The Washington herald., 1907-09-29
Knowing Miss KnOWLtOn.
By MARSHALL LEONARD.

By MARSHA
Il seemed 10 Travers that life really
began for him when he came TO Lester
20 superintend the building of the cleo
tric works, for until then life had been
uneventful and he had not known Of
Ada Knowlton.
Even now he merely knew of her. for
Travers was not q ladies' man. He
was too terribly in earnN&-tO shine in
society, and. though he had been in Les
ter for nearly two months he seemed
as far from his goal as ever. Every
Sunday he went 10 church and sat where
he could watch the choir where Ada
sang. the staAed glass forming back
ground for the shapely golden head. The
Rev. Josiah Rumford watched approv-
ingly the expression Of rapt interest that
was upon Travers' face all through the
sermon. He could not notice that the
keen blue eyes Of the young contractor
pulpit, and he felt gratihed that he
should hold his auditor so we'll
So II happened that the Rev. Josiah
stopped at the new factory one morning
and extended an invitation TO Travers 10
join church picnic the following week.
1t is almost a family affair" he ex-
planned. as Jimmies hand went down
into his trotsers pocket. Il am not sell
ing tickets. Il Is purely by invitation,
and only for the members OF the Sunday
school. but I thought that perhaps you
might like TO meet some OF the young
people and get acquainted"
Jimmy beamed upon the kindly old man
as he thought of Ada Knowlton, and ac-
cepted the invitation with an eTusiveness
that caused the minister TO wonder at
certain comments be had heard regarding
the unsociabIlity Of the newcomer.
He is nasst cordial" he told his wife.
I am sure that he needs only 60 get ac-
quainted TO be a decided addition to our
little society. 1 am sorry tnat did not
look him up earlier"
Travers echoed the same sentiment as
he went about his work Surely at the
picnic he would meet Miss Knowlton, and
meeting Miss Knowlton had almost be-
come an obessi0n with him He climbed
over the stagings and platforms with a
light heart as he imagined the manner in
which they should meet. He rather fan
cied an introduction under the trees. He
would advance with barred head and bow
low over her hand. Then she would give
him one of these sunny smiles that al
most seemed to be her habltuaI express
sion, and they would go walking together
in the leafy shade. over and over he
mentally rehearsed this scene until il be-
came almost real to him.
But 1T the last moment there came
a complication at the factory. and 1t was
after II o'clock when Travers finally got
away. He lost his way trying TO drive
out in a livery buggy. and when at last
he came TO the lake lunch was over and
the merTymakers had scattered through
the woods
The minister and his wife Insisted that
he have something to eat, and then moth
erly Mrs. Rumford took him in charge
and introduced him to every one in sight
but Ada hnOwlton was nowhere To be
seen.
He made himself agreeable to the
Others but his eyes continually sought
a sight of the pink dress and golden
head that had been the attraction He
had seen them drive past on their way
to the lake. and he had carefully noted
the dress, but not glimpse of it did
he get until well along in the afternoon
Here and there the surface OF the lake
was dotted with small boats and canoes
and in one of the latter he saw the flash
Of pink that scemea-tO communicate its
color to his face. Miss Knowlton, and
alone, And she was padding IN To the
landing.
With assumed carelessness, he directed
his steps toward the tiny wharf to which
the boats were tied. He would be on
hand to assist her from the canoe and.
perhaps, after he had introduced him
self, there might be a chance for the
walk. after all
He had Just reached the dock and the
frail craft was but twenty yards away
when some one called to the navigator
and she turned TO respond with a wave
of her paddle. As she did so the canoe
tipped over. and she was spilled into the
water
White with horror. Travers stripped off
his coat and his low shoes and dived into
the water He was d splendid swimmer
and his heart beat high as he thought Of
the opportunity that had been offered
him.
Then something loomed dark above his
head; there was a shock and all be-
came black 1t was half an hour later
that Travers opened his eyes again and
looked Up into ada Knowlton's face
bending anxOusly over him. His head
throbbed with pain and he was con-
scious that il was done up in bandages.
Don't move" said a gentle voice.
You viii be all right IN a few moments.
You We're struck on the head by the
canoe"
You were the rescued instead OF the
rescuer." laughed DR.. Pyfrom. Miss
KnOwltOn brought you 10 shore"
I am so sorry" she said, bending
over. I was pushing the boat in front
OF me, and did not notice that any one
had dived after me. I should have been
more careful, but I never supposed that
any one would imagine that I was in
danger"
You see" explained the doctor, "the
lake Is only three or four feeedeep. and
when we spill out We Just walk ashore.
And I. like an ass, didn't know that"
murmured Travers. I only saw that
Miss Kno.zifon had coma otrartoard ors