The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-04-15
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MARY MIDTHORNE
GEORGE BARR M~cCUTCHEON.
Author Of -Graustark." -Truxton King" ETC.
Copyright 1911. BY Dodd. Mead q Co.
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At the last minute Mrs. Blagden re-
I fused to let Mary go, keeping her at
home on some pretext. OF course that
came near spelling the sport of the
morning. Joan, however, arose In her
independence and announced her read
mess to 60 out for an hour without
Mary.
I'm glad / haven't an aunt to treat
me as she treats you," she said to Mary
n 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 was bright and clear, with
q fine, light wind blowing steadily from
the ocean. They planned to sail to the
point, turn and cross the mouth OF
the bay just inside the swell Of the
sea, and then come racing In with a
fresh three-quarter breeze. In two
hodrs they would be pack at the pier,
where Mary was to meet them.
Joan poised herself comfortably on
the rail. Her cheeks were warm with
excitement and her eye danced to the
tune his heart was singing, all unbe-
knownst to her. Never in all his life
a he been so happy az now. and
never so self consciously stupid. h
chatted gaily, easily, while he, in his
e~xaltation, responded so inaptly that
in time, forsooth. he fell to making
hard work OF the sail in order to cover
his confusion. $50. ...
He looked out to sea and ate his
soul there came the longing to sail
on forever with her, straight into the
boundless waste, where he might rise
to such heights of heroism that con-
fidence would come to him, and he
would not be afraid OF her. He was
not afraid Of the sea, but his heart
quailed before that smooth. mobile
cheek n those limpid, wrathless eyes.
And yet he was ineffably happy. Sure
ly he had her all to himself now. But
to what purpose? f.
Steadily the airy craft beat its way
through the greenish. glinting waters
Of the bay, heeling, Fighting, swash-
ing, sending its genial spray into their
faces, pointing, as a dog points-as IL
1t were a thing OF life with an instinct
Of its own. o 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
duttered or flattened as the wind or
dained; 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
When they were not stealing sly
glances at her, they were set straight
ahead, focused on the distant point,
as If 1t were a thing to avoid.
It's great. isn't it?" he called out
Splendid" she sang. 7 love it! 1
love it,"
win you come out again."
She caught herself up. Il don't
know" As he did not press the invi-
tation she was driven to the curt ques-
ton: "When?"
UApr 5oHy xyO,, Iilzn - h. rnoIIna 49,
erly. will you. Joan?"
IF your n will let Mary come too"
h said. mischief in her heart.
Certainly" he acquiesced. much too
readily to please her vanity.
Are you sure you know how to sail
Gently that his pride was hurt in urn.
Amt 1 sailing her all right today?"
he demanded.
h was instantly ashamed Of her
self. TT was mean Of me to ask that
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.
1t would be awful to be out in a little
boat like this If q storm came up.
Goodness, what could we do"
Beat for the shore as fast as we
could" he replied grimly. w could
| yet III dIlcdu VI lily SIOTL1.
But suppose that the storm came
from the shore and not from the sea?
What them"
"We'a be geese to let 1t catch US far
out Oh. it's simple enough"
IF we were geese we could swim in,"
she said gaily.
sure" he agreed. and they laughed
aloud.
She was silent for awhile, furtively
studying his half-averted face. He
was bringing the boat around with her
nose toward the town, instead of fol-
lowing the course they had planned to
take.
Have you completed the plans,
Eric?"
Eyes" he replied. They're off my
mind"
II do hope you will win. Everyone
says you are sure to-"
He did not answer at once. 1t struck
her that he was s~ingularly inattentive.
The sail tapped viciously and the little
craft heeled over as the boom swung
around. A vast shadow came swim
ming III over the water, turning the
soft green to q blackish blue. The
girl turned her head quickly in alarm
OH" she cried. here yes widening.
Don't be nervous" he said calmly.
There's plenty Of time"
From the hills back Of Corinth a
great wall of black clouds was rushing
out upon them. leaping higher and
higher against the sunlit opal sky. The
very thing she had mentioned, half in
banter, had come to pass. Storm
clouds were indeed coming down from
the shore, and they were ugly, men
acing one at that.
Her remark had caused the enrap-
tured boy to cas- a casual glance
shoreward. He had seen then, for the
first time, the rim Of black that cap
ped the green hills, and, without
alarming her, he quickly altered the
course of the boat. He knew that the
storm was close at hand-on of those
swift. violent summer storms that
swoop out Of nowhere. 1t would seem,
and sail down to the sea, to be lost or
disSipated in the vast air currents that
scorn so small a thing as a land breeze,
no matter how fierce it may appear on
it's native heath.
You must hurry. Eric" cried the
girl, dread in her eyes. Tell me, what
can l do to help? I am not afraid"
IT'S funny l never noticed 1t COM
ing" he muttered irrelevantly. There
vas much lacking to do, for the wind
had shifted and they were still three
miles or more from the piers. She sat,
still and tense, looking straight ahead
into the black banks after this, realiZ-
ing In some subtle way that 1t was no
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