Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-17

D6th INtISld"t III swimming tpSI " r..
walked down the bathing pier of the
famous scashore resort aud Joined the
group on the end. viva lIartleys eyes
cleaned eXultantly under their lowered
lashcs. Renslaw was something of Il
lion in his way, and since his first ap-
pearance in the place it had been her
secret ambition to attach him to her
train. but he had seemed curiously in
different. She Immediately challenged
him to beat her in the art of high div
ing, and tho two engaged I'm a laughing
competition.
why doesn't your cousin come out
and try it?' asked Renslaw presently.
looking contemplatively toward the un-
attractive and lonely figure wadiuG
about in tpe shallow water near shore.
Miss liartley's open neglect of the girl
whom her mother had invited up out
of Kindness had incensed him from the
first Hasn't she learned to dive"
Viva looked her astoniShment,
"Oh, no; Kate never does anything.
She's rather stupid about sports, I be-
lieve."
Perhaps she needs fragment" ="
suggested Renslaw. A whimsical notion
had taken him 1t might be interesting
to try what the lavishnE of a little at
tention and interest would do for the
girl so plainly left out I'm the cold by
all of WAS crowd. "I'll so over there
and see if | can get her to try swim
ming"
As he swan off toward the lonely figure
near shore Viva Hartley sent after him
swift look of mingled amaZement and
anger. then turned back TO her COM
panions with a mocking lift of the brows.
Painfully difident, Kate Cameron
shrank nervously at Renslaw's approach.
Miss Cameron" he announced smil-
ingly, I'm going to insist on teaching
you to swim. Have you tried ii at all?"
''N-pn - oh aA nH think
ia care about 1t. And I'm just going
in" she added, turning. then facing
about again. miserably irresolute.
Indeed you are going to do nothing
OF the kind" he told her with pleasant
authority. Come, I'll hold you up and
teach you the strokes. You mustn't talk
or even think of anything else"
Commanded not to talk. Kate's ner-
vousness in large measure vanished. 1t
had long been her secret ambition to
learn to swim like Viva.
you've done remarkable WE'LL" he told
her kindly After a few more lessons
you'll be swimming in deep water"
"Oh, thank YOU" stammered Kate. TITS
very good OF you, but-but l couldn't
think of troubling you again"
Nonsense" he laughed. by the way.
shall you be at the dance tonight"
"Oh, I-don't-know." she hesitated
Aunt likes me to go, but I don't care
fN'At ~ Jh9N SAN tiANAtt SOb
know"
Renslaw refrained from urging and
gently helped her up the little ladder
that hung by the pier, waving her
smiling adieu.
But as he expected, the evening found
her at the dance, lie went at once to
the corner where she was seated with
her aunt and dropped into vacant seat
beside her. She surrendered her program.
81 see you stand firmly by your con-
Yictlon that you don't care for dancing"
he said as he attached his name to four
of the waltzes.
The next dance was theirs, and when
II was over Renslaw led her to a coy
nook under some palms and sat down
beside her.
For one who dislikes dancing you do
II remarkably we'll" he said his eyes
laughing down at her.
Kate flushed THAT was not true"
she confessed bravely. III love dane
ing. But men dOnt-they won't"
She stopped in confusion and her lower
lip trembed slightly, A warm rush of
pity swept over Renslaw
my dear child" he comforted. don't
you know it's simply because every one
thinks you don't care for il? / think
you will find that, having once been
seen dancing, you will have as many
requests as you care about"
And indeed several men. who had
seen ana marked henslaWs devotion,
now sauntered up. For Renslaw was
credited with rather a nice discrlmina-
tion In regard to the gentler sex. and,
as he well knew, II would not be because
Kate Cameron had been seen dancing,
but because she had been seen dancing
with him. that further requests would be
forthcoming.
Toward the end OF the evening he stood
and watched her as she hOated round
the room on tine arm of Graham, his
most intimate friend.
Wen outwit that cousin Of hers yet"
muttered Renslaw.
In the days that followed he took on
himself the province of big brothef'
and lectured her freely when occasion
arose. Most OF all he insisted on various
outdoor activities And indeed within a
few weeks she had developed a passion
for sports and an amazing celebrity I'm
acquiring perfection In each tnat sur
pFised and delighted Renslaw. Dawnins
interest began to appear IN mems faces
when they spoke Of her. Several paid
her n0tlceabie attention. Graham, Rens-
law noticed. grew 20 be one Of the most
assiduons
lie himself. having launched her. kept