Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-03-21
ROCKVILLE MARYLAND. FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH d. 1919
HEARTS AND BOATS
BY GERTRUDE M. ROCKWELL.

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Amy made pretty picture as she
swung along the path to the boathouse.
Her green skirt and green and white
smock defled the warm day and her
dark braids were coiled smoothly
round her head. The latest magazine
and box of candy were tucked under
her arm.
Amy consulted the little watch on
her brown wrist. "Tll have time to
row up to the cove and then have
good long time to read" she unused
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 dlsmay. "Now l can't have my row."
She looked longingly at tho boat in the
other half of the boathouse, but shook
her head. "Now that's Mr.. Bowens
and hardly know him to speak to-
Well, I'll just sit here till those horrld
boys bring the boat IL. 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 crept 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
IL he were older
Aren't you ashamed Of yourself2 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. He didn't look bit like a
thief, with his jolly brown Dyes 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 boat2" she finally brought
out
The young man was not disturbed.
"Why, there must DO some mistake"
he said, as he pulled In his oars and
slid into the boathouse. "This Is my
uncles 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 lark.
She scorched him with look.
That's a likely story. The boat is
mine. have no uncle. and certainly
never saw you before"
The young man leaned renectively
upon his oars. He had nice smiling
wrinkles around his eyes for u thief,
Amy noticed.
II don't understand this at ALL" he
was saying Now, my uncle, Mr..
Bowen, said the third boathouse from
the raft Isn't this tho thlrdf"
Light rushed into Any's mind, and
color into her cheeks. "oh, 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, II am Amy Burt,
and this is my boat. This other Is Mr..
Bowens, and you must DO Mr.. Bowen's
New York nephew. Oh, am so sor-
ryp
"Too bad, but ! can't help IT," said
the young man AS he sprang to the
wharf beside her and extended his
hand. II am Bruce Fiske. II was Just
an accident my being Mr.. Bow6n's
nephew, So"
"Oh, / didn't mean that" laughed
Amy. But was horrid about 1t, ac-
cuslng you of being thief"
"Well, ] 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 1t 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 30 you'll forgive me for steal
Ing the boat that day" he leased her
as they glided along shore In tho moon
light.
II suppose I'll have to-" she whls-
pered, because II gave me the chance
to steal your heart"
Copyright, 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper syndlcate)