The Dolores star., 1920-01-23
TWO IN A BOAT
BY LULU M. PsULEY.

:, "H'"' IN Hhnthnr week
'ne h"te' will he closed the guests
gone and wen be gone. too"
Yes. nodded Bob: "jt seems sucb
s'"Ft tifne since-and what n heap
" nice girls He broke off ahrupt
~ ana headed the host towards tho
willows.
lydia looked sweetly sympatbetic.
zen me about them" she urged. 'The
heap of nice girls"
"a rather you'd tell your story
nrst' returned Bob. half wistrulIy.
she glanced at him demurely. "AII
right. she replied. goodnature0lv. and
| began:
came down here the first week
~ June and met you for the second
ume since our schnnldays. We be-
came engaged. hut the engagement WIS
conditional That is. If either of MS
'net some one else whom we liked bet.
'er' we were at liberty to do ms we
h'"hSed. in case we let each other
KNOW. She paused impressiveIy and
| struck Mt the water with her long
Wh''e fingers. ''1t was your idea. and
contained not the slightest opening for
one Of those Interesting breach-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 Mt the har-
h"r, Then came Mr.. Meridian. Charlie
bubble Victor and that dear. fat col
'"gc boy. Percy Downcy. I refused
Percy. Of course He was deadly in
earnest. md I was afraid when he
should md ! 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" applauded Bob.
I'm not very w"rdlv-wise; aren't you
afraid I'll make n fuss?"
Iydin shook her fluffy head. "You
made the conditions of our engage
ment so you ought not to make
fuss"
Never" breathed Bob. quickly: "I'u
not do that. Pray continue your de-
delightfully."- interesting tale" and he
splashed the water spitefully with the
oars.
"rhe last was Mr.. Harper. who
boards at Elm cottage"
At the mention of Mr. Harper. Bob
burst into an uncomfortable at of
laughter and made the boat rock vio.
lently.
stop Immediately cried the girl;
you'll upset the boat"
81 have two engagement rings" she
retOrted. "One is yours. You may
have it now if you wish"
He silently lighted cigarette.
you'll need it for one of those nice
girls you've met" she suggested quiet
ly. "Do know her?"
81 believe you do" His tones were
curt.
II think" he remarked coldly, turn
ing the boat out into midstream, that
we had better be going back to the no.
tel. The sun is already set and there
is no moon tonight"
"Why, Mr.. Porter" she cried, "there
was a beautiful moon last night, so. Of
course, there must be another tonight.
Mr.. Morton and I sat out for long
time last evening admiring It,"
"I suppose he is the fellow you are
going TO marry" Bob growled. II re-
member seeing him about the hotel.
Sort of sissy, is he not? One Of
those, I'm mammals boy. am. I can
talk to the girls. l know how"
"Oh, aren't you horrid?" laughed
Lydia. 81 think Mr.. Morton Is very
nice. indeed"
"And quite ladylike. too," Bob slight
ingly added.
you're not obliged to like him."
flashed Lydia.
Certainly not. I say. Lydia. I'm 60
ing away in the morning-very early.
Do you care?"
"Is that so?" Her tone was banter
ing. "How disappointed the heap Of
nice girls will be. Such bright, eligi
BILE young man."
Bobs 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 be"
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 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.
"Arnet we going in?" she pettishly
asked.
Bob turned his face to her with
glow of determination In his clear,
brown eyes.
"TIl tell you the name Of the girl !
love, If you will tell me the name OF
the chap you're going to marry" he
Informed her. rather cheerfully.