Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1913-05-15

ton Of surprise broke from her lips
III you think best, Mr.. Bedight.
am afraid l have been fo~olhardy-but
I'm still satisfied to so on II you are
proudly.
A terrific clap OF thunder directly
overhead. coupled with n roar in the
west. caused Bedight TO hesitate. In
stead OF turning the boat. he headed
for the shore. Behind them the storm
was rushing with ten league wings
and the I'VE lcaped into an action
that set the boat tossing like a speck
upon a boiling pot. The day became
as dark as night, save for the light
ming flashes.
In a moment the storm broke. Amid
the crash OF rending trees, the de-
moniacal s~hriekings OF the wind, the
terror OF the lightning, the boat sped
onward along the shore, one oar gone,
the other useless in such a sea.
In the main channel no craft could
have lived, but along the shore down
which the two raced before the wind,
the she'll flew on the wings Of the
tempest.
White but brave. frightened but in
full! control Of her nerves. the girl
chung to the boat. Straight toward
the narrow neck Of Goose lake, the
craft bore like a wind.whipped ice
boat under a gale.
The mayor gritted his teeth. Once
outside the smaller lake the course Of
the craft would be directly across the
larger body OF water.
He studied the girl opposite. Did
she realize the danger?
Mr.. Bedight." she spoke regretfully.
with an effort at bravery. If We
go through into Sylvan lake lin
sorry l didn't take your advice. 1t
won't help much now to know that
I've repented Of my decision-but L"
The mayor interrupted. . shouting
against the wind:
Il think we'll avoid It, and surely
this must pass quickly"
Her answer was lost In the musketry
and deluge that followed. The boat,
half filled with water, lurched perilous-
ly. rolled like a cedar log and turned
turtle.
Bedight felt himself carried forward
with terrible speed and deposited
upon the shore. He shook the water
from his eyes. Beside him on the sand
lay the girl, and a rod down the shore
the boat hung upon the single. AZ
She opened her eyes to the sound
Of his voice and the pressure Of his
hand upon her heart. Coughing, she
sat up on the beach and rubbed the
sand from her face and hands. Her
clothes hung closely upon her, show
ing the outlines of her body. The
rain still fell in torrents and ran down
their necks in tiny rivulets.
oh" she gasped. when her senses
marshaled themselves from the be-
wilderment, I've lost my sketch"
The mayor laughed.
IF you had been a trife less fortu-
nate, you might not be worrying about
that now-although I'm willing to ad.
nit you'd make a swell mermaid"
The storm was raging off in the
east, the wind where they stood had
ceased cracking its lungs, but a heavy
sea vas running on the lake and
both Jars were gone. Bedight looked
about for shelter. Mounting the
shores bluff, ha saw, off to the north.
a hut still standing, evidently some
isherman's shanty. He beckoned the
girl, who came up laughing.
"If l look as funny as you do with
your clothes all sticking to you. the
little birds will be In paroxysms to-
morrow" laughed the %bedraggled
woman. ~saucily, gazing b~razenly ct
the man.
WELL" replied Bedight. returning
the stare. your hair is down. your
shirtwaist is out at the back. your
skirt is showing your limbs and your
shoes'squash when you walk. Other
wise you are dressed for one Of Mine
Hosts summer feeds or evening hops
that is. dress appropriate for SPUR.
rel Inn when there are no men to en-
snare and all dancing parties are
feminine"
You're horrid!" she scowled.
What are we going to do"
"Thoro's a hut oyer thera ~ fhere's