Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-04-14

on numerous occasions. but never be
Tore had he screwed up courage to ask
Joan To take Il seat in the BOAT. While
ne Sloomily deplored his lack of initia-
1--WE In TINS respect. she, ii must be said.
rather petulantly, but in secret, re
sented hi she chose To regard as Il
rude oversight slight. if YOU please.
10 ms surprise and joy. she CON
sented TO SO out with him on this
memorable occasion. being in a par
tlcularly good humor and unusually
gracious.
1t was not for the young
people of the town to go sailing in
the placid little bay: no parent OBJ
Jected IL lhey did not venture into the
open sea. The bay was full of fishing
boats coming and going and there was
nttle or no danger if the weather was
good.
AT the last minute Mrs. Blagden re
fused to let Mary go, keeping her at
nome on some preteNt. OF course that
came near spelling the sport of the
morning. Joan. however. arose i'm her
independence and announced her read
mess to go out for an hour without
Mary.
I'm glad l haven't an aunt to treat
me as she treats you" she said to Mary
and then Went off to the little pier with
the delighted Eric, who, after all, was
a bit grateful to Aunt Rena, although
In his heart he was sorry for Mary.
The day vas bright and clear, with
a fine. light wind blowing steadily from
point, turn and cross the mouth of
the bay just inside the swell of the
sea, and then come racing in with IL
fresh three-quarter breeze. In two
hours they would be back at the pier,
where Mary was to meet them.
Joan poised herself comfortably on
the rail. Her cheeks were warm with
eXCltRmenf and HOY aVnC 1onnor7 H., t1,a
tune his heart was singing, all unbe-
knoWns to her. Never in all his life
had he been so happy as now, and
neVer so self consciously stupid. She
chatted gaily. easily, while he, i'm his
exaltation. responded so inaptly that
IN m %forsooth, he fell to making
hard work of the sail in order to cover
his confusion.
He looked out to sea and into his
soul there came the longing to sail
on forever with her, straight into the
boundless waste. where he might rise
fidence would come to him, and he
would not be afraid of her. He was
not afraid of the sea, but his heart
quai!ed before that smooth, mobile
cheek and those limpid. wrathless eyes.
And yet he was ineffably happy. Sure
to what purpose?
Steadily the airy craft beat it's way
through the greenish. glinting waters
OF the bay. heeling, righting, swash-
lng. sending Its genial spray into their
faces, pointing, as a dog points-as il
It were a thing of life with an instinct
of it's own. Joan lodged and shifted
as the boom swung over, laughed with
glee When the spray threatened her
REFER. Her soft brown hair played
In the wind; the red bow at her throat
1uttered or fiattened as the wind or
datned; her trim, slender body was
braced against the rush of air, active,
alert, all unconscious of the picture
she made.
His head was bare. His dark hair
lay back from his forehead. His eyes
cleaned with the fever of exaltation.
When they were not stealing sly
ahead, focused on the distant point.
as if it were a thing to avoid.
Its great, isn't it?' he called out
to her.
Splendid" size sang. Il love it. 1
love it,"
will you come out again"
She caught herself up. 81 don't
know" AS he did not press the invi-
tation she was driven to the curt ques-
ton: "When?"
ANY day you like" he replied Gag
erly. will you. joan"
If your auntw will let Mary come too"
oAAC SAUL A1llSCIl0l III uCE H0drC.
Certainly" he acquiesced. much too
readily to please her vanity.
Are you sure you know how to sail
a boat, Eric?' she asked, SO inno-
Gently that his pride was hurt In turn.
Amt I sailing her all right today?"
he demanded.
She was instantly ashamed of her
question: she cried. Every one knows
you are very skilful. Eric. OF course,
I'm not afraid. I'll come whenever YOU
ask me-" Then. seeing the glad sparkle
in his eyes If the weather is fine.
It would be awful to be out in a little
Goodness. what could WI dog"
Beat for the shore as fast as we
could" he replied grimly. we could
get In ahead of any storm"
But suppose that the storm came
from the shore and not from the sea?
| What then?"
Wed be geese to let it catch us far
U Oh, It's simple enough"
III we were geese we could swim in."
she said gaily.
Sure" he agreed. and they laughed
aloud.
She was silent for awhile. furtively
was bringing the boat around with her
nose toward the town. instead Of fol-
lowing the course they had planned to
take.
Eric?"
YES" he replied. They're off my
mind"
Il do hope you will win. Everyone
says you are sure to-
He did not answer at once. It struck
her that he was ~singularly inattentive.
The sail tapped viciously and the little
craft heeled over as the boom swung
around. A ast shadow came swim
ming Out over the water. turning the
soft green to q blackish blue. The
| 9lrl turned her had nNiclels, IN ala J,