Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-07-11

boat which lay on the sands and seat
ed himself before me.
This is good. to be alone with you.
Man." he was beginning when a man
who bad passed us retraced his steps.
Jack Meads" be cried. ignoring my
presence. What luck. The boys from
the office are out here today. and we
ALI we lack Is good pitcher. and we
know your fame in that line. It's go
ing TO be a short game. Come ON over
and join us"
Jack looked f1eldward, and his eyes
shone. "You wouldn't mind. would
you. Nan?" be asked eagerly.
Certainly; | do not mind" | an.
swered effusively. but prefer not to
walk over TO the field"
BE 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 If ventured to row
alone. | must have drifted out pretty
far. for the automobile looked like
speck in the road. while the baseball
field was just a green blur. With a
splash my one oar slipped from my
grasp and quickly 1oated just beyond
reach. Ii would have been useless TO
call for assistance. for no one appeared
upon the beach was really becom.
| ing frightened when a canoe came
! gliding toward me. Its occupant stood
up and waved his arms wildly.
Aunt Man, be cried. Aunt Nan"
| 1t was Bobble could scarcely believe
my eyes.
Save me. Aunt Nam he entreated.
81 never thought when ! climbed into
! the canoe that 1t would float away"
! There was a soft thud as the boats
came alongside. | had confused vi.
sion of my nephew's white face and
outreaching arms. and then we were
both struggling in the water. Blindy
J | caught at the upturned boat as Bob
bic clung to me in desperation. And
surely 1t was hours afterward that
some one snatched him roughly from
my grasp; then two strong arms also
lifted me to safety. | don't know just
what ! had been expecting, but it was
rather disappointing to see weather
beaten face looking anxiously into my
own. while gruff voice muttered some
-. Ig.1g
boats without no oars" And when our
rescuers boat reached the shore there
stood Jim and Mollie, who regarded
my wet and shrinking self with stern.
accusing gaze. Jim carried his whm
pering son back to the shelter OF the
trees. while Molie fingered only long
enough to say:
III you did not care about risking
your own life, Nan, yon might at least
have left Bobbie safe on land"
stood still in bewilderment. Then
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 sears 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" 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-wbere is he?"
He won't see you" she answered
woods getting flowers for Aunt Nell"
Then Dottie turned to her own griev-
ances. "Daddie kindled fire TO make
some coffee" she conhded. land when
they went away put some corn in to
cook and burned my hand. Bnt it's
better now, because tore the front
out of my dress and bandaged it up
This nice thin cloth tears easy" she
added. with satisfaction.
Like Dot. | returned to my own trou-
bles What shall do"' deliberated
aloud
Go and sit in the sand and get dry"
my niece wisely suggested, and ! fol
lowed her advice. Little lavender
streams were tricklng from every part
OF my new frock. and the woman who
sold it had assured me that the color
would not run. She might have traced
me now by the violet drops along the
sand. 1 sank down miserably. How
could | go home in this plight?
Nell's ringing laugh aroused me.
"Oh, Man." she cried. what In the
world have you been doing! You look
like a purple poster girl"
One mortified glance showed me Al
ison's tall figure. This was truly the
last straw | buried my face 10 my
wet purple arms and wept Then Al
lison turned to Nell
dot Is alone" he said. Had you
not better see that she doesn't get into
more mischief? And-and. Nan, dear.
you may take cold. will fetch my
warm auto coat in moment and wrap
II around Won" He did So very ten.