The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1908-07-29

william Thomas Osbon' was the
way the name was written In the big
family Bible, but since he had grad
uated from curls and short skirts and
Willie he had been Bill to all the
boys and .'Will" to all the girls. Only
the occasional appearance of a letter
addressed In full reminded him that
his name was both sonorous and i'm
pressiye.
Like Peter Pan. Osbon never had
grown up. He had arrived at the dig
nifty OF mustaghe. and since his ia
Tiers retirement he had more than
doubled the capacity and capital of
Osbon 4 Son. yet he was still the
same light hearted, apparently care
free Bill Osbon that he had been In
his boyhood and his college days.
Therein lay the source of his great
trouble.
From the time she first could toddle
about until he had left for college Bet
ty Durand had been his almost con,
she had gone to a finishing school, and
when they had returned Osbon found
that there had arisen great barrier
between them,
Betty had developed ideals, and her
boyish sweetheart-boyish stlll-did
not measure up 10 her romantic stand
ards. She still liked Osbon except
when he spoke of love, but Osbon was
too genuinely light hearted to play the
loyesick swain, and when he spoke OF
love with a smile upon his lips Betty
was wont to frown.
Its utterly absurd to ask me To mar
~ YOU" she had declared Il like you
awfully we'll, WILL but must respect
and look up to the man | marry"
Il see,' was the light hearted re
Spouse. you want to be miserable
though married.
Betty frowned again ut this exhibi
ton Of levity ut SO important a mo
went and assured herself that she was
right IN her refusal 10 marry Osbon.
Augustus Esterbrooke seemed TO an
swer To Betty's description OF an ideal
He WAS tail, dark, mysterious and
handsome In saturnine way. No one
ever dreamed of addressing him AZ
Gus" and he moved majestieally In
little world of his own, where the
cares and worries of everyday exist
ence We're not permitted to intrude.
Esterbrooke had Inherited wealth and
estates. wherefore he despised the lit
tie things Of prosaic everyday life.
1t WAS characteristic of Osbon that
he smiled as he saw the majestic Els.
terbrooke escortIng Betty down the
dock at the end of which lay the little
steamer chartered for the Sunday
school excursion down the lake.
Osbon was keenly conscious that lie
wanted Betty 10 be his companion, as
she had always been in those early
years when they had eaten II mixture
of cake and sandwiches and deviled
eggs out of the same shoe box and had
been supremacy content.
1t was all different now. Ester.
brooke's man solemnly bore an Eng
lish lunch hamper and rugs and wraps
enough for n score.
Betty smiled In friendly fashion
upon Osbon, who was darling from
crowd to crowd, exchanging II jest
here, giving word Of greeting there
and doing his best to inspire the holl
day spirit
He paused for moment to exchange
word with Betty; then Esterbrooke
led her of to the upper deck where
they could make themselves comfort
nh In, .f
Passengers We're not allowed on the
upper deck, but Esterbrooke held Il
block OF stock In the transportation
company owning the feet OF three
steamers plying the lake and he was
privileged person.
The pair were not again visible to
the rest Of the picnickers until the
grove was reached then the servant
spread the rugs, made coffee by the
aid of an alcohol stove and served the
lunch
Esterbrooke and Betty wandered
away to escape the crowd and they
did not reappear until the boat was
ready to leave. Esterbrooke hated
crowds, and he had come merely be
cause Betty insisted. He argued to
himself that there would be time
enough after marriage to bend her to
his ways
When they reached the upper deck
he directed the captain to take the
back channel on the way home.
Its beastly bore to repeat the
scenery" he offered In explanation.
The back channel will be "a little dit
ferent"
THE lake is at a pretty low stage
objected the captain. There are
some pretty nasty rocks In the chan
mel, Mr. Esterbrooke"
"Of course If you are afraid he
began and smiled softly to himself as
the captain brought his teeth together
with ii snap and stepped inside the
pilothouse. Esterbrooke had caused
the discharge Of one Of the oldest men
In the employ Of the line for less than
this, AID the employees feared aud
hated him.
Presently the steamer entered the
back channel, and Osbon came hurry
ing up to demonstrate at the risk. He
was familiar with the lake, and as
the chairman OF the excursion commit
tee 1t was his province to interfere.
The captain referred him to Ester
brooke, and the later smiled as lie re
minded him that the charter did not
specify any particular route. Osbon.
beaten, still smiled as he descended
the gangway, but half an hour later
the steamer struck reef and held
fast
AS the keel grated along the rocky
ridge all was confusion, but In the
midst of the confusion Osbon's voice
rang out clear.
mo danger" he shouted. you can
get shipwrecked without extra charge
and We'll get our names In the pa
pers! There's a desert island within
wading distance, and II We have to
We'll all turn Robinson Crusoes"
Ill. IT, "a