Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-01-07
TWO IN A BOAT.
BY LULU NJ. PAuLEY.
t@. 1919. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicats

Of nice girls He broke of abrupt
~ and headed the boat towards the
willows.
Lydia looked sweetly sympathetic.
~Tell me about Them" she urged. "Thc
heap OF nice girls"
I'D rather you'd tell your story
first" returned Bob. half wistfully.
She glanced at him demurely. "All
right" she replied. good-naturedly, and
began:
Il came down here the first week
In June and met you for the second
time since our schooldays. We be-
came engaged. but the engagement was
conditional. That is, If either OF us
met some one else whom we liked bet
ter, we were ut liberty to do as we
pleased, In case we let each other
know" She paused impressively and
struck at the water with her long,
white fingers. SIT was your idea, and
contained not the slightest opening for
one Of those interesting breach-of-
pTOiIiSc SUITS.
Bob flushed, but said nothing.
The next one to propose" she con-
tinned. was Mr.. Hillary, who owns
that splendid yacht down at the har-
Dor. Then came Mr.. Meridian, Charlie
Dibble. Victor and that dear. fat col
lege boy, Percy Downey. / refused
Percy, Of course. He was deadly in
earnest, and l was afraid when he
should ind ] was only q 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.
"Tm not very wcrtily-wise aren't You
afraid I'll make a fnss?'
Lydia shook her fluffy head. @You
made the conditions Of our engage
ment. 20 you ought not to make .
fuss"
Never" breathed. Bob. quickly; "I'll
not do that. Pray continue your de-
delightfully."- interesting tale" and he
splashed the water spitefully with the
oars
1.-THE 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:
syou'll upset the boat"
II have two engagement rings" she
Zone IL yours. You may
have It now II you wish"
He silently lighted 4 cigarette.
you'll need It for one Of those nice
girls you've met" she suggested quiet
". do know her9'
II believe you do" His tones were
curt.
II think" he remarked coldly. turn
Ing the boat out into midstream, shat
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 sat out for long
time last evening admiring It."
II suppose he Is the fellow you are
going to marry" Bob growled. II re-
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. know how
"Oh, aren't you horrid?" laughed
Lydia. Il think Mr.. Morton is very
nice. indeed"
"And quite ladylike, too" Bob slight
lngiy added.
you're not obliged to like him."
flashed Lydia.
certainly not. say, Lydia. I'n go
Ing away In the morning-very early.
Do you carer"
ais that SOP Her tone was banter
Ing. "How disappointed the heap Of
nice girls will be. Such bright, eligi-
BILE young man.
B0b's tanned face burned redly and
he gave his full attention to the oars.
Il suppose It's the other girl whom
you are going to see" she remarked
How glad she'll bel"
Deuce take the other grill" 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 t@inkled
brightly. II wish you would explain"
she said. provokingly;; i 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 int" she pettishly
asked.
Bob turned his face to her with
glow Of determination In his clear,
brown eyes.
.'Ill tell you the name of the girl, I
iove. II you will tell me the name Of
The chap you're going to marry" he
informed her. rather cheerfully.
.Indeed," she returned frigidly; "you
needn't bother"
"Come now. Miss vane," he urged.
4I'm certain that you are dying to
know. have her photo with me, too"
Lydia hesitated a moment. then she
laughed half Historically.
"Show me the photo" she said.
He drew ii caressingly from an In
,ide pocket and held 1t out to her. Her
ips trembled as she looked at 1t. Then
heir eyes met.
.You are the chap | am going to