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


Now then, here's the refractory boat"
He tied the painter to a ring in the
stern of his launch and they turned
and ran across towards Bowness. For
a moment neither spoke, and Alan took
stock of the maiden he had rescued.
She was quite a pretty girl, he con-
cluded, with fair hair and dark eyes
with long dark lashes. These same
eyes though were rather deep-set, and
the dark shadows around them seemed
to speak of delicate health, though in
other ways the girl looked strong
enough She was dressed simply in a
striped cotton blouse and plain black
skirt, while a, blue Paddy" hat crown
ed her pretty hair. Altogether, she
was a fresh, wholesome-looki girl
and a lady-like one, too, Alan thought,
though he was not quite certain what
her social position might be. Present
ly she began to talk, and asked Alan
various questions about the lake, which
he was delighted to answer She had
started him on the subject dearest to
his heart; he could have talked on the
glories of Windmere for hours at a
time.
The breeze died away almost as
quickly as it had risen up, and by the
time they were running into Bowness.
there was scarcely ripple on the
water.
Don't you think we might be in
6
we've no one to do it for us, suppose
we do it for ourselves. I'm Alan Hen
lerson at your service"
And my names Dulcir Carruthers,
I'm staying with my aunt up at Wind
ermere, at Westbourne Terrace. |
hope you'll come in and see her; she'll
De very anxious to thank you, know,
when she hears of your gallant res
cue"
I'll come like shot, if | may" said
Alan promptly, "but not to be thanked.
I'd far rather come for the pleasure of
seeing you-and your aunt" he added
parenthentically.
Dulcie Carruthers laughed merrily.
"Auntie won't let you off quiet so
easily" she said, "she's by way of
reckoning that I'm her favorite niece,
and therefore my rescuer will be rath-
er hero in her eyes, so you must
make up your mind to be made much
of, if you come"
''I'll risk it," said Alan, without hest.
tation.
When they landed at Bowness, Dull
Gle declared that her ankle was much
better, but she still limped little and
Alan insisted on chartering Victoria
She gave way on his promising to al
low her to alight at the top of the hill
"Auntie would have blue and green
its is she saw me drive up to the
door," she said earnestly. "She'd be
sure to imagine I'd broken a leg OF
IN arm or something of that kind
And so it happened that when DuIcie
Carruthers, limped along to the lodg
ings where she was staying with hel
aunt, Alan Henderson went with her
He had an idea that her ankle was
more painful than she would acknowl
edge and didn't like leaving her unit
he was, certain she was safe in hel
aunt's care. -
Miss Merrion looked up quickly Ak
Dulcie limped up the garden-path, fol
lowed by Henderson. The limp toll
something of it's own tale; not so tn,
Young man. Hitherto Dulcie, though /;
bright and attractive girl, seemed t.
have given young men wide berth
he presence of this fine young fellow
land even in the glimpse Miss Merriol
caught of him through the window sht
| saw he was q we'll set-up, handsome
ad enough-seemed to herald a new
IRA in her niece's hitherto sheltered
life.
ooh, auntie, I've had such an adven
| .ure!" Dulcie said, as she entered the
Dom. I'D landed on an island at the
| other side of the lake and my boa
somehow got away. might have beer
| there now, or all night even, if this
gentleman hadn't come along and res
:ued me. Mr. Henderson, allow me tt
introduce you to my aunt, Miss Mer
rion."
I'm sure I'm most grateful to yoI
FOR your kindness to my niece" sale
Miss Merrion a moment or two later
when the circumstances of Dulcie's
rescue had been explained to her more
fully. "She's not at all strong, and il
she'd been left on that island all night
I don't know what the consequences
might have been"
ooh! she'd never have ben left there
all night said Alan, trying to make
little of what he had done; someone
would have been certain to come
along
Il don't know" said Miss Merton
they might or they might not. Any
how, I'm very grateful to you, and So
am sure, is Dulcie."
Indeed / am" said the girl earnest.
| ly.