The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-12-13
CHAPTER XI--Continued
Is

ago you had no ldea WHERE INC iAn6
was. If 1t is on my finger you'll know
exactly"
"Bully idea! So I shall! Now tell
me where you're off to. You were In
a frightf1l hurry when you burst
through that door,"
ESQ 1 was" agreed Sylvia. "And
here am lettering and almost forget
ting my errand. Comet We must
hurry. I've got to go to town. Want
to row me over?"
"You bet your life! Show me the
boat"
Leading the way to the yellow dory,
she took her place opposite him and
he pushed off.
AS they sat facing one another, her
ewes roamed over his brown suit; his
matching tie, handkerchief and socks;
his Immaculate linen; his general air
of careful grooming, and she could NOT
but admit he wore his clothes well.
He was not a small town product.
Three years in an eastern prepara-
tory school, followed by four years Of
college life had knocked all that might
have been provincial out of Horatio
Junior.
Nevertheless these reflections, inter-
esting though they were, proved moth
ing about his knowledge of the water.
Then she suddenly became aware
that the boat was being guided by
master hand.
'Why, Hortie Fuller, 1 had no idea
you could row like this !" exclaimed she
with admiration.
Horatio deigned no response.
wherever did you learn to pull such
an oar?"
varsity Crew."
"Of course. I had forgotten" she
apologized, her eyes following as with
each splendid stroke the craft shot
forward.
Although the oarsman ignored her
appreciation he was not unmindful of
it.
"Where do we land?" he asked.
Anywhere"
He bent forward and with one final
magnificent sweep sent the nose of
the dory out of the channel.
"Come on" he called, leaping to
the beach.
"But-but, Hortie-I can't get ashore
here. I'll wet my white Shoes"
Jump"
"It's too far. Pull the boat higher
on the sand"
mot on your life. Jump, darling!
I'll catch you."
She stood up in the bow.
Il can't. It's too far" II F75
Nonsense! Where's your sporting
blood? Don't be afraid. I'm right
here"
Suppose you shouldn't catch mel"
"But / SHALL"
He would. She was certain of it.
Still she wavered
II don't want to jump" she pouted.
"Youll have to. Come on, Beau
tiful You're wasting time"
II think you are perfectly .horrid,"
\she flung out as she sprang forward.
An instant later she was in his arms
and tight in grip she knew herself
powerless to loosen.
she pleaded.
II shall, sweetheart. All in good
time. Before I set you free. though,
we must settle one trivial point Are
we engaged or are we not?"
She made no answer.
'If we're not" he went on, ''I in
tend to duck you in the water. If
we are, you shall tell me you love me
and go free"
A swift, shy smile Illuminated her
face.
'I-I-don't want to be ducked,
Hortie," she murmured, raising her
arms to his neck.
''You precious thing! You shan't be.
Now the rest Of it. Say you love me-"
II guess you know that"
"But / wish to hear you say it."
'I-I-think do"
'aThat's a half-hearted statement"
"I-I-know l do, Hortie"
"Ah, that is better. And 1 love
you, Sylvia. Loving you is an old, old
story with me-a sort of habit. / shall
never change. You are too much a
part Of me, Sylvia. Now pay the boat
man and you shall go. One is too
cheap. Two is misery. The fare is
three. won't take less"
Il consider your methods despic-
able" announced the girl when at
last he reluctantly put her dowE on
her feet "You blackmailed me-"
Il know my Sylvia" he countered.
"Perhaps you'd rather truEdled back
to New York tomorrow and offered
the ring to Estelle."
"Silly! was only fooling," she
protested quickly, linking her arm in
his. "This ring would never fit Es-
telle, dearest. Her hands are ire
mendous. Didn't you ever notice
them? They are almost as large as
q mans. ! never saw such hands,"
"She's an awful nice girl just the
same"
Il don't doubt that. Come. We
must quit fooling now and hurry or
we shall never get home. Marcia will
ha frontirO