The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-07-14
THE oFF.sHoRE WIND,
Whittier and TO What II Blew Amos
Crandall, Capitalist.

Crandall, Capitalist.
Nv. n. Rose in Cleveland Plain DealerD
The girl stopped rowing and looked back
at the old man He had been watching
her with some anxiety, He noted that the
boat was making little headway, despite
her STEADY efforts,
Its no use" she said.
| lie stirred uneasily.
II must get back 10 shore" he said
The girl studied the sky and shook her
head.
"You can't get back until this of shore
wind changes" she said, AT least |
can't row you there.
He looked up eagerly,
Cant YOU signal the people ashorel
I'm sure they would send Tor me-"
1--WE are too far west OF the bluff TO be
seen from the landing place
The old man groaned.
"This is too bad" he muttercd. 81 was
fool to get myself in the predicament..
II am going about" said the girl.
STEADY. Perhaps YOU can help trim the
boat
The firm hands grasped the oars, the
rounded arms swelled With a fine dis.
play OF skill the girl turned the boat, and
while il listed dangerously for a moment
she brought il about safely and let II run
with the wind,
"Where are you golngs demanded the
old man. "Out to sea!'
She looked up at him and smiled.
mo- she answered Not il / can help
il. There is an island off the point yonder
You'll see it presently. Il is directly
in our pathway"
He was silent for a moment and the
girl, rowing easily, kept the boat before
the wind.
The air was warm and pleasant, al
though the wind blew strong, II was an
August day and the sun shone from a
cloudless sky. Little white crested ripples
ran across the land locked bay and out,
side. against the far horizon line, smoke
trailing steamer was passing.
The old man, a dark frown on his
wrinkled face. watched the girl. She was
fine young woman, there was no doubt
Of that He had been prejudiced, strongly
preiudiced against girls OF the athletic type,
but somehow this girl didn't seem to lose
her feminine charm, even il her arms were
strong and her hands firm.
"Who is to blame for all ths:' he sud
denly demanded.
The girl bending over the oars, softly
laughted !.
she answered. -,
II am not man who shirks responsible
ties" he said IL came down TO the dock
because I had little time TO KILL The
man | wanted to meet had gone some,
where-across the inlet. | think they said
and he would not be back for an hour.
came down to the dock and saw You pad.
ding about | spoke to you. III admit
admired the way you handled the oars;
Perhaps | regarded you as ] would regard
a skilled boatman-only a little more So
Anyway. | spoke TO you.
The girl laughed softly.
you had forgotten the story OF the
Lorelei," she said,
ANYWAY. | was wrong" he growled
ut was something I shouldn't have done.
I asked you question or two. You an.
swered intelligently. You asked me II
would enjoy a ride on the water. | looked
at my watch. | had 40 minutes to spare.
I stepped into your boat. That's where
the blame is yours"
She opened her eyes little.
Why"
"Am person you have ever metz
She shook her head.
DO YOU expect to ever meet me again.
She shook her head once more.
Don't You know il is wrong to be too
free with strangers?
She laughed merrily. She certainly had
an attractive face.
aren't YOU a little hasty in your refer
ence TO the freedom of the AFFAIR."" she de-
handed. "How do you know that do not
row this boat about the harbor for the
bread and butter | require? You have no
reason TO think that ] am moi. charging
Won 20 cents an hour with the full deter.
mination of adding to it and collecting IT..
"You may charge anything you please,
he retorted "Ouly get me ashore.
"But YOU must not blame me for this
predicament.' said the girl "You came to
the dock and looked at my boat longingly.
You asked me some questions IN very
friendly way. Out Of the goodness OF my
heart invited you to enjoy ride. You
accepted the invitation readily. You seem
ed much pleased.
She waited for him to utter protest
GO on" he said. u admit 1t all ] was
pleased"
81 rowed YOU out little way and along
the shore" the girl continued. Then |
was about to turn back and you said you
wanted to go out farther. | called at
tention to the time, and you said, Bother
the time. Ny man can wait. | rowed out
farther. No doubt | went too far. Then
the land breeze suddenly sprang up and
soon increased to lively wind.
"And you couldn't row back
"And here we are.
eyes. And there's the island off the
point yonder"
Can you make it?'
'I think so. IF the wind doesn't increase
too fast
He looked back a little anxiously
TITS developing into gale,'' he said.
"Steady."
She had turned the boat slightly and the
sudden eareening startled him. He grip
ped the seat firmly
She looked up at him with quick smile.
"Make yourself as broad as possible,
she said. 'The wind will take you for
sail
She bent to the oars As her face came
into view he could see her white teeth
clinched behind her parted lips. She was
rowing with quick, deep strokes, and the
boat helped by oars and wind was moving
fast The island was much nearer now, but
the wind blew harder. 1t was pretty
face, and under other circumstances the
old man might have enjoyed it. lie told
himself this. but couldn't at the moment
imagine the circumstances. He. drew
quick breath and his grip frightened. When
he was boy he could swim. But how
long ago was that?
He wished his own boy was there-no
he didn't. Why should he wish him in
peril? He was fine boy, splendid boy.
He wondered if he had been as kind
father as he should have been!
A dash of water came over the side,
There would be big sensation in the
o,roo+ o;+- if those Wounded arms gave out