Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-02-23


softly:
1T was too pretty to last: 1t was a
page out Of the book Of lost youth"
I laughed back at her and signaled
lima to go ahead and then, as the
water churned and foamed and I took
the wheel, we were startled by an ex-
clamation from some one in row.
boat near at hand. The last of the
peaceful armada had passed, but now
from the center of the lake, unobserved
and unheralded, stole a canoe fitted
with slim masts carried high from bow
to stern with delightful daring. The
lights were set in globes of green and
gold, and high over all, its support
quite invisible, shone a golden star
that seemed to hover and follow the
shadowy canoe.
We all watched the canoe intently:
and my eyes now fell upon the figure
of the skipper Of this fairy craft, who
was set forth in clear relief against
the red fire beyond. The sole occupant
of the canoe was a girl-there was no
debating it; she flashed by within a
paddles length Of US, and heard the
low bubble of water under her blade.
She padded kneeling, Indian fashion,
and was lessening the breach between
herself and the last canoe of the or-
| derby line, which now swept on toward
| the casino.
THAT'S the prettiest one Of all
began Miss Pat, then ceased abruptly.
She bent forward, half rising and
gazing intently at the canoe What she
saw and what saw was Helen Ho1-
brook plying the paddle with practiced
stroke; and as she passed she glanced
aloft to make sure that her slender
mast of lights was mistaken; and then
she was gone, her star twinkling upon
! us bewilderingly. I waited for Miss
Pat to speak, but she did not turn her
| head until the canoe itself had van
fshed and only it's gliding star marked
| 1t from the starry sisterhood above.
An exclamation faltered on my lips.
1T was-it was like-it was"
II believe we had better go now"
said Miss Pat, softly, and, thought, a
little brokenly.
| But we still followed the star with
our eyes, and we saw it gain the end
of the procession, sweep on at it's own
pace, past the casino, and then turn
abruptly and drive straight for Glen
arm pier. It was now between us and
our own shore. It shone a moment
against our pier lights; the the star
and the fairy lanterns beneath it van
lshed one after another and the canoe
disappeared as utterly as though it
had never been.
l purpasely steered zigzag course
back to st. ACatha's. Since Helen had
seen fit to pl5 this trick upon her
aunt I wished to give her ample time
to dispose of her canoe and return to
the school. If we had been struck by
a mere resemblance, why did the ca
noest not go on to the casino and en-
JOY the fruits Of her victory? I tried
to imagine Gillespie party to the es-
capade, but could not fit him into it..
Meanwhile I babbled on with Miss
Pat. Her phrases were, however, q
trifle stiff and not in her usual man
ner.
I walked with her from the pier to
st. Agatha's.
Sister Margaret, who had observed
the procession from an upper window,
threw open the door for US.
"How is Helen?" asked Miss Pat ut
once.
"She is very comfortable" replied
the sister. II went up only a moment
ago to see If she wanted anything"
Miss Pat turned and gave me her
hand in her pretty fashion.
"You see, 1t could not have been-it
was not-Helen; our eyes deceived
us! Thank you very much, Mr.. Dono-
van!"
There was no mistaktng her relief;
she smiled upon me beamingly as I
stood before at the door.
"Of course! On a fete night one
can never trust ones eyes!"
But it was all be wilderingly beau.
tfful. You are most compassionate to.
ward a poor old woman In exile, Mr..
Donovan. I must 60 up to Helen and
make her sozTy for al she has
missed"