Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-02-11

tnaI did'nSt see the glorious autumnal
panorama. The banks turned q blur
of green and yellow and red through
the tears that had come unbidden. =
Presently she stretched out her hand
with 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 q vent for
the tension within. He fancied that
he had already received an answer.
| and as he bent his back to the oars so
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.
1T will give you a chance to rest"
Obedicntly Bray pulled back into the
channel and unshipped the oars. Then
he moved forward one seat. and as
they floated 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 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 lunge for the oar. he felt his
footing shift as the fiat bottomed boat
tipped to one side. The next instant
he felt the shock of cold water.
Dolly gave shrek as he went over
board. but the next instant her terror
was turned to mirth at the sight of
Bray sitting in two feet of water with
an expression of, startled wonder on
his face.
1t was only for a second that the
tableau was posed; then Bray scram-
bled to his feet and climbed back into
the boat. His trousers chung wetly to
his legs. and the bedraggled edges of
his coat dripped against the seat. while
with chattering teeth he got out the
oars and began to row for the shore.
Try as she would Dolly could not re-
strain her mirth at the sorry spectacle
he presented. and Bray good naturedly
Joined in her merriment.
But it was less of a joke when the
house was reached. The men of the
family had all removed their clothing
to town when the cottage, had been
closed for the summer Bray, down
for the day. had brought no bags, and
there was nothing left but to seek the
shelter of the Markets while his
clothes underwent the slow process OF
drying before the kitchen fire.
Between the blankets Bray groaned
miserably as he recalled the incidents
of the morning. Whatever chance he
might have had to win Dolly's hanC
had been lost when his plight excited
her ridicule. The single misStep haC
cost him Dolly's Yes" if indeed III
had ever had chance to win it. II
again, sprawling in the icy water, ther
climbing aboard in his mudstained
dripping garments, with Dolly In til,
stern seat in as ecstasy of glee 1t wa
: a bitter hour for Bray, and he wei
. coined the arrival of the cook with
tray
). Miss Dolly, she say eat this and yol
kin have nice dessert" advised Aun
Mandy. "She say you doan get tn
!, dessert till you Gated all the dinner"
= There was a dish of pudding on tn
tray, and, lost in wonder as to wha
the other dessert might be, Bray RAP
idly cleaned his plate. Then Mand
!, entered bearing n covered dish. Onl
= an envelope lay under the cover. an
Bray's heart beat fast as he read tn
few lines.
You dear boz" Dolly wrote. M
answer is Yes l think have Away
Il liked you best. but l was afraid Q
your very perfection. I thought that
. could never attain your high standard
; but you looked so deliciously human i
the water that l knew at that instar
{ that l loved you. AS soon as you
: clothes are dry land they are dryin
e fast, you may come down and receiy
e q verification in person."
d