The Washington herald., 1907-01-10

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dueked her way between myriads Of an
chored craft, mostly steam launches.
/ Viola Ainsley looked at the receding
shore with d sigh Of relief. The sail
filed with brisk breeze and spray
dashed against the bow as they tackled
! for the open bay The air was keen and
fresh and full Of relish. The sun shone
j strong and warm.
/ Splendid. isn't it, cried Miss Aims
/ ley
| Peyton smiled Il thought you liked
/ that sort OF thing better. he said. with
La backward glance at the summer col
ony Of Cuncrest, rows Of cottages and a
/ big hotel that stood a little back from
the water front.
! Don't | look as il I was enjoying my
self?' she parried.
For a person not addicted TO the sim
pie life I must confess you do sad
/ Peyt0n. regarding her as she perched Oh
the seat before him. in her trim white
yachting suit
What a salty tang" she shifted. It's s
/ strange. but one never seems to get the
full flavor of il near the shore
! zone has 10 get Out-away out % set
/ the full flavor Of most things. / fancy,
/ Peyton answered, his brown hand on the
tiIler. his keen eyes looking straight
ahead.
Why did you come here at all, them
/ Viola questioned you must have known
what a summer hotel would be HSer
one has ones duty to ones family.
you know. and my mother and sister
are here And then there's another rea-
/ son for my coming l followed a girl
I A girl
/ Yes. "a girl I saw on the train. She
I had the seat across the aisle from me.
and there were a lot Of people with her,
/ a very gay. noisy, fashionable crowd.
/ The girl was laughing with the rest u
/ them and / thought she was their kind
till ] saw her eyes. And then ! knew,
/ for they were neither hard nor shallow.
nor fun Of surface lights They were
/ very deep and beautiful II she We're
moved by love, / think they could be
/ exQuisiteIy tender
"Rut who is she?" cried Miss Aims
ley. in utter innocence, and then flushed
| suddenly as Peyton's look answered her
/ OH she said, breathless!y, and turned
away her head.
course, ! know il was extremely
foolish of me-" PeytOn FeTnaId went on,
because rUmor has already engaged her
to millionaire McNugget-'
Miss Ainsley bit her lip. "Rumor," she
said. is often very impertinent"'
/ Then il isn't true?'
/ ITS not true-yet," said Miss Ainsley,
and dabbled her hand over the edge of
/ the boat.
/ "Ah," he began.
/ mo" she said, quickly you've made a
! great mistake. The girl isn't at all as
you've imagined her. She's very fond of
money. She's hard and selfish and doesn't
! care for simple things a bit. Shed hate
not to have lots of houses and clothes and
a good time.
You think. then" said Peyton. that
/ because Tn not very well of in this
worlds goods il would be quite useless if
I asked her 10 marry me?"
| quite useless. I'm afraid" returned
/ Miss Ainsley, gently. Though ! know
what the girls missing, for there aren't
many men in the world who She
paused as the boat gave an abrupt lurch,
nearly sweeping her from her feet. Pey-
ton reached out strong arm and stead
led her. The keel Of The GulTs Wing
| scTaped against something hard and slip
perry, then with a slide and a splash the
boat Tighted herself. and went on But
the cockpit was rapidly filing with water.
I "A deTeliCt dOTy, by jingO." cried Pey-
ton. as a dark object drifted past them
l
the tiller and the main sheet" he di-
rected, "and put for that little island over
there. I'll have TO bale like bIazes"
Viola did as she was bid, crouchlng on
the seat TO be out of reach of the water
that swished in the bottom of the boat
/ The trees of the little island they were
/ approaching stood out sharply against
the blue sky. Its sandy beach Law white
and shining in the sun.
DO you think well make it?' she asked
quietly
Wen try" he answered. with equal
| repression. Their eyes met in the un-
| dsrstandng of a common peril. There was
much against them. but wind and tide
were with them, and when The GulTs
Wing sank it was within a few feet of the
| islands shore.
Peyton stepped out and carried Miss
Ainsley to land. Then he pulled in the
boat as far as he could and made il fast
"Maroonedr' cried Miss Ainsley. lightly
She did not refer 10 their past danger. nor
did he, save 10 say. sOlicit0usly: Miss
Ainsley. you're soaking weti'
so are yOui But the suns strong and
hot on this little beach. and we'll soon
dry. When do you think they'll come for
us2"
I'm afraid we won't be missed tin
nightfall, and it's only o'clock now.
! Thank heaven my matches aren't damp.
and we can build "A fire.
"Crusoe the Second laughed Miss
Ainsley. DO you think the wreck will
! yield us anything? 1t should, according
to the best story books
Nothing but the baling pail. and a
coffeepOt and two tin cups in the stern
/ locker"
Get them" she besought; wen use
them TO cook With
| Cook what?"
Miss Ainsley's eyes danced. "Oh. Cru
soc, Crusoe! Haven't you any imagina-