Evening star., 1930-12-02

M OHN1NGs DrOke cl0udIeSS ana
MI warm at Uplands Stanley,
V awakening at and lying in
4 a bed, could hear the sounds he
loved all about him.
Presently voices were added.
Jimmie, don't chase her! Just fol-
low her slowly, dear. If you chase her,
you'll frighten the little chickens and
You'll wake Uncle Stan!" Margaret was
talking cautiously. The next sound was
Of kiss: Shall we open the gate and
just follow them gently-gently-
through it?" Stan heard her say.
Jimmie assented riotously. He was
evidently in her arms, or she was
kneeling beside him. because she next
began, in a tone not much removed
from the motherly "tuck-tuck" of the
hen.
"Your buttons gone again, dear-your
new bathing suit, too!-and you're all
pulled about
Stan was aroused now by the allu-
sion to a bathing suit. If Jim were in
his, then undoubtedly Margaret was
In hers, and they were going to swim.
He got into his own, and his wrapper,
and followed them to the pool.
He reached the opening in the woods
just in time to see Margaret dive like
. o seal from the springboard.
Stan plunged after her. They swan
about the pool with glorious swift filings
In their arms and rapid twisting of
heads. Presently both were painting be-
side Jim in the shadows, laughing,
breathless, exiliIarated.
A swimming lesson to the small boy
followed, Stan and Margaret sharing
the responsibility of towing him out
into deep water and encouraging him
to trust himself to the inflated inner
tire tube that served him for SWIM
ming wings. Jim shouted, plunged,
gagged, wept and laughed again.
Fancy, he's only Az Margaret said
proudly. Hes going to make mag
nificent swimmer!"
Where did you learn?" Stanley
asked, delighted to find her in happy
and friendly mood.
I'm Mas -au." she answered unre-
fiectingIy And instantly he knew that
she regretted the admission. IT had
been working too hard" she said, "and
IL was there three months. I didn't
think, " she added, hurriedly and nerv-
ously, that one could lean to swim
after childhood, you know! But was
10 and ] did learn! And oh, how
loved it--loyed the glorious waterl"
she added.
Her voice stopped suddenly. She be-
gan to- tousle Jim's hair with the big
towel that had been warming in the
sun and spoke to him inconsequentially
and hastily, obviously anxious, Stan
saw, not to follow up some significance
in the admission. But of what? He
plunged back into the water, and Mar
garet had dexterously changed the drip
ping little swimmer into a warm, dry,
hungry little boy before Stanley came
back 49,
"Now, you lace your boots, Dimsk, {"
Margaret said. land well take another
swim and then 60 in to breakfastl"
And she and Stan were OF again.
plunging, diving. splashing, circling in
. the delicious freedom of the water.
"You get on the edge. that side, and
I will this" she directed him, land
we'll both dive and swim underneath
until we meet and then come up to-
gether! Didn't you ever do that? It's
wonderful
Stanley duly went in. at her signal.
and swami along in the translucent
green shadows and lights, looking
sharply for her. Only few instants,
and then he saw the moving shapeless
blackness ahead. Thy came up close
together, hands gripped and shouting
with laughter.
"oh, I love that" Stanley cried.