The Wasp, 1918 · page 69 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 69: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **narrative fiction rather than satire or political commentary**. It's a dramatic scene from a serialized story in *The Wasp* magazine. The scene depicts a conversation between **Burnham** (a male character) and **a young woman** (unnamed here) who is afraid to board a boat with him. She fears he might abduct her to St. Kitts. Burnham reassures her by ordering his companion Henry to hide the boat's oars and sail, proving he won't sail away. He demonstrates gentlemanly restraint and trustworthiness. This appears to be **melodramatic fiction**—common filler content in 19th-century satirical magazines alongside their actual satirical cartoons and commentary. The page emphasizes themes of honor, trust, and social propriety typical of the era's popular literature. Without additional context about which *Wasp* issue this is from or the broader story, the specific plot details remain unclear, but this is straightforward serial fiction rather than satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
bo THE WASP and the colour fled from her cheeks. “Can we not go by land—on foot along the shore? I am strong enonen to walk, sir, thanks to your | good care of me.’ Burnham saw that she was afraid to trust herself in the boat, away from land, with him. Did she fear that he would set his sail and make for St. Kitts with her ? he wondered. “As you wish,” he said tenderly. “I was | thinking only of your comfort. You have suffered greatly this morning. But I under- stand. You do not know me—and how should — : you? Henry, bring up the oars and sail from the boat and hide them somewhere in this grove. We must try to drag the boat up and hide her, too. We may need her again. And we must collect our poor provisions and stow them away in some place of safety. I must ask you to ‘| excuse me, madam, while I help the lad.” *¢ T’ll go with you in the boat ! ” cried the young woman, her face aflame. “And I—beg your pardon most humbly.” : ““No,. I beg of you,” returned Burnham. “What right have I to expect your trust—an outcast upon your shore? But if you care to trust me, then I thank you with all my heart. You are as brave as you are kind. Lad, collect comichodks.comn