The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-06-17
THE GIRL ON THE ISLAND.

t Like a nice boat this afternoon,
sir? Beg your pardon, Mr.. Alan,
didn't see it was you, sir. You'll have
the little Inyicta' suppose, sir2
Lucky she's in"
Yes, please, George; was just
going to ask for her. You might put
my rod in and some bait, don't sup
pose I shall fish all afternoon, but l
might feel inclined to do little"
Very good, SIR said the man.
Here, Jack, fetch round the Invicta,
while get some fishing-tackle for Mr..
Henderson"
The boy hurried off to bring the lit
tie Amotor-boat round to the slip, while
George Burton hustled about getting
rod and bait for his most favored
customer, and Alan. Henderson saun-
tered down to the end of the slip.
He was tall, good-looking lad, bare.
ly two and twenty, who had just come
down from Cambridge, where he had
not particularly distinguished himself
In the schools, though his fame at the
riverside had been considerable. AS
he had strolled down from Windemere
to BoWness that afternoon, not a few
had turned to look after the fine, hand.
some boy, with the careless, swagger.
ing air, and one youngster FASTENED to
point him out to his pretty bright
| eyed sister
See that tall chap over there
Madge?" he cried. That's Henderson
who rowed five in the varsity boat; fin.
est oar at Cambridge, and ripping
good chap, too"
DO you mean the man with no hat
and curly hair? Yes, he is fine-Iook
ing fellow; do you know him, Phil?"
Not wish did. He's finished his
fourth year and I'm only fresher. Be
| sides, he's at another coll, but May
field, our boat-captain, knows him and
he says he's ripping good sort"
OH" said his sister, in a disap
pointed tone. Il thought he must be
a friend of yours"
Fer brother laughed carelessly.
Sorry to disappoint you,' he said
Il only wish he was.''
so do l. said the girl. Like many
another she was attracted by the Var
| sity oarsma1.
| Meanwhile, Alan Henderson hung
| about on the slip, waiting for the tiny
launch to be brought round. He was
glad to be home again. Dearly as he
loved the life at Cambridge, and espe
cially that part of it which he haG
spent on the river, there was nothing
there to be compared to the great lake
he loved so well, and no boat in which
he felt so much at home as the little
'Invicta," the tiny,' launch which
George Burton kept for his especia
use Whenever he should require it.
And how lovely the lake looked OF
this glorious afternoon There was
enough breeze for a good many sailing
boats to be out, and the ripple on the
water seemed sufficient to counterac
the bright sunshine. if he should care
to fish later on.
| In few minutes he was seated il
the 'Invicta,' threading his way
through the numerous. small craft il
the neighborhood of,the pier, and, hug
ging the eastern shore, he sped ava!
towards the northern end of the lake
AS he neared Lowood and the Lang
Edales and surrounding mountains cam,
fully into view, he stopped the moto
that he might enjoy the familiar scene
Then, cutting across to the other sid,
of the lake, he ran southwards at
rapid rate
AS he was speeding along the furthe
shore, he heard cry from one of tn,
smaller islands to 9the west of Bell,
Isle. The wind had risen by this time
risen quickly, as it is apt to on Winder
mere, and the cry came to him blu
family against the breeze; but OF
glancing across at the island he saw ;
slight girlish form waving handker
chief, and again faint cry for hell
came to him across the water.
In less than two minutes he had rul
the boat aground and leapt ashore. 4
young girl came limping towards hin
in obvious distress.
I'm so glad you heard me-" sh,
said eagerly, otherwise might have
been left here all night
Alan smiled to himself. That wa.
hardly likely, he thought: there were
a good many people on the lake at this
time of year, and someone would have
seen or heard this stranded maiden
even II he hadn't happened to come
along. But then he realized that, the
wind having freshened as it had done
people would. have been driven from
the lake and perhaps it was really for
tunate that he had run round that way
How did you manage to get strand
ed?" he asked
TT rowed across from Bowness anC
Imy boat got loose; | can't have
dragged it up far enough. There it is
fright in the middle of the lake, nearl!
a hundred yards away. should be 81
grateful if you would rescue it for me-
Rather exclaimed Alan. IF yol
don't mind waiting here ten minutes
longer I'll bring it back. But lool
here; you'd much better get in m.
launch and then we can go after it to
lgether. -
The girl blushed and hesitated for