Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1910-11-10
cR Her Answer 81

Presently she D., rtcned 'ana
with q little appealing gesture. Piean~
don't ask an answer now" she saiA
gently. Don't spoil the mornlng-my
last row. Perhaps tonight
Bray bowed gravely and bent to the
oars. finding In the work vent FOR
the tension within. He fancied thar
he had already received AL answer
aud as he bect his back to the oars 80
also he bent his head to defeat. Al.
most before they reallzs4i 1t the boat
had reached the head OF the inlet and
had grated gently en- the sand.
Lets drift back" proposed Dolly
'It will give you chance to rest
Obedientiy Bray pGl!ed back into the
channel and unshipped the oars. Then
he moved forward one seat, aud as
they h0ated awitn the tide he tried 10
net Dolly Mt her ease with small talk.
So engrossed did they become In their
conversation that they never noticed
that they wHr drifting into trouble
until with bump the boat settled
against the railroad bridge that span.
ned the water. sharp wind was
blowing. and 1t had forced them out 81
their course.
Bray sprang for an oar to pole back
into the channel In his excitement he
was less careful than usual. When he
gave lunge for the oar. he felt his
footing shift as the fat bottomed boat
tipped to one Mlde. The next instant
be felt the shock OF cold wnter
Dolly gave shrek aa he went over
board. but the next instant her terror
was turned TO mirth Mt the sight OF
Bray sitting In to feet Of water with
an expression OF startled wonder ou
his face.
It was only for q second that fhe
tableau was posed: then Bray scruIn
bled to ILLS feet and climbed back into
the boat. His trousers clung wetly to
his legs. and the bedraggled edges OF
his coat dripped against the seat. while
with chattering teeth he got out the
oars and began to row for the shore.
Try as she would Dolly could not ~
strain her mlrth at the sorry spectacle
he presented. and Bray good naturediy
Joined In her merriment.
But 1t was less OF joke when the
house WAS reached. The men Of tho
family had all removed their clothing
TO town when the cottage had been
closed for the summer. Bray. down
for the day. had brought no bags, and
there was nothing left but to seek the
shelter Of the blankets while his
clothes underwent the slew process OF
Axying before the Kitchen fire.
Between the blankets Bray groaned
miserably as he recalled the incidents
OF the morning Whatever chance he
mixht have had to win Doiiy's hand
had been lost when his plight excited
her ridicrie. The single misstep bad
cost him Doily's Yes" IL indeed hs
had ever had a chance to win It. In
Ms minds eye be could see himself
again, sprawling in the Icy water. then
climbing aboard In his mudstaincd.
gripping garments, with Dolly tn the
saern.seat In as ecstasy Of glee It was
q bitter hour for Bray, and he wei-
coined the arrival OF the cook with Q
tray.
MISS Dolly. she say cat this aud yeu
kim have nice dessert" advisrd Aunt
Mandy. "She say YOU dean get the
dessert tili you eated all the dinner"
There was a dlsh of pudding on the
tray. aud, lost In wonder as to what
che other dessert might be. Brny rap.
Idly cleaned his plate. Then Mandy
entered bearing q covered dish. Only
an envelope lay under the cover. and
Brayss heart beat fast as he read The
eew lines.
~You dear boy" Dolly wrote. My
answer ts Yes think have always
Ialksa yua isrt. bat ! wars afraid Of
sDaslay s-ction. thought that
- In your high <s+-ofArd,
y sellciasr - h
pe, u ne