The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-04-18

cHAPTER WI.-contInued.

CHAPTER W-contlnued.
I turned to stand fece to face with
the girl in the red tam-o'-shanter
Il beg your pardon, l 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
g~oOd-humored curiosity. She was on
good terms with the sum reioiced In
the brown Of her cheeks, so eloquent
OF co~mpanionshiD with the outdoor
world-a certificate indeed Of the ia
vor OF Heaven. Show me. in October,
a girl with a face OF tan, whose hands
have piled a paddle or driven a golf
ball or cast a hy beneath the blue
arches Of summer. and / VIII suffer
her seorn 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 sreckles
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. I was sure, my discom-
future at being taken unawares.
had snatched on my cap and stood
waiting beside the canoe. feeling. l
must admit, a tribe guilty at being
caught IN the understandable 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. a little timidly thought.
and yet with dehniteness.
l looked down and found to my an
noyance that I held her paddle in my
hand.-was in fact leaning upon it
with a cool arr Of pr~oprietorship.
Again, l beg your pardon, l said.
Il hadn't expected"
She eyed me calmly. with the stare
of the child that arrives at a drawing
room door by mistake and s%crutinizes
the guests without awe. didn't know
what I had expected or had not expect.
ed, and she manifested no intention OF
helping me to explain. Her short skirt
suggested is or I6-not more-and
such being the case there was no rea.
son why / should o be master of the
situation. AS fumbled my pipe the
hot Goals OF tobacco burned my hand
and I 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
1t; but II you hurry you may get il
before It floats away"
Thank you for the suggestion ]
said. But I did o relish the idea OF
kneeling on the dock 20 FISH for a pipe
before a strange school girl who was.
] felt sure. anxious 10 laugh az me
She took a step towardsthe line by
which her boat was fastened.
Allow me"
IF you think you can.-safely. I" She
said; and the laughter that lurked Ia
her eyes annoyed me.
The feminine knot Is designed fog
the confusion of man. ] observed
twitching yatnly al the rope. which
was tied securely In unfamiliar loops
She was singularly unresponsiye
The thoaght that she was ~probabl.
laughing M my clumsiness dad no
make my fingers more nimble.
The nautical instructor az 81
Agatha's Is undoubtedly a woman
This knot must come IN the POSTCARD
uate course. But my gallantry ID
equal. trust. TO your patience
The maid IN the red tamo'shantel
continued silent. The wet rope wa,
ohdurate, the knot more and NOR,
hopeless. and my Efforts 10 make lighI
OF the situation awakened no response
in the girl. tugged away al the rope
attacking IFS tangle on various the
cries.
"A ease for surgery. I'm afraid. A
truly gordian knot. but haven't m,
knife"
oh but you wouldn't" she ex
claimed, \ think I can manage.
She bent down. was aware tina.
the sleeve OF her jacket brushed ms
shoulder-seized an end that I haC
ignored. gave it a sharp tug with
slim, brown hand and pulled the kno.
free.
"There!" she exclaimed with a uttl,
laugh. = might have saved you al
the bother"
How duh OF me! But didn't have
the combination. / said. steadying the
canoe carefully 10 mitigate the ignom
my OF my failure.
She scomed the hand / extended
but embarked with light confident
step and took the paddle. Il was grow
ing late. The shadows Ia the wood
were deepening; a chill crept over the
water. aud, beyond the tower OF the
chapel. the sky was bright with the
glory 81 sunset
With a few skillful strokes she
drought her little craft beside my
pipe. which she deity eanght on the
paddle blade and tossed 10 the wharf.
uplrhnur uau eau nina 4 tune uuou