The champion. (Arcadia, Fla.) 1895-1911, 1908-04-09

declared that Bray selected his clothes
I TO match his temper Both were lack
Ing In violent contrasts. Peter Per.
fectlon" 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 skin, noting the
precision of his movements rather than
the unhurrled speed with which he
prepared for the trip. The business
suit he had worn down from the city
was scarcely II boHilng 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.
II love the river" she said as Bray
took up the oars. 81 could not 60 back
without one more trip. was on the
water every day last summer. It's n
shame to drag you out TO row."
II was only too glad to come" said
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"
Doly's fingers closed over the side
of the boat She had trusted to her
skill to avoid personalities. aud yet
The first speech had led to an open
Ing. There was logged look In
Brays face which told that he would
not he put of.
Il 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, ~ have been seek.
Ing an opportunity for putting my fate
10 the test. You must know that |
love YOU, Dolly. 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 I love you very dearly. Per
hap. that should he argued as point
In my favor, though how could | help
loving you'll or any other manT
Dolly's face grew grave, and the
tender little mouth took on droop
that made Bray long to kiss IT, She
did not speak for few minutes. but
looked past the oarsman with eyes
that did not see the glorious autnmnal
panorama. The banks turned blur
of green aud yellow and red through
the tears that had come unbidden.
Presently she stretched out baud
with little appealing gesture. Please
don't ask an answer now" she said
gently. Don't spoil The mornlng-my
last row. Perhaps tonight
Bray bowed gravcly and bent to the
oars finding in the work vent for
the tension within, lie 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 II 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 chance to rest
Obedlcntly Bray pulled back into the
channel aud unshlppcd the oars Theu
he moved forward one seat. aud as
they floated with the tile he tried to
set Dolly at her ease with small talk
So engrossed did they lrcome III their
conversation that they never noticed
that they We're drifting into trouble
until with bump the boat settled
against the railroad bridge that span.
ned the water a sharp wind was
blowing. and II had forced them ont 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 Hat botiomed i"''
TIMED TO one side The next instant
he felt the shock Of cold water