Middletown transcript., 1909-04-03

spite her steady efforts.
It's 10 use, she said.
He stirred uneasily.
/ must get back to shore, le
said
The girl studied the sky aud
shook her head.
You cant get back until this
off shore wind changes, she said.
AT least / cant row you there.
He looked up eagerly.
Can't you signal the people
ashore? I'm sure they would
send for me.
We are too far west of the bluff
to be seen from the landing place.
The old man groaned.
This is loo bad, he muttered. |
was d fool to get myself in the
predicament.
I am going about, said the girl.
Steady. Perhaps you can help
trim the boat.
The firm hands grasped the
oars, the rounded arms SWELL
ed. With a fine display of skill
the girl turned the boat, and
while it listed dangerously for a
moment she brought it about
safely and let it run with the
wind.
Where are you going? demand
ed the old man. Out to sea ?
She looked up at him and smil-
ed.
No, she answered. Not if | can
help it. There is an island off
the point yonder. You'll see it
presently. It is directly in our
pathway.
He was silent for a moment and
the girl, rowing easily, kept the
boat before the wind.
The air was warm and pleasant
although the wind blew strong.
1t was an August day and the
sun shone from a cloudless sky.
Little white crested ripples ran
across the land-locked bay and
outside, against the far horizon
line, a smoke trailing steamer
was passing.
The old man, a dark frown on
his wrinkled face, watched the
girl. She was a fine young
woman, there was no doubt of
that. He had been prejudiced,
strongly preiudiced against girls
of the athletic type but somehow
this girl didn't seem to lose her
feminine charm, even if her arms
were strong and her hands firm.
Who is to blame for all this?
he suddenly demanded.
The girl, bending over The oars,
softly laughed.
livery cheerfulIy leave that to
you, she answered.
/ am not a man who shirks re-
sponsibilities, he said. I came
down to the dock because / had
a little time to kill The man
I wanted to meet had gone
somewhere-acros the inlet,
/ think they said-and he
would not be back for an hour. |
came down to the dock and saw
you padding about. spoke to
you. TIL admit ] admired the
way you handled the oars. Per-
haps + regarded you as | would
regard q skilled only a
little more SO. Anyway, Ispoke
toyou.
The girl laughed softly. -
You had forgotten the story Of
the Lorelei, she said.
Anyway was wrong, be growl-
cd. It was something / shouldn't
have done. I asked you a ques.
tion or two. You answered iE-
telligently. You asked me if I
would enjoy q ride on the water.
4 looked at my watch. | had
forty minutes to spare. I STEP
ped into your boat. That's where
the blame is yours.
She opened her eyes a little.
Why?
Am I a person you have ever
met?
She shook her head.
Do you expect to ever meet me
again? !?
She shook her head once more.
Don't you know it is wrong to-
be too free with strangers?
She laughed merrily. She
certainly had an attractive face.
Aren't you a little hasty il your
reference 10 the freedom Of the
AFFAIR." she demanded. How do
you know that I do not row this
boat about the harbor for the
bread and butter ! require? You
have no reason to think that / am
not charging you 50cents an hour
with the full determination of
= - -.