The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1911-06-13

chance for the decorator, Its lines are
SO trim and SO founded upon rigid sim
plicity; but many Jealous hands had
labored for the magic Of this hour.
Slim masts supported lanterns In
many and charming combinations, and
suddenly, as though the toy lamps had
taken wing, rockets flung up their
stars and Roman candles their golden
showers at dozen points Of the line
and broadened the scope Of the pic
ture. A scow placed midway Of the
loop now lighted the lake with red and
green fire. The bright, graceful ar
gosies slipped by. like beads upon a
rosary. When the last canoe had
passed, Miss Pat turned to me, signing
softly:
1T was too pretty to last; 1t was
page out of the book Of lost youth"
laughed back at her and signaled
water churned and foamed and took
the wheel, we we're startled by an ex-
clamation from some one In a 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 we're 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 girl-there was no
debating 1t; she flashed by within a
| paddles length Of us. and l heard the
low bubble of water under her blade
She padded kneeling, Indian fashion
| and was lessening the breach between
f., 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 l saw was Helen HOl
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 ther
she was gone, her star twinkling upol
us bewilderingly. waited for Mis-
Pat to speak, but she did not turn he
head until the canoe itself had van
ished ard only It's gliding star marke'
1t from the starry sisterhood above.
An exclamation faltered on my lips
1T vast was like-it was"
Il believe we had better go now.
said Miss Pat, softly, and. thought.
, little brokenly.
But we still followed the star wit
! our eyes, and we saw 1t gain the en-
l OF the procession, sweep on at Its ow
9 pace, past the casino, and then tur
a abruptly and drive straight for Glel
3 arm pier. 1t was now between us an
9 our own shore. 1t shone q momer
against our pier lights; the the sts
:. and the fairy lanterns beneath 1t va
l ished one after another and the cant
d disappeared as utterly as though
n had never been.
J." l purposely steered = zigzag cour'
l. back to st. Agatha's. Since Helen hs
Z seen At to play this trick upon b
ID aunt l wished to give her ample tin
TO dispose Of her canoe and return
ID the school. II We had been struck
n. q mere resemblance. why did the {
a, noest not 60 on to the casino and e
10 Joy the fruits Of her victory? l tri