The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-10-10
In a SaiIbOaf
By NJ. A. Keeter.


opOe O0 AOIt6 AbId1b1, I1efu ~ rs III Tile
first glory Of its brilliant verdure, and
the soft blue sky above and its blue
reflection in the water below presents
a picture OF such exquisite beauty and
repose that few brushes could do it
justice on canvas. At Prospect, fac
ing the bay, stands a Queen Anne cot
taSe with many hanging balconies,
and standing on the most eerie one
are two young women, of the nine
tenth century ultra-fashionable type;
the smart cut of their cloth frocks
suggests Redfern, and their fine
bearing and conscious worth the
thoroughbred. 1t is about ten o'clock.
IT'S all very lovely and peaceful
and serene, Lily" says the younger
of the two girls, with a little weary
sigh. But l like 1t better in Aug
ust, when the bay is thick with yachts
and rowboats; in fact, to be sincere
with you. It has about as festive an
appearance now as the Desert of Sa-
hara, and think we were downright
daft to leave town 50 early this sea-
SON.
Il am really sorry for you Bertha, ;"
replies the other, with an amused
look in her fine eyes. Let US give
the Pixie her first sail this season;
she will help TO liven up the bay for
you"
The grieVed look in Berthas eyes
gives way to radiant delight at her
sisters proposition, and in gay spir-
its they leave the balcony and are
soon on the pier in their white fan
mel yachting suits and tarpaulin hats
of the jaunty sailor cut.
Lilly is the skipper, and Bertha the
deck hand-as her sister calls her
her duty aboard ship being to tend
the center board, hold the sheet rope
when occasion demands, shift the bal
last, and make herself generally use
full
There is scarcely ripple on the
bay. and the half dozen filmy clouds
have now lost themselves in the blue
ether
The breeze is steady and gentle;
the girls keep up rafting chatter at
first, but the utter peace and quiet
seems to have a subdued effect, and
soon the only sound heard is that of
the water as the Pixies" sharp bow
softly cuts through ii.
They sail on, but It is not long be-
fore the sail trembles and the eddy
ha niA haH 4 -, a.,
percepubls. Bertha" says Lily, at
last. we are going to be becalmed;
there Is scarcely a breath Of air" She
moistsns her forefinger and holds it
aioft after the manner OF sailors.
Don't mention anything so mon
strous," cried Bertha, dropping the
book she had been reading and now
fully alive TO the situation. We shall
simply broil standing still In this hot
sun. Why, there's Robins island;
cannot we make it before the wind
goes altogether"
Not unless we row, and even then
| am sure you will not care to land
there"
u,
after all" says Lily, presently, look
ing wistfully at the trees There are
probably no men there as early as
this, and we can rest In the shade
until the wind comes up"
So they took the brass-tipped oars
and rowed toward the shore. It looks
very cool and inviting; occasionally
the sweet strains Of birds song
reach the rowers as they paddle
through the mirrOr-hke water. II is
slow and tiresome work, and after
much trouble they effect a passable
landing, and climbing the bank they
sit exhausted under the spreading
bough OF large tree. There is
high and heavy underground behind
them toward the interior of the is
land.
Robins island is owned by a club
of New York men, and is hunting
ground. there being on it fine pre-
serves OF quail. etc.
This 70 almost an adventure"
pants Bertha, as she removes her hat
and brushes her damp bang off her
forehead
'Hush," suddenly cries Bertha,
holding up warning finger TO her
sister who sits some distance from
her, with her head leaning against the
trunk of tree She listens intently.
turning her head psrtly on one side
like a bird, and then says. in a stage
whisper: Would not It ba too un-
utterably terrible, il there should be
any men here, Lily? am sure
heard something like footsteps way
back in the woods"
Your imagination is too active for
comfort, Bertha; If you did hear any
thing, it was probably rabbit; these
tall bushes are an. effective screen for
us, even if any genus homo should
be abroad, which is unlikely Now
please do not speak to me for ten
minutes; | am too tired to even
think" she closes her eyes and Ber-
tina creeps over to her and rests her
head in her lap.
There is a crashing in the bushes
not far from the girls, who have been
rudely startled from their short nap
and they look with bIanched faces in
the direction Of the sound. Then
l.