The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1910-01-14
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.
BY MILDRED AUGUSTA THOMPSON.

S%a~G~@0~A~ 90 @0~@~ 900
The barge with its score of laugh
ing and singing girls dipped over the
curve of the hill and disappeared be-
hind the birches. Dorothy made no
pretence of waiting for the last echo
OF their voices, but hurried around
to the water side of the cottage,
where certain delightful book and a
hammock invited to comfort.
II suppose it was rather rude of
me not to go with them this after
noon," she chided herself, as she
dropped down among the cushions in
hammock. But they'll be happy
all afternoon, and I just had to be
free"
Dorothy tried for while to read
her attention was oftener turned to
the cliffs below the cottage, or to the
blue surface of the lake, than occu-
pied with her book. And presently
she gave up the effort. Really it
wasn't any use fighting back the tide
Of thought.
Why, after whole year of stead
fast self-control, should it all come
back to her with such tantalizing Wv
idness?. OF course she was right in
sending back the ring and the letters,
yes, even that unopened one. He
could never be the same to her again
after
Dorothy sprang to her feet and
rushed down to where her canoe lay
on the little landing. Oh, how per-
fectly exasperating to be obliged to
think about something one has re-
solved never to think about!
In five minutes she was Swimming
lightly over the water. She padded
with an almost feverish energy, as if
each vigorous stroke contributed
something of new poise. 1t might
have been an hour, or less = she
neither knew nor cared; she realized
only that green islands were between
herself and the scene of her late men
tai conflict. Then a sudden shadow
Ing of the water and a surprisingly
near rumble of thunder drew her at
tention to the wild clouds scudding
up from the southwest. At the same
instant she felt the freshening of the
breeze and marked how it sent a rip
ping multitude of little waves shore
ward.
Dorothy had not spent half her
summers at Winnipesaukee without
knowing what that meant. cts home
now, or SWIM she thought, and
turned her canoe about.
In twenty minutes, however, she
was battling with waves that might
have done credit to the Atlantic
good mile from any shore, with gale
forcing her out in spite of every eff
fort. 1t was growing dark very fast.
The storm was almost upon her; she
could see wall of gray mist already
sweeping down from her own shore.
How to save herself she scarcely
knew. No craft was in sight. And
though she yodelled courageously she
knew that sound could reach no one
on the western shore.
Imagine her Joy when the distant
putting of a gasolene launch reached
her ears, and she was able to make
out the dim outline. Desperately she
determined to keep afloat a little
longer. 1t seemed an age before the
launch came within hailing distance.
A stalwart looking young man was
aboard, who leaned over the gunwale
and shouted to her to be ready as he
passed, then as the boat slipped close
gave one startled glance and cried
out: Dorothy! Thank God came
in time!"
The girl stared in dismay and
shrank from his outstretched hands.
ralph? Oh, l can't go into your
boat"
In that instant there was vivid
flash and the mist closed them in.
Dorothy realized only vaguely the
torrents of rain that engulfed her
canoe and the strong arms that pulled
her out of the water and wrapped a
heavy coat about her, so rapidly did
It all happen.
1t was an exciting time that fol-
lowed, spent in lodging sunken