The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-11-17

slim, pink-gowned figure Of Jessie
Pennington at the end of the dock.
She waved to him frantically, but he
did not return the signal; rather. he
padded on. feigning not to have seen
her. When next he ventured to look
she was gone Conflicting emotions
were struggling in his heart. One more
day, or two at the most, he thought,
and this chance allowed him by a
wise and kindly providence would slip
| through his fingers. And Jen! Could
he face Jen and with shifting eyes
and hanging head explain to her? In
deed how could he? II might be well
enough for ones valet to think one no
hero, but ones own sister. For ones
own sister to think one--what would
she think Of him anyway? Mr.. Jack
Hartley answered his self-propounded
question, shamefacedly. He must strike
now, while the iron was hot. by Jove,
shalt" He exclaimed the VOW aloud
and fish leaped out of the water. no,
yard away. and back again. The
struggle ceased. A blessed calm sue.
ceeded II. He allowed the canoe TO
drift where 1t might, restful In his
confidence.
-
Overhead fioated white, cool moon,
like a wafer In the sky. The nose of
the slim, silent canoe Kissed upon the
sand and Hartley leaped out, drag
ging the boat after him. He squared
his shoulders and held his chin high
as he strobe inshore. There was no
one on the cottage porch. There was
no sound save the rhythmic tapping Of
] the water at the dock piles and the
early call Of loon from the wood.
land across the lake. Hartley halted
and gazed about him. II was strange,
this quiet. Had an impatient provi-
dence snatched away his opportunity
after all; and now, too, just as he had
begun to feel his strength; after he
had figured 1t all out. with mathemati-
cal precision. and was determined? He
turned the corner of the boat house
and started. He leaned forward, peer
ing into the half-dark and smiled. He
dlscerned figure In the hammock, q
slim figure. pink figure. 1t was half
hidden by the lambrequin that was
drawn up over II.
Jessie! Jess!" Hartley called soft.
| ly. The loon. nearer now, answered
| him with an insane laugh.
| He sank upon a little messy mound
at the base OF one Of the hammock
trees. Jess he continued, as softly,
II have been trying ever 80 long to
make up my mind to tell you some
thing, Jess. I've succeeded at last.
and I've come to tell you now, while
we are alone here, under this calm
moon. Jess, what / want to tell you
Jess. won't you-you don't know how
much you are to me, Jess Ever
since last summer, when you came and
met you at the golf club And
after that, on the links, you know.
I've tried TO tell you any number of
times, but. somehow, I've feayed your
answer. But I've got my courage up
now. and, Jess. Jess, I want you to
marry me; that is
He had risen to his knees and was
leaning toward the hammock eagerly.
Suddenly cry came across the night.
He sprang to his feet and staggered
back against the tree as around the
boathouse came the tall, slim. figure
OF Jessie Pennington.
"Oh, there you aret" she called. 81
saw the canoe back and have been
looking for you. The rest have gone.
I had a headache. They ought to be-
why Jack Hartley. What in the world
is the matter with your
He had rushed forward and clutched
her arm.
"Who-who," he cried, '1s that?"
A deep, echoing laugh issued from
the hammock. The lambrequin was
thrust away. and pink-clad leg was
flung out, followed by another. and be-
fore them rose the tall, slim figure Of
Ted Pennington. in HIS pajamas. Hart
ley felt the ground wabbling beneath
his feet.
Again that deep laugh echoed
through all the woodland. and PEN
nington gurgled: Jess, l guess Jacks
got something to tell you. He's told me
all about II. think II will interest
you" He sprang past them, missing
that lunge that Hartley made for him.