, 1908-02-20

She did not wei the covert mat -
me morning. but a red knit Jacket. bv4.
one light about her. She was yu,ns
with every emphasis Of youth. A mar
OF dark blue eyes examined me with
good-humored curiosity. She was IN
good terms with the SUM- reioics6 In
the brown of her oheeks, so eloquent
Of companionship with the ortdoor
world-a certificate indeed of the fa.
Vol OF Heaven. Show me. in October.
a girl with a face Of tan. whose hands
nave piled a paddle or driven a golf.
ball or cast a fly beneath the blue
arches of summer. and | VIII suffer
her scorn 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 freckles
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. !, was sure. my discom.
future at being taken
| had snatched of my cap and stood
waiting beside the canoe. feeling, I
must admit. a trife guilty at being
caught in the u~nwarrantable inspection
Of another persons property-particu-
larly a person so wholly pleasing to
the eye.
Il believe| believe that ia my pad
de-" she said, a little timidly I thought,
and yet with de%fniteness,
! looked down and ound to my an
noyance that l held her paddle in my
hand.-was in fact leaning upon II
with a cool air of proprietorship.
Again. | beg your pardon" l said.
II hadn't expected"
She eyed me calmly. with the stare
Of the child that arrives at a dra wing.
room door by mistake and scrutinizes
the guests without awe. | didn't know
what / had expected or had not expect
ed. and she manifested no intention Of
helping me to explain. Her short skirt
suggested Is or 16-not more-and
such being the case there was no rea-
son why ! should not he master of the
situation. As | fumbled my pipe the
hot Goals Of tobacco burned my hand
and / cast the thing from me.
She laughed a little, hen caught
herself and gravely watched the pipe
bound from the dock into the water.
Too bad" she said, her eyes upon
It; but if you hurry you may get 1t
before it floats away"
Thank you for the suggestion" l
said. But | did not relish the idea Of
kneeling on the lock to fish ror d pipe
before a TRANCE school girl who was.
l felt sure, anxious to laugh at me.
She took a step toward the line by
which her BOAT was fastened.
ALLOW me-"
"If you think you can,-safely." she
said; and the laughter that lurked in
her eyes anroy ed me.
THE feminine knot is designed for
the confusion of man." | observed,
twitching aiu'y at he rope. which
was tied securely in unfamiliar loops.
She was singularly unresponsive.
The thought mat she vas probably
laughing at my clumsiness did not
make my nn9ers more nimble.
The nautical instructor at st.
Agatha's is undoubtedly a woman.
This knot must come in the POSTCARD
uate course. But my gallantry 10
equal, | trust, to you patience"
The maid in the red tam-o.shantsr
continued silent. The wet rope was
obdurate. the knot more and more
hopeless. and my efforts to MAKE light
of the situa awakened no response
in the girl ] tugged away at the rope.
attacking its tangle on various the
cries.
"A ease for surgery, I'm afraid. A
truly gordian knot, but l haven't my
knife"
"Oh, but you wouldn't" she 81
claimed. 81 think l a manage"
She bent down. was aware that
the sleeve OF her jacket brushed my
shoulder-seized an end that ! had
ignored, gave 1t a sharp tug with .
slim, brown hand and pulled the knot
free.
There" she exclaimed with a little
laugh; Il might have saved you all
the bother"
How dull of me! But ! didn't have
the combination" l said, steadying the
canoe carefully to mitigate the ignom-
my of my failure.
She scorned the hand ! extended.
but embarked with light, confident
step and ooh the paddle. 1t was grow
ing late. The shadows in the wood
were deepening; a chill crept over tina
water, and, beyond he tower OF the
chapel, the sky was bright with the
glory of sunset.
With a few skillful strokes she
brought her little craft beside my
pipe, which she deity caught on the
paddle blade and tossed to the wharf.
Perhaps you can pipe a tune upon
IT," she said, dipping the paddle.
"you mt me under great obligA.