me, please" she begged
breathlessly, "Tll be all right in min
ute
"Tm awfully sorry I frightened 20
SO, he said, contritely, fervently wishin
he could take her in his arms and prov
how very sorry he really was. 81 wouldn'
make you cry for anything in the world,
he blurted out. '.Fd rather lose my righ
hand than hurt you He stopped alb
ruptly.
Miss Sutherland had caught the vibrar
feeling in his voice, the earnestness o
his face, and it filled her with great haI
piness. 1t enthralled and dominated hel
and in her unconscious surrender to ii
sweet potency she murmured: "You don
know how glad it makes me feel to hear
and then stopped, aghast at what she wa
about to say.
The man at her side caught his breat
at the promise in her voice. He strove
seek its fulfllment in her eyes, but for ono
she did not dare to meet the gaze OF fellow