Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-07

walk over to the field
He hurried away without one back
ward glance. 1t was another humiliat-
ing moment Following an idle i'm
pulse. lifted the solitary oar which
lay in the boat and poled myself out
into the water Perhaps when Allison
came back he might see me. He used
strongly to object II ventured TO row
alone. l must have drifted out pretty
far, for the automobile looked like a
speck in the road. while the baseball
field was just green blur. With a
splash my one oar slipped from ny
grasp and quickly foated just beyond
reach. 1t would have been useless to
call for assistance. for no one appeared
upon the beach. l was really becom-
ing frightened when a canoe came
gliding toward me- Its occupant stood
up and waved his arms wildly.
Aunt Nam he cried. Aunt Nam
1t was Bobbie. could scarcely believe
my eyes.
Save me. Aunt Nam" he entreated.
Il never thought when 1 climbed into
the canoe that 1t would float away
There was a soft thud as the boats
came alongside. l had a confused vi
sion OF my nephew's white face and
outreaching arms, and then we were
both struggling in the water. Blindly
I caught at the upturned boat as Bob
bic chung to me in desperation. And
surely it was hours afterward that
some one snatched him roughly from
my grasp; then two strong arms also
lifted me TO safety. l don't know Just
what had been expecting, but 1t was
rather disappointing to see a weather
beaten face looking anxiOusly into my
| own, while gruff voice muttered some
! thing about 'lunatics sailin' about in
| boats without no oars" And when our
rescuer's boat reached the shore there
/ stood Jim and Mollie, who regarded
my wet and shrinking self with stern.
/ accusing gaze. Jim carried his whim-
| pering son back to the shelter of the
trees, while Molie fingered only long
enough to say:
IF you did not care about risking
your own life, Nan, you might at least
have left Bobbie safe on land"
l stood still In bewilderment. Then
a prolonged wall in DOTS shrill treble
attracted my attention, and fastened
IN its direction.
"Oh. Aunt Man," she gurgled, ''you
do look so funny! Your hair is all
sleek, like the seals at the zoo"
The thought Of my own ridiculous
appearance had not occurred to me.
Now looked fearfully down the road
to where the stalled auto could still be
seen.
Dot" 1 faltered, where's Mr.. Arm
. strong?"
My young niece OWNED by anxiety.
Don't you worry" she said He IS
hammering away under his car"
And Allison, DOt-where Is he2"
; He won't see you" she answered
comfortingly He is back in the
, woods getting flowers for Aunt Nell"
Then Dottie turned to her own griev-
anceS. "Daddie kindled a fire to make
some coffee" she contided, land when
[ they went away put some corn in TO
{ cook and burned my hand. But it's
better now, because | tore the front
r out of my dress and bandaged 1t up.
L
added, with satisfaction.
| Like Dot, returned to my own trou-
q bles What shall | do?" | deliberated
! aloud.
GO and sit in the sand and get dry"
| my niece wisely suggested, and l fol
. lowed her advice. Little lavender
streams were trucking from every part
, Of my new frock, and the woman who
I sold it had assured me that the color
, would not run. She might have traced
me now by the violet drops along the
: sand | sank down miserably. How
T. could / go home in this plight?
Nell's ringing laugh aroused me
= ooh, Nan" she cried. what In the
Q world have YOU been doing? You look
r like a purple poster girl"
one Mortified glance showed me Al
+ lison's tall figure. This was truly the
r last straw. | buried my face in my
I wet purple arms and wept. Then Al
| Ilson turned to Nell.
+ dot Is alone" ne said. Had you
e not better see that she doesn't get into
= more mischief? And-and, Nan, dear
70 you may take cold. | will fetch my
warm auto coat in a moment and wTa[
: il around you" He did so, very ten
4 derby, and as we sat there long in the
sands he said But what Allison said
is not for publication. | am glad that
q my hair dries out all fluffy and curly
, When Mr.. Armstrong finally got tho
machine In order every one was either
too badly damaged or too diSpirited L
4 90 on farther, so we gathered about t.
, have an early supper and then leave
: for home.
p We reached our home at twilight, ant
as my brother deposited the sleeping
sooty Dot upon a couch Mollle turned
7 on the lights.
a This has been a great Fourth jim
exclaimed in disgust
! Hasn't it," Allison answered alb
sently. Just about the greatest
7 Fourth that | have ever known
A Then Mollic sank into Il chair, over
: tome by helpless laughter
a "Oh, Allison" she cried, 'If yCI
: could only see your purple facer'
:. June z in American