Ellsworth American., 1919-12-24
TWO IN A BOAT
BY LULU M. PAULEY.

| gone, ana we'll be gone. too"
Yes" nodded Bob; "it seems such
a short time since-and what a heap
| of nice girls" He broke off abrupt
ly and headed the boat towards the
| willows.
Lydia looked sweetly sympathetic.
"Tell me about them." she urged. THE
heap of nice girls
I'D rather you'd tell your story
first" returned Bob. half wistfully.
She glanced at him demurely. "Al
| right" she replied, good-naturedly. and
| began:
81 came down here the FIRST week
| in June and met you for the second
time since our schooldays We he
came engaged, hut the ngagement was
| conditional. That is. If either of US
! met scme one else whom we liked bet
ter. we were at liberty 10 do as we
| pleased, In case we let each other
know" She paused impressively and
struck at the water with her long
white fingers. at was your idea. and
contained not the slightest opening for
| one of those interesting hreach-of-
promise suits"
Bob flushed. but said nothing.
THE next one to propose" she con-
tinued. "was Mr.. Hillary, who owns
that splendid yacht down at the har-
hor. Then came Mr.. Meridian Charlie
Dibble, Victor and that dear fat col
lege boy. Percy Dnwney. refused
/ Percy, Of course He was deadiy in
earnest. and | was afraid when he
should find | was only summer girl
he might do something unpleasant.
Girls should avoid the man who has
not lived long enough in this world to
understand its ways"
Little philosopher" arplauded Bob.
I'm not very wordlv-wise: aren't you
afraid I'll make fuSs?"
Lydia shook her fluffy head. "Y"u
made the conditions of our engage
ment, so you ought not to make
fuss"
Never" hreathed Bob. quickly: "I'll
not do that. Pray continue your de
delightfully."- interesting tale" and he
splashed the water spitefuly with the
oars
THE last was Mr.. Harper, who
boards al Elm cottage"
AT the mention of Mr.. Harner. Bob
burst into an uncomfortable fit Of
laughter and made the boat rock vio-
lently.
stop immediately" cried the girl;
you'll upset the boat"
Il have two engagement rings" she
retorted. "One is yours. You may
! have it now if you wish"
He silently lighted a cigarette.
you'll need it for one of those nice
girls you've met" she suggested quiet
ly. do know her?"
Il believe you do" His tones were
curt
81 think" he remarked coIdly. turn
ing the boat out into midstream, that
we had better he going back to the ho-
tel. The sun is already set and there
! is no moon tonight"
| why. Mr.. Porter" she cried. there
/ was beautiful moon last night, so. Of
! course, there must be another tonight.
| Mr.. Morton and ] sat ont for long
! time last evening admiring IT,"
"I suppose he is the fellow you are
going to marry" Bob growled. ~ re-
member seeing him about the hotel.
i Sort of sissy, he not? One Of
! those. I'm mammals boy, am. can
/ talk to the girls. know how"
| "Oh. aren't you horrid?" laughed
! Lydia. II think Mr.. Morton is very
nice. indeed"
"And quite ladylike. too" Bob slight
! ingly added.
/ You're not obliged to ike him."
| flashed Lydia.
| Certainly not. | say. Lydia, I'm GO
| ing away in the morning-very early.
Do you care?"
rs that so?" Her tone was banter.
ing. How disappointed the henr of
nice girls will be. Such a bright. eligi-
bic young man."
| Bob's tanned face burned redly and
he gave his full attention to the oars.
81 suppose it's the other girl whom
you are going TO see" she remarked
thoughtfully. "How glad she'll he :"
Deuce take the other girl" broke
from Bob's lips impatiently. Lydia.
don't you care the least little bit?"
Lydia's pink cheeks grew a shade
deeper and her blue eyes twinkled
brightly. 81 wish you would EXPLAIN"
she said. provokingly; II really do not
understand you"
Bob ceased rowing and gazed at her
long and steadily. Then he turned his
gaze thoughtfully across the river.
'Arne't we going Ing" she pet;ishIy
asked.
Bob turned his face to her with a
glow of determination In his clear,
brown eyes.
I'll tell you the name of the girl I
love, If you will tell me the name Of
tho chan you'ra Unipu ta ~