The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-09-08

mingled with the perfumed whis-
oered messages of the breezes and
he musical dip, dip of oars. 4
Helen MacNole rested a few mo-
nents, allowing the light skiff to drift
IDLY towards the lily beds, while she
! eagerly and with extreme pleasure
frank in all the u~ncultivated, primi-
tive Canadian beauty Of forest, lake
and sky. Two whole months at Aunt
Sophia's cottage meant a great deal
10 this Boston girl, for she had never
before been in the fair province, and
every scene was new and attractive
% her.
Helen had half lost herself in a de-
iightful reverie when the sound OF
splashing paddles aroused her, which
was accompanied by a mellow tenor
voice that was singing with the most
enthusiastic, passionate earnestness
the sweet song of 1.-THE Maple Leaf"
The chorus ran:
The maple leaf, our emblem dear.
Inc maple ledI forever.
God save our King and heaven bless
The maple leaf forever"
The rare voice that sang those
words quite charmed Helen, yet she
laughed softly, and a mischievous
light came into her irresistible blue
eyes as she threw back her head and
sang in her pure soprano voice "The
Star Spangled Banner" After she
had concluded she said to herself with
4 low laugh of sheer fun: "Ill show
whoever it is that there is a Yankee
On this little sea-"
She had scarcely finished speaking
when a pretty canoe glided around
the bend of the Lac d'Amour. Its &C.
cupant, none other than the tenor
singer, regarded his enemy with a
half amused, half piqued look of
surprise. He was handsome. His
face was dark and vivacious; his
smile, showing strong white teeth,
was dazzling. There was a careless
grace and freedom about his move
ments. The wind had rufled his soft
black hair until it half tumbled into
bis sparkling brown eyes.
Helen looked at the tenor half con-
fused, half afraid, for she had not
expected to be discovered in her re-
treat-and by such a well-meaning
young gentleman.
Pardon, miss, if I have disturbed
you and your song" the young man
commenced.
"You have not disturbed me at all,
sir-see, my boat has never moved
an inch" Helen replied, with an at
tempt to look grave, but for some IN
known reason she burst into a hearty,
mirthful laugh.
"You are an excellent singer, miss.
Excuse my frankness, it is my mis-
fortune, not my fault" the tenor said,
leisurely laying the paddle across the
canoe.
"All Yankees are good singers"
Helen responded concisely, trying to
look utterly sincere.
$50 you're a Yankee? Yes, ]
know so by your song which sounded
a good deal like a challenge" the
other said, as he calmly and with
open admiration studied Helen's
proud head, crowned with braided
coils of gold-tinted brown hair, her
pink cheeks and slender, straight
FORM.
Eyes, I ana Yankee-Miss Helen
MacNole, Of Boston, Mass" Helen
replied.
"And I am Lester LEARN, French
Canadian Frenchman," the young
boatman retorted, with equal dignity
Then both the boaters laughed mer-
rily, it was all so amusing.
1t does not take long for two
young, happy-spirited persons to get
acquainted; when Helen's boat grated
the shore beside of LEARN the two
had become quite intimate. Helen.
for her part, felt in a childish mood
of enjoying the adventure. AS fol-
LEARN, he was very much in earnest;
he decided that he would see more oil
this charming Yankee, this Helen
MacNole, of Boston, Mass.
Helen found out from Aunt Sophia
that Lester LEARN was the son of ar
Englishman by birth and claimed his
French descent on his mothers side
After the death of LEARNS mother
Mr.. LEARN had come to Canada
bringing Lester, the only child. Wher
Lester was but fourteen his father be,
came blind, and since that time the
young LEARN had worked in a Mon
treal business house and supported
his father.
Helen firmly put aside the fact tina
she was the only daughter of the
widowed, prosperous banker, Arthur
MacNole, and allowed the French
tenor to take her boating, driving ant
walking when he vas home from
work. Finally, a message came tt
the effect that Helen must come
home, as a party of wealthy New
Workers were coming to pass the win
ter season at the MacNole mansion.
At twilight, when the sky was gau
Oily colored by sunset, and the La
glamour was a sheet of pink crystal
Helen walked slowly, for the las
time, down to the shore with LEARN.
Il don't believe l care to go out OIL
the lake tonight" Helen said, he
voice rather low and tremulous.
you are sorry to leave this place
that's it," LEARN asked kindly. Helel
-~lIol