The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-08-07

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fun out Of 1t myself. haven't rowed
pretty girls around this old pond for
six years for nothing. She evidently
> thinks | never saw~a girl before. !
guess she Is tuunger than she looks"
Tinker stopped rowing long enough
to phil off his gray slomch hat and
drop it at his feet. Then he dipped
bis brown band in the take and rubbed
his hair vigorously with the old wa.
ter.
"Th"re." he r"marked: that feels
good"
NJ Tinker, observed Maria. you
are quite Il beautiful looking man.
Isn't he. EtheI:"
The guide looked at Ethel and smil
ed-a very pleasant. indnlgent smile
Hush. Maria. said her sister re.
provingly. with a quick blush You
mustn't be personal In yonr remarks"
"iou look like a picture of young
st. john went on Maria in an alb
sOrbed tone. We have it."
II feel honored." laughed Tinker. 81
know the picture OF which you speak.
In the old days he suddenly became
very serious and bent to his work.
signing a little as If at some sad re.
Mountaineering matter" he added
softly
Ethel was now consumed with curl.
osity, and her eyes inquired Of his as he
cooked up He shook his head.
Not now" he said.
The picnic was a great success. Ruth
and the lniun appeared to have form
ed ties of the closest interest. 1t sub.
sequently turned out that these W.
had possessed themselves Of sundry
delicacies from the basket. the lnjun's
pocket being a convenient repository
I'm sure they put in more cake"
complained Harriet. land ] told them
particularly about the apples. They
must have forgotten"
1t was all very beautiful in the fresh,
sweet air. with the wild sounds of
birds and little waves. What more con
ducive to a nap for Mrs. Cranky and
small explorations for Harriet and the
little girls:
Tinker rowed Ethel along the shore
and up into the cool shade Of Moose
creek. where the fine old trees and the
limpid water combined to form a pic
ture which would have %gladdened the
heart of a painter in water color The
very air seemed to invite condolences
and to induce low toned and very ear.
nest conversation. The Injun smoked
and lounged. and the fair afternoon
was soon over
"Have a nice time yesterday" Oh
served Mr.. Sackett to the eldest Miss
Cranky as she sat N the piazza the
next morning trying to read.
Lovely" responded the young lady
dreamily. "Oh. Mr.. Sackett!
"Yes?" said her host interrogatively
Isn't that young man-that n you
called Tinker-isn't he quite superior
to most of the men about here9 He
Talks very nicely-l uses such
good language. went on the girl. best
tating q little. He was not born here
was heY"
"Eh:" CALCULATED the old man. "Oh
well: Let's see: Yes, he does talk FIRST
rate-he's n quick Teller. He got some
education when be was younger. and
he's smart. Remembers everything,
He can talk all right. Likes fun. bul
he's real solemn and steady most a.
ways"
YES. bs was telling me-" said Ethe
absently.
What WAS he teIlin' your asked
Sackett.
He gazed at the pretty. confident face
and smiled quietly
did be tell you about his uncle
he went On. without waiting for q
reply. land his college days-the an
just charge and how he bore 1t all
to shield another-hOw be ran away
and was now Twin in this ,desolate
country. away from everybody. where
be could feel free and independent
"Ah, you know about him. tool" cried
the girl. .
"Yes, | know about him." answered
the hotel keeper: did he tell you about
thoughts and ambitions and things
how. he hoped to ~ to the city and be
gin 0ver and succeedi Maybe he ask
ed you to be his friendY'
Ethel nodded.
Il think be will succeed" she said
he seems 50 determined q strong
| shall be glad to be his friend
did be tell you. resumed Sacket'
with great sOlemDity. that ne mad {
wife and two kids over ID Brushvtew
four miles east Ut here!"
mn, Sackett!' cried the girl. jump
ing up in Consideration What do 70,
meant"
Just what ! say-thats right an
swered her host. "and that's the Onl!
true thing In the y stOry-the res
10 all Hes He's told that tale before
Yes'm. hes got n nice little womal
and two boys that he thinks the worl'
of, and he's a good guide and a gOO'
teller I've never known Dim to lie
except abOut this n thing Wonde
why be does IT." .
His Keen eyes twinkied Ethel. al
mO0f as ran ao no na&.rsAO lnfO then