Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-01-27


some intimation of country rearing.
For the first week Phil was conscious
of strong desire to avoid the child,
who had now advanced to the famil-
iarity of "Gracie." but this very con-
sciousness made him seek her out of
tener than he otherwise would 1t was
a joke, but he was personating his
father, who was her fathers friend.
BY that time the nurse. or governess.
was unconsciousIy occupying a good
deal of his interest. He began to seek
out Oracle, to entertain her, as he sup
posed, but it was her companion he
looked at, with whom he talked.
Miss Marian" as Oracle called her,
was remarkable young woman
beautiful, entertaining, accomplished,
cultured-everything that Philip Cud-
ahay thought young woman should
be and carrying all the accomplish
ments with an ease that was notice
able even in the big hotel full of
people.
The guests themselves seemed to
realize it, for they treated her as one
of them. and many even sought her
company.
Had 1t been any other nurse or gov
erness Philip would have noticed and
wondered. But with Marian it seemed
matter of course. He would have
wondered had it been otherwise.
And so it happened that Miss Marian
became uppermost in the amateur no.
tel Keepers mind. He thought about
her so much that had he not had an
admirable manager in Burke the hotel
would have been soon deserted by its
| boarders.
His attentions were ostensbIy de-
voted to Oracle. but really to the gov
erneSs. He invited them both to drive
with him afternoons, to go boating
| indeed. to share with him those pleas
ures usually enjoyed by people in sum-
mer who have nothing to do.
| One afternoon he was pulling the
! two along in one of the light boats
used on lake near the hotel. with his
back to the bow, where he could not
see what was coming.
| Suddenly there was q crash A man
rowing in the same relative position
| had fouled him. At first it did not
! appear that much damage had been
done, and the man who had caused the
trouble pulled away. But Phi's boat
| had sprung leak. Handkerchiefs
were thrust into the aperture, but the
water. though checked, was not stop
ped.
| The oarsman pulled for the shore,
but the water gained so rapidly that
1t was impossible to reach it. The boat
sank some fifty feet away, leaving all
three In the water.
Phil was the only swimmer in the
lot. Selling an oar, he gave it to the
child; then, taking the governess by the
arm, he swan ashore with her. she
all the while protesting that he should
leave her and save Oracle.
AS soon as he got Miss Marion into
shallow water he returned to her
charge, who was clinging TO the oar
and crying vigorously for help 1t was
an easy matter to assist her to the
shore
You should have been ashamed of
yourself" said the governess, ito de-
vote yourself to me and leave that
poor little thing out in the lake"
Didn't l provide her with an oarT'
quoth Phil.
Yes; you did that"
The oar would not have supported
you. And if | had saved the child.
leaving you to take care of yourself,
you would have drowned. And then
what would have done?"
He spoke the last words in n low
tone tone that would te.L.ny woman
that there was something SDre to come
The same evening after they had got
of their dripping clothing cablegram
came from Blackwell. Ransom paid.
Got wife. Start for home at once.
How is my girl? Cable me at Naples. ''
Marian was ON the veranda Ly her
self, with Oracle playing at n little dis
tance. Phil went directly to her.
Miss Marian" he began abruptly,
I've come 10 ask you to be my wife.
l love you and think you have grown
to like me a little. It's abrupt,
know, but l may not remain here
long"
Why" she exclaimed, rising In
some confusion and CONSERVATION, Il
thought you were to have charge of
the hotel all summer"
"The owners about to return. | have
just received a cablegram from Ma
pies"
Didn't he send any message to me?"
"N-no," In some surprise HE asked
about Oracle"
"Gracie? Father doesn't know her"
Father"
Her eyes opened little. Thea she
compreheYdcd and smiled.
Yes. DiGn't you know | was Miss
Blackwell? Oracle is an unpromisinT
child in MY mission class. picked up
from the street. | brought her down
this summer in hope cf reforming
ner."
Phil changed color, then collected
himself.
About my question:" he insisted.
An hour later cablegram was ou
its way to Naples.
Girl all right. Everything all right.
Anxious to meet you. PHIL"
Simply Man Hunt.
~ declare! shouted a bellboy in one
of the big downtown hotels as he
dashed into the lobby.
II declare" he shrieked again, or at
least 1t sounded like that.