Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-25

head. He picked up the guitar. at was
stupid story, wasn't it?'
THE next few days were very hard to get
through If he really cared, | never
thought he could give me up SO easily; but
he was as hard as a rock He set his lips, and
went to work, and never looked at me again.
didn't expect to be taken SO at my word
and the cruise was drawing to close! | was
dreadfully unhappy.
And then | had Thomas on my hands. l
don't suppose he was having a very good
time, either; but | wasn't caring much
about that. Thomas was pulled two ways.
On the one hand my eccentricltles scared
| him out of his wits; but on the other hand he
had gone too far to back out, and Father and
Mother were waiting to give us their blessing.
FINALLY the last night came around. The
Lorelei was lying in West River, and next
day we were to run up to Sparrows Point,
and SO home. thought | should never see
French again, and my heart was about
broken. Also Thomas was unpleasantly ar
| dent.
The moon was full now. 1t rose like an
| immense pale Japanese lantern out of the
| bay. Thomas and l were in the stern as
usual, and French was away up in the bow.
He had left the guitar below.
| 3Our last night" Thomas began in his
most sentimental tones.
| l shuddered at what was coming. "Last
night the nightingale woke me, | nurmured
foolishly-that was one of French's songs.
| you're not paying attention. Thomas
complained.
"Paying attention." l said Grossly. @My
head is going round like a revolving cage
with squirrel in it-and you're not the
squirrel, added under my breath.
u don't believe it, said Thomas. @You're
as sensible as | am
This was pretty good for Thomas. "Thank
you," / said sweetly.
you're just putting me off, he whim-
pered.
"Where?" l asked
take my hand.
Mustn't l said "I'm like poor Aunt
Lizzie.
"How?" he asked.
@Aunt Lizzie always said her hands
weren't finished and mustn't be disturbed"
But my imaginary Aunt Lizzie had lost
her terrors. al don't care if your whole fam
lily was crazy!' Thomas blurted out.
/ got up and walked to the end of the rail.
should explain that the after deck of the
Lorelei was encircled by a stout rail. 1t
ended amldshlps, and there was a place
there by the davits where you could step
right off.
l stood there hanging to the rail and
looking off at the moonlight on the water.
Did you ever, when you were bothered
about something and couldn't sleep, try
imagining yourself floating in calm, cool
water? Try it sometime, and see how
quickly you fall asleep. | thought of that
| then. There were all my troubles pressing
on me, and at my feet the delicious water.
The river was as smooth as oil, and its SUR
face had lovely dusty effect in the moon
light. Besides, | had been in only once that
day and my dress was ready for the wash.
Thomas came up and tried to put his arm
around me. He was SO clumsy! "I'm going
to kiss you'll" he said.
felt it coming like hot blast over the
desert. l had already slipped my feet out
of my best white pumps. just stepped off.
l stiffened my body and went straight
down. The embrace of the water charmed
away all my troubles. When l came up
could have sung for joy. struck out for
| the moon.
REHIND me heard cry and splash like
= cow falling in, and l knew Thomas
was after me. Poor Thomas! he hated the
IL