Year: 1872

Surely he could not think of appearing
before her in the robe Of a lost city gent
Yet he must 90 something.


She settled the matter at once by
walking straight up to him, and asking !:


els this Mr.. Hargrave2'


cat your service. madam"


Dick tried to speak gallantly. but he
colored terribly, and his voice did not
sound as smootbe as he could have wished.


81 am Robert Grays rister. You
may have heard him speak Ct Nelly :"


"A great many tines"
Dick bowed awkwardly.


"You must be terribly out Of patience
waiting so long?


"Not at ALL" Dick began; then think
ing that not quit. the thing, he made the
matter worse by saying. "Only little
tirea of country scenery hersabouts-
the Irregularities in appointments mean
not quite like


He stopped short, twirling his mus
tache violently, snd colored to the very
roots of his hair. He had evidently
"put his foot in it, and half expected to
see Miss Gray's blue eyes resent the
insult.


ct was outrageous % she said, as
though his remark had been the most
commonplace fnA tks- pcrid "and We
were go provoked up at the house !!
Robert was called away on business last
evening, and the only horse on the farm
that l can drive sprained his ankle for
the occasion, l believe. and so l had to
come by way of the lake in numbering
old sail-boat and then, to complete my
misery, the breeze went dowr! Isn't it
a terrible list of calamities and fear
that it is not full yet, for We must row
back Can you row.


"Oh yes like nothing better! We
shall have quite jolly time, after all, "
said Dick, merrily, inwardly pleased at
the prospect Of showing off his pet ac-
complishment. He was getting interest.
ed in the bright face and girlish figure
already !!


1t was quito walk over the long
, sandy bluff to tie lake shore, and the
sultry August sun, pouring down upon
his head. made the jaunt anything but a
pleasant one to Dick. unaccustomed as
he was to vigorous exercise.


The sail-boat was anything but toy
ish affair, and Dick found it no easy
matter to get up even moderate rate Of
speed with the clumsy oars. He struck
out bravely, however, and succeeded in
blistering his hands finely before quar-
ter of the three milea to Roberts landing
was passed. How he prayed for a
breeze!


"Shall l row now, Mr.. Hargrave


"No indeed r calculated he, just ready
to faint with the sun and work, glancing
first at the sober face just opposite, and
then at the small shapely hands folded
demurely on the prettiest of pink aprons.
But row a great deal with Robert.
and he even praises me sometimes. Let
me try, please; you are getting tired,


Dick assured her that he never felt
more like rowing in his life, realizing all
the time that he was growing pale from
exhaustion, and pulled away Justify.


"What beautiful clear water !" he
finally stopped to say. laving his blistered
hands from the side of the boat, when he
could row no further without resting. 1t
would have been an excellent ruse, only
he did not notice that he had stopped
where black bottom gave the water the
appearance of anything but crystal.


II really shall feels i'll natured, Mr..
Hargrave, if you do not let me share
some Of the glory of our undertaking" "


Dick thought he caught glance of
both pity and merriment in Miss Nelly's
eyes as she spoke, but he arose from the
seat, saying:


81 submit then but only because the
penalty is so severe P"


He tried to speak gayly, but it was a
sad failure. He was actually dizzy, and
Just then his foot struck against some
thing in the bottom of the boat, and down
the poor fellow went-not into the boat,
but into the lake.


He isn't positive to this day how it
came about, but it is certain that when
Dick came to the surface, he was helped
into the boat by no less person than
Robert Gray; and it is just as certain
that two boats lay rocking on the sunlit
waters where only one had been before !!


Il am glad tc see you, old fellow"
laughed his friend, as Dick stood shiver-
ing in the boat, with fountains of lax e
water gushing from clothes and hair.
What on earth has Nell been doing
to you? Excuse me, Dick. but it's go
comical!" And Robert, holding, his
sides with both hands, laughed long and
loudly.


"All my own awkwardness - Dick
finally stammered, not daring to look
into Miss Nelly's face, yet feeling that
she was laughing at him.


"I'm sure l don't know what should
have done but for you, Rob-" Dick con-