Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-02-26
~ - Bah - -

the cushions looked up ter his assent.
Oliver was gazing abstractedly down
the river.
"Yes," he said at last slowly, sit seems
almost-providential as you say. How
ever'-with a return to his former brisk
ness-'we must be provided, if we're GO
ing to make day of it. We must go
ownstream as far as the willow, and
I'll cut across to ATston and lay in pro-
visions. You can lie low in the reeds
and look after The Wicked One. Cam
bridge for ever." And grasping the
sculls, he sent the numbering old tub
| along in his best varsity style.
Now, Hawk-Eye, lie low he whisp
cred as they slid into the reeds by the old
willow. Ware the pale faces, and give
the whoop of our tribe if danger threat
ems. |, of the Fleet Foot, will hastily
steal whole OK and three young lambs
for our repast, and be with you anOn!"
Suddenly, as he stopped to drag up the
bow of the boat, Bah leant forward and
touched his brown cheek lightly with her
| fingers.
60, tan-faced warrior" she began;
then, with an inimitable little gesture,
she pulled down his head with both
hands and laid her cheek to his. ''Oh,
Noll, how heavenly of you to come back
just today for this one day. There has
been nj enc to play with since you went
away! Bring lots to eat" she added
prosaically, as she loosed him, I'm be
| ginning to feel starving already"
And with a little laugh he started at a
trot for the village.
Bah, left alone in the cool shade of the
willow, with only the whisper of the
reeds and the tapping of the water
against the boat for company, lay back
on her cushions and tried to think-tried
to realize how wonderful it was that
Noll should have come back, he there
playing at Indians with her as if they
were both children again-to wonder at
the chances which had kept him away
for five years just to come back when she
wanted him most. She knew now how
she had wanted him, how much not hav-
ing him had mattered-tried to pity her
self for the loneliness in which she had
been brought up--loneliness so complete
that she had hardly been conscious of it,
so that when it would have been natural
to seek the society of a friend she had
flown to secret attic and her books in
winter, to the old boat and the river in
summer She could not seek congenial
u
from that which was uncongenial, and
think her thoughts and dream her
dreams alone.
Naturally joyous and buoyant, with no
hint of morbid feeling in heart or brain,
she had retained a certain irresponsible
gleefulness which carried her triumphant
ly through life which would have made
most girls dull and colorless. if not ac-
tually morbid or sullen The gray eyes
which could laugh so joyfully often, how
ever, had a mysterious and inwardly
melancholy look seen more frequently in
those who have lived much alone and in
their own thoughts than in young girls
at the beginning of life.
Just now, however, the purely pagan
lside of her refused to harbor thought
The day was young, the sun shone, and
Noll was coming back with his booty
After that they would spend the sum
mer's day in blissful enjoyment, and
after that-well, that was one of the
things it was not needful to think of
just now.
Consequently Bah leaned her head back
on her arms and gave herself up to the
luxury of the moment. She was aroused
from her reverie by the thud of large
loaf on her lap, and there was Noll,
laden with unshapely parcels, his straw
hat pushed back on his forehead and his
brow studded with the sweat of honor
able toll
'Phew, it's hot" he remarked. "and
there she lies cool as a cucumber. fast
asleep, If appearances count for any
thing!"
Nothing of the sort" replied Bah,
jumping up with such energy as almost
to shoot herself out of the boat; "chuck
the things and I'll put them in the locker.
Got matches"
Rather What do you take me for?
We'll, tumble in and I'll row. The
quarter of a mile to the village seems
to have quite exhausted you.'
Quarter of mile forsooth Nearer
a mile and a quarter. However, we'll
not argue as this is our first day out
| especially as you are going to row. Now.
pull, boys, pull out and let's see what
you're made of. Are you trimg Good!
Then westward ho!"
Bah pulled out, and the old boat
swung calamity upstream.
"By George, wk-Eye, how ripping
this isl" remarked Oliver, slang on his
tongue, but poetry in his eye, as he took
in river and sunny land and sky in one
comprehensive gaze, ending with the
slim pink cotton figure and lovely face
of the girl before him. 81 little thought
when | jammed few odds and ends into
portmanteau last night, and dashed
inc0ntinently off for my native wilds,
that today l should be Fleet Foot, with
five years of my life wiped out, being
tugged blissfully upstream by my old
chum, Hawk Eye"
What possessed you to come so sud
denly, after five years?"
last night | had no more intention
of coming than of going to Mars. was
in my rooms striving to do my duty
reading for the bar, when l had the
strangest feeling that / was wanted.
Something seemed Juggling me TO go
right away whittier knew not, nor who
was supposed to be pining for my aid
tried to shake it off, but it wouldn't
90, and then all this rose up before me
| Just as it is now-the river. the willow,
the old ship and you-at least not you,