Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-06
The Daily Story
MY WATER sPRITE-BY F. A. MITCHELL.
Copyrighted. 1913 Literary Bureau

day and plan for one later that would
take away the disadvantage of chas-
ing with my back toward my opponent
in the race.
pulled ashore. and while doing so II
occurred to me that if | FASTENED with
my preparations / might yet be in
time TO have it out before luncheon.
ran 10 my room. took down a small
mirror that hung on the wall, secured
some Irvine and went back to my boat.
The looking glass l set up in the stern,
and of the Irvine made tiller strings
that | tied TO my feet. Then ! pull.
ed back to where had left my water
sprite. | did not have to turn to see
her when l came near enough to her
to do so. l espied her lazily moving
across the water, but noticed that
though she did not seem TO exert her
self she made very good Roadway.
! pulled straight toward her. and as
I approached. supposing that with my
back turned to her / could not see her,
she pulled across my bow. | followed
her by curve. Catching glimpses of
her in my mirror, saw that this puz-
zled her, and at the same time l had
evidence that she was bent on teasing
me- Then suddenly she caught sight
of the mirror. and it was evident TO
her that she had lost an advantage.
She was within a hundred feet of
me when she realized that she could
do no more fooling. 1t was beautiful
to see her bend to her work. She had
evidently been we'll trained in rowing.
for scarcely a drop of spray did she
knock up. while with every stroke her
boat gained Roadway, skimming the
water as if besmeared with the slime
of fish. My mirror worked beauti-
fully. and, aided by my rudder strings,
I had very little disadvantage except
for the want OF skill. 1t was evident
that it was a matter Of brute strength
against training.
My hope was in firing her. though
was so clumsy that / was as likely
to tire myself I put on all my
strength for awhile. then slowed down,
repeating the process again and again,
thinking that could recover after one
of these spurts quicker than the water
sprite But at last. finding this did
not appear to give me much advantage,
I pretended to be tagged out and wait
ed for her to fall into a trap. For
tunately for me. she gave me an OPP
portunity. | could see the water and
the shore behind both of us. while she
could not. Noticing on our port side
narrow bay. l steered to the star
board to drive her into it. ! succeeded,
and presently she found herself in the
mouth of the bay.
1t was amusing to see her when she
made this discovery. She gave a few
furious strokes to starboard. but I
headed her off. Then she made n few
strokes to port with the same result.
Gradually l drove her up the bay.
which narrowed as we proceeded. and
finally into the mouth of a creek,
where she grounded.
| pulled up to her and said:
pardon me for my seeming intru-
! sion. but it has occurred to me that
have had the pleasure of meeting you
somewhere. and | wish to be enlight-
ened"
She smiled and replied that 7 must
be mistaken. To this said was not
mistaken. and after laughing at me-
for some time she said:
81 must have grown awfully old that
you can't place me. Three years some
times make a great change in one.
Can't you recall a starlit night on
the veranda at - Beach, when you
sat with a girl in corner? You told
her that it was a case of love at
first sight: that
For heavens sake, are you Miriam
Beach?"
NO"
Then you must be Alice Archard."
Wrong again. I'm the third girl
you proposed to that summer"
/ remained silent for few moments.
then recovered my assurance.
Don't you know | said. that. as
the children say, the third time is the
charmT"
She burst into a merrier laugh than
before. and I added
I'VE don't need two boats for two
persons. If you will get into mine
We'll take yours in tow and I'll pull
you in
ndnueu DeT 10 seat IN Lne Stern
of my boat She took mp the mirror
I to make a place for herself Holding
it before her face. she arranged some
strands of her hair that had become
loose
That's womanlike." 7 said
"And it's manlIke." she retorted. "to
propose TO three girls in one season
! and forget them"
! "'NO more o that an thnn lowest
me-" I said and called forth a blush.
/ That tells the story. said to myself.
! pulled back to her hotel. where I
! left her and her boat.
Don't you want the mirror" asked
her.
mo. thank you. Keep 1t 10 a me-
mento of your ingenuity
81 suppose may call this evening"
Certainly. But there IS 20 veranda
/ overlooking beach. Besides. have
/ grown wiser with age
/ Her wisdom did not serve her. for
/ when we returned to the city we were
( enga red.