The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-02-18

THE NEXT INSTANT BE FELT THE SHOCK
OF COLD WATER.
ways a jester, and, on the other hand,
Bray sometimes frightened her by his
gravity and earnestness.
Nothing ever seemed to upset him.
His clothes were always as trinity
neat as though he had just left his
dressing room, and Gordon had gain
ed a laugh on his rival when he had
declared that Bray selected his clothes
to match his temper. Both were lack
ing In violent contrasts. peter Per
fection' they had all come to call him,
and as for Dolly Tatum she was afraid
that she could not measure up to his
standards.
She watched him as he busted him.
self with the light skiff, noting the
precision of his movements rather than
the unhurried speed with which he
prepared for the trip The business
suit he had worn down from the city
was scarcely a boating costume, and
he looked out of place, indeed, as he
got the boat ready for the launching.
As he helped Dolly to her place in the
stern and prepared to shove off the
girl leaned back against the seat and
gave sigh of content.
81 love the river" she said as Bray
took up the oars. 81 could not go back
without one more trip. / was on the
water every day last summer. It's a
shame to drag you out to row."
- 30 -nfd
Bray calmly. "In view of the fact
that this is the first time in months
have not had to share your society
with others / consider myself fortu-
nate indeed"
Dollys fingers closed over the side
Of the boat. She had trusted to her
skill to avoid personalities, and yet
the first speech had led to an open
ing. There was logged look in
Bray's face which told that he would
not be put off.
81 have been trying to get at this for
some time" he went on quietly, not
pausing In the strong, even strokes
that were carrying them rapidly to-
ward the channel II have been seek
ing an opportunity for putting my fate
to the test. You must know that l
love you, Dolly. I am not very sue
cessful in masking my feelings where
you are concerned Do you think that
you could learn to care for me, dear
care for me enough to marry me?
know that / am not as lively as Cor
don, but love you very dearly. Per
haps that should be argued as point
In my favor though how could l help
loving you'll or any other man"
Dolly's face grew grave, and the
tender little mouth took on a drool
that made Bray long to kiss it. She
did not speak for a few minutes, but
looked past the oarsman with eyes
that did not see the glorious autumnal
| panorama. The banks turned a blur
of green and yellow and red through
| the tears that had come unbidden.
Presently she stretched out her hand
with a little appealing gesture. please
don't ask an answer now" she said
gently. Don't spoil the morning-my
last row. Perhaps tonight
Bray bowed gravely and bent to the
oars. finding in the work a vent for
| the tension within. He fancied that
he had already received an answer
and as he bent his back to the oars sc
also he bent his head to defeat. Al
most before they realized it the boat
had reached the head of the inlet and
had grated gently on the sand.
Lets drift back" proposed Dolly
at will give you chance to rest"
Obediently Bray pulled back into the
channel and unshipped the oars. Then
he moved forward one seat, and as
| they foated with the tide he tried to
set Dolly at her ease with small talk.
So engrossed did they become In Their
conversation that they never noticed
that they were drifting into trouble
until with a bump the boat settled
against the railroad bridge that span
ned the water. A sharp wind was
blowing, and it had forced them out OF
their course.
Bray sprang for an oar to pole back
into the channel In his excitement he
was less careful than usual. When he
gave a lunge for the oar, he felt his
footing shift as the fat bottomed boat
tipped to one side. The next instant
he felt the shock of cold water.
| Dolly gave shrek as he went over