Year: 1875




But soon found that / had to keep
in constant practice, If not absolute
training, to retain my throne, for many
OF the Argonauts were muscular. and IL
did not take them long to become accus-
toned to the light boats. As soon as all
hands were tolerably efficient, the club
determined to have grand regatta,
followed, of course, by ball and supper
on the most extravagant and aristocratic
scale, in the school-house. the only
building available. Due preparations
were made, and, for weeks before the
event was to come off, the Grand Re-
gatta was the one sole topic of cOnyer-
sation in Muskquoge.


1t was during those few weeks that
first became really susceptible to the
Establishments of lovely woman. Being
an Argonaut, suppose, had something
to do with it, for two sweet syrens en-
raptured me with the melodious caden-
ces that fell from their kiss-tempting
lips, and though l might have known
my danger, from the manner in which
they manipulated the ivory keys of the
piano. became enchanted by the spell
of song they wove around me. 1t is a
bad thing TO be i'm love and i'm training
for boat race at the same time, as biceps
and stamina will deteriorate when indi-
gestion exhibits itself. recognized this
fact, and went to my mother.


told her that at length 1 nad deter
mined upon obliging her, by taking
unto myself wife, but that l really
could not tell which of the two young
ladies l was "spOOns" on l loved the
most-I would abide her decision. II
she said lead Helen Fawcett, the blonde,
blue-eyed beauty, to Hymen's altar, l
would obey; if she desired me to wed
the dark-eyed houri, Eta Curtis, her
will should be my law. Qt never en-
tered into either my calculations or my
mothers that the young ladies had any
voice i'm the matter at ALL


NV mother, dear old soul, was over
joyed, but she could not help me in my
dilemma. If l praised Helen's beauty
and attributes, she said, "1 es; it would
be such comfort to her to have a
daughter like Helen;" if 1 extolled
Etta's virtues, she declared it had
ALWAYS been the wish of her heart to
see me married TO girl like her. In
nv perplexity l tossed a quarter-dollar
| in the air to decide my fate. Eta was
represented by Columbia, and she came
right side up on the carpet. At that
moment it flashed upon me that after all
l thought Helen suited my fancy best !;
but resolved to abide by the decision
of the silver piece.


1 rugged myself out in my most eIabO-
rate boating costume, and sought the
bonny brunette / intended TO make my
bride. She was a charming girl, was
Eta, and she looked especially bewitch-
ing that autumn morning as she stood
in her fathers orchard with the sun
beams glinting upon her through the
foliage. / poured into her attentive ear
passionate appeal, grew eloquent for
man who had been living upon moth
ing but raw eggs and underdone beef
for fortnight, and anxiously awaited
an answer.


knew Eta too well to suppose that
she would grow excited, faint, cry or
do anything so foolish; but, l confess,
/ il did strike me that she was slightly
too impassive: she seemed to accept my
declaration of undying devotion as II
she was accustomed to receive fifty OF
them every day between meals. She
was pensive only one moment alter
concluded my set speech. Then she
raised her lustrous eyes and regarded
me intently.


s'Charlie,'' she said, i'm a melO-dra-
matte tone entirely unusual to her, the
man who wins my hand must he hero.
Win the Ladies' Sculls on the seventh,
and 1 will be your wife,"


TwiIl do so or drown in the attempt y
1 replied, unconsciously initiating her
Then l kissed her; but, as L had often
done that before, did not feel all that
bliss which l presume the first Kiss Oi
love imparts to most men.


The eyentful day came at last. Our
clubhouse and landing stage were gor-
geous with bunting and every one was
in the highest spirits, for the day, the
Ladies', and the attire of the latter were
all eouaIly beautiful. l was certain OF
winning the Ladies' Sculls, pretty
badge presented by the maidens Of
Musauoge for competitors, as l was In
excellent condition, and had made
mile in better time than sam Martin,
the only man out of the four entered FOL
the race whom 1 deemed foemar
worthy of my blades.


Eta was standing with number Of
other girls on the landing-stage as
seated myself i'm the fragile paper shell
/ had ordered expressly for the occasion
As | settled nv feet in the steering gear
the creek was narrow and We used
rudders-she came forward.


"Remember, what depends upon your
victory, sir, and do not prove laggard
Here are my colors, L VIII place them
i'm the stern, so that they may inspire
YOU TO conquer" she said.


She stooped and stuck the shaft of a
tiny flag, of the same color as her dress
through the canvas covering of my
boat. IL was an act easy of accomplish
ment. but | remarked that it took hei
some time and that one of her hands
was wet when she had performed hei
task. The race was in my hands L fell
sure. and vet at that moment L would
not have cared if I had lost it, If couid
still have retained prestige as King o
the Club. for the fact was l had seen Z
good deal of Helen Fawcett since my
lsemi-engagement to Eta, and wa
half inclined to mentally admit that
had made a mistake, or the quarter
dollar had. and that l really loved thu
blonde beauty while / merely enter





tanned feeling. of the highest regard fol
the young lady to whom l had proposes
marriage.


padded into the middle of the creel
and got into line with my three oppon
ents. The word was given and w
started, or rather the other fellows did
for I could not drag my boat through
the water at any respectable rate o
speed at all, though strained so vigor
ously that snapped a scull and had t
lie-to until dingy came to my assist
ance and towed me to the landing jus
as a volley of cheers proclaimed San
, Martin winner Of the prize. Morti1et
beyond expression, 1 was determined Z
| ascertain the primal cause OF the ais
{ aster that had befallen me. Thinking
| weeds might have caught in the rudder
| raised the stern of my boat out OF tn
water. No vegetable matter was ther
at all, but loosely hanging between tn