The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-07-11

wondering James Henry certainly
needs to get away from business and
society and take a complete rest" she
decided, sympathetically.
They were met at the Ridgeford
railway station by the Lovejoy hired
man with a two-seated democrat.
While they were being hauled up the
first long hill to the farm the man
told them that a broken-down Uni
tartan minister, young lady and the
young lady's aunt were the only board
ers already there. Even Mrs. Can
field was not sufficiently interested to
ask for further particulars.
To escape greetings and introduc-
tions, James Henry jumped from the
seat of the democrat at the foot of
the last hill and proceeded to stretch
his legs along the footpath which he
had helped to wear, two years before.
The path ended at the pebbly shore
of the pond, and there was the same
row-boat. freshly painted.
She was in the boat, in the act of
pushing off; but she waited for him
with a bright smile Of greeting.
James Henry was old enough, and
he had been in love times enough, not
to Aave his heart pound so ridiculous
ly as 1t did when the boat rocked un-
der them and the pebbly shore reced-
ed. For she was rowing and talking
precisely as If there had been no two
year. interruption.
They got out on Paradise Island, so
christened by her, as he had been
vain enough to believe, because of the
blissful hours they had spent there to-
gether. BY this time James Henry
had worked himself into quite a state
of feeling, and with a stage-villain
smile, he showed the empty boat out
onto the receding waves.
AS he faced her she gave him a
searching look, as II she were afraid
he was not quite right in his mind
The stage villain smile was not reas-
suring, but she decided not to show
any misgivings.
Doubtless you have a plan for get
ting me back in time for supper, Mr..
Confeld?" she suggested.
That isn't worrying me-" he re-
piled, malevolently. The wind may
shift and drift the boat back to US
by the time l am ready to 60"
"Oh, l would never have thought Of
that" she confessed. She seated her
self on the ground as If she we're per-
fectly contented to wait.
You probably do not care to recall
the thirty-f1rst of August. 1910, when
you and 1 were last together at this
very spot?" said Garfield.
And how black the sky grew, with
yellow clouds that rolled over and
over like wreaths of smoker" she
prompted. "And how you rowed back
with might and main because it looked
like hurricane and was frightened?
But it wasn't much of a storm, after
ALL"
1T was enough of one to save me
from giving you chance to laugh at
me. l was on the verge of proposing
to you that afternoon"
She was gazing out toward the
boat, which seemed to have met a
head-wind that whirled 1t around and
around halfway between the island
and shore.
Il will admit" continued James
Henry. brazenly, that it was not the
first occasion when contemplated
proposing marriage; nor were you the
first intended victim. But the other
times l was restrained by inward
doubts instead of by the interposition
Of a thunderstorm. And the other
times l was glad afterward that l did
not commit myself With you, ]
meant to find another opportunity"
He could see the color flaming in
her cheeks. while she kept her eyes
upon the boat He imagined she was
praying that it might drift back so as
to allow her a chance to escape. But
he felt that she deserved to listen to
all he had to say.
Il was looking forward to seeing
you the next summer" James Henry
went on, pitilessly. you sent me
that announcement the next June, and
at the time supposed would be able
to cast the episode out of my mind.
l divided my August vacation between
mountains and seashore and returned
to work as a relief to my nerves.
- Tor