The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-05-15
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HEARTS AND BOATS
BY GERTRUDE M. ROCKWELL.
e1z9 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Amy made a pretty picture as she
swung along the path to the boathouse.
Her green skirt and green and white
smock deiied the warm day and her
dark braids were coiled smoothly
round her head. The latest magazine
and a box of candy were tucked under
her arm.
Amy consulted the little watch on
her brown wrist "rll have time to
row up to the cove and then have a
good long time to read she mused
as she put the key into the lock.
To her establishment. instead of the
trim green and white boat an expanse
of water met her gaze.
"ThoSe boys again!" exclaimed Amy
in dismay. "Now l can't have my row."
She looked longingly at the boat in the
other half of the boathouse, but shook
her head "Now that's Mr.. Bowen's
and l hardly know him to speak to-
Well, I'll just sit here till those horrid
boys bring the boat in. They're fairly
caught this time"
Leaving the door ajar, she seated
herself just outside on the grass and
opened her magazine and box of candy.
But she read very little, SO busy was
she planning how she would deal with
the boys who had unceremonlously
Borrowed" the boat several times that
summer.
At last she heard the swish Of the
oars as the boat rounded the point.
She crcpt cautiously into the boat
house and waited. She wanted them
to be fairly in before she spoke.
Amy had barely time TO notice that
the boat had but one occupant as it
swung into the channel leading to the
door.
His back looked large. Well, she
would show him. 1t was all the worse
if he were older.
"Aren't you ashamed Of yourself? A
great big boy like you stealing right
in broad daylight"
The boat paused and a very good
looking young man turned astonished
eyes on the girl standing there in evil
dent wrath. lie didn't look bit like
thief, with his jolly brown eyes and
mop Of curly hair Amy stared at her
gentleman burglar in surprise. "Why,
what-who-how do you happen to be
out in my boat?" she finally brought
out.
The young man was not disturbed.
"Why, there must be some mistake"
he said, as he pulled in his oars and
slid into the boathouse. This is my
uncIe's boat, and he lent it to me for
the afternoon"
A skeptical light came into the girls
eyes. Probably this was one of those
smart college chaps from the camp two
miles away, and he was out for d lark.
She scorched him with a look.
THAT'S a likely story. The boat is
mine. l have no uncle, and l certainly
never saw you before
The young man leaned reaectlvely
upon his oars. He had nice smiling
wrinkles around his eyes for a thief,
Amy noticed.
81 don't understand this at ALL" he
was saying. Nov, my uncle, Mr..
Bowen, said the third boathouse from
the raft. Isn't this the thirdY
Light rushed into Amys mind, and
color into her cheeks. ooh, it's this
boat you ought to be in" she indicated
the one on her other side.
"You see" went ON the girl, eager
to clear things up, u am Amy Burt,
and this is my boat This other is Mr.
Bowen's, and you must be Mr.. BOwen's
New York nephew. Oh, am so sor-
ryw
"Too bad but I can't help it," said
the young man as he sprang to the
wharf beside her and extended his
hand. 81 am Bruce Fiske 1t was Just
an accident my being Mr.. Bowen's
nephew, So"
"Oh, | didn't mean thatw laughed
Amy but l was horid about it, nc
cusing you Of being a thief
well, l certainly was caught with
the goods. Now, Miss Burt, it's only
fair that you should let me give you
that ride you wanted"
During the month that followed It
made little difference to the two wheth.
er it was the Burt or Bowen boat.
Sometimes they hardly realized which
they were in. On the night before he
returned to New York Amy promised
that she would sail down the sea Of
life with him.
"And SO you'll forgive me for steal
ing the boat that day he leased her
rs they glided along shore in the moon
light
81 suppose I'll have to-" she whls-
pcred, because it gave me the chance
to steal your heart
Copyright, 1913 by the Mcclure News.
paper SyndIcate)