Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 3 — page 172: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

546 “What a silly thing! I got down there at the end of the lake, and when the wind came up stronger I couldn’t get back. You can’t hold it up against the wind when you're alone, you know.” } Henry didn’t know exactly, but he nod- ded confidently. The girl took off her little slippers and emptied the water out of them. ‘“T live about a mile beyond the point— on this side.”’ She pointed down the lake. ‘“T don’t know how I’m going to get home _ —4I’d hate to walk out in the road looking like this.” She glanced ruefully at the clinging wetness of her filmy dress. ‘‘ And I wouldn’t want to leave the canoe here anyway.” “You mustn’t trust yourself on that water again to-night,’ said Henry. And something made him add doggedly: “I won't let you do that.” ‘“‘T couldn’t make it alone across that wind,” said the girl. ‘ But I could easily if”’—she hesitated — ‘if you’d paddle down with me. Would you mind?” Henry’s heart almost stopped beating. “It’s easy enough for two,” the ‘girl went on, ‘‘ when the bow’s not up in the air—and there’s an extra paddle. The wind’s letting up anyway. If it wouldn’t . be troubling you too much—it isn’t far by water.”’ ‘““No—I mean yes—of course I will, ” said Henry. The girl stood up. ‘“ I’m cold — good gracious, look at that canoe; we'll have to empty it out.” _ Together they lifted the canoe. The water came spilling out of Henry’s end, wetting him still more, and they both laughed. Then his coat slipped off her shoulders into the lake, and again they both laughed. ‘“’ Dog-gone it, I didn’t want that coat to get wet,” said Henry ruefully. A wonder- ful feeling of comradeship had sprung up within him; he almost forgot his apprehen- sions of the coming canoe ride. ‘T’m sorry,” laughed the girl, rescuing the coat. ‘“T mean I wanted to keep it dry so—so you wouldn’t be cold,” Henry explained. “Qh,” said the girl, and smiled. And ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. again Henry remembered afterward that her lashes had fallen shyly; and he was sure that in the moonlight he had seen the flush that came to her cheeks. “Tl sit in the bow,” said the girl when they were ready. They pointed the canoe out into the lake. The wind had gone down consider- ably, and the little waves were perceptibly less high. At the girl’s direction Henry steadied the canoe while she climbed its length and sat down on the bow seat with her back to him. Then he drew a long breath and waded recklessly a few steps into the lake, pushing the canoe in front of him. Then somehow he managed to clam- ber into it. The canoe rocked violently, but did not overturn. He sat erect and rigid upon the stern seat holding his breath, the little pad- dle gripped tightly in his hand. “Tl paddle on the left, if you don’t mind,” said the girl. “I’m tired of the -other side.’’ Henry blessed the good fortune that had placed her with her back toward him. He was surprised that. they were still float; and more surprised that they seemed con- tinuing to stay afloat. The canoe, pointing directly into the wind, rode easily. Henry found he could put the paddle over the gunwale into the water and still they did not upset. The girl took a stroke. He held his paddle as she was holding hers and took a stroke also -——awkwardly but nevertheless with some effect. “ We go that way—down the lake,” said the girl; and pointed on his side. Then she paddled harder. As the canoe swung around broadside to the waves it began to roll. Henry felt a wild desire to drop his paddle and grip the sides with his hands. “It’s a beautiful night, isn’t it?” the girl remarked. Henry remembered then that the moon was shining.. But he was afraid to look up; he kept his eyes fixed upon the girl and imitated her strokes as nearly as he could. | After-a moment he suddenly found that he could bend at the waist with the roll of GOnMGWoOolks Colin