The Story-Teller. A COMEDY ON THE RIVER.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume X, Issue 957, 31 October 1891, Page 4

The Story-Teller. A COMEDY ON THE RIVER.

(Cohtinuedi) , ' That,' to an attentive ear, proved to be on altercation carried on m two femiuine voices. ' Pull your right hand, Rosie ! We shall be into the bank m a moment.' ' But, Nancy, we were almost on to the atones. I begged you to keep to the river ; bat yon are always so self-will-ed.' ' Rcsie !' m a prolonged shriek ; * you'll upset ns, if you wobble the boat about like that. Do be careful There now !we are aground. 1 told yow how it would be.' ' Beauty m dis ress,' crud Harold. ' As good men »nd true, vw are bound to are this out. Lei uspullrounl the bend of the river yonder, and sej what's the matter,' A few vigorous strokes soon brought them to the scene of tho disaster. They found two girls with anxious faces, standing m a boat which they wer^ vainly end< avouring, with- the aid. of their oarp, to push over the shnlow?. Harold doffed his cap. * I am afraid you will damage your boat if you do that.' lib saiJ, 'We will pull alongside, and if you will ptpp m n< re that wou'd lighten her a bit, and we might tow her o v er/ Geoff, sitting m the stern, looked gravely on, bnt said never a word. 'I am afraM,' rep'iad one of the did tressed damsels, ' that we hare knocked a hole m ler alreidy. The wa'e.r is icoming m. Ob, lioei*, l.owever shall we get home?' «Pray don't alarm yourself,' said Harold reassuringly. 'My fiiend and 1 can easily stop that little leak j and if you will honour us by making use of our boat, we will take this one m tow and convey you home m safety,' • ; *Oh thank yon so much" said the girl ; 'but do you think it will hold us nil ? The boat looks— rather--' : 1 A tight fit for four, you think ? Well, rather than cause you any i alarm, Geoff anil I will take it m turns to tow.' Thellusson, who had been gazing with a puzzled expression at the young lady who rejoiced m the name ofc Nancy, suddenly awoke up to a sense of duty. They pulled into the bank, and made tho necessary alterations for towing, and somehow, by tacit agreement, it seemed to be arranged that Haro'd should sit with the ladies and steer, while Geoff stumped, silent, and solitary, along the towing path. Once be looked back over in'fcsbouldor •nd smiled. 'Hal bag found his unfophisticated beauty at last/ he said to himself,' *n4 ftecm9 to If «oing the pace Shall 'l spoil sport at once or Jet him go on? Let him go on, I think. A little bf^Ulricon^eitin'liis own powers of discerhni'fnt 'might be knocked out of him with '^jt^U^'.', ' '' >rV ' ; :; After; landing the two yonng men escorted the ladies to iJieir home, which proved to be an idyllic «ottage ornee, whose prosaic walla were completely veiled from sjght by tliinbing roses and jasmine. Beyond the gates of tnis paY adise, however, they were not permitted to intrude. 'My mother is a great invalid,' said Nancy, m answer to the longing, lingering graze with which Hal endeavoured to soften her heart, * She has a nervous dread of strangers, so you must forgive my seeming want of hospitality.' ' You will be on the river again ?' be said pleadingly, as he' held her taper fingers m his strong clasp. ' Perhaps some evening.' ' Not m the morning V 'Oh no, not m the morning. We are so busy just now, are we hot, Rosie? And she looked' laughingly at her companion, who was too much occupied m making her adieux to Geoff Thellusson to vouchsafe any reply. ' Busy ! ' Hal echoed. ' What can you do to kill Time m a quiet place like this?' ' Ah ! that is such a mistake — kill m? Time, His ghost rises up to confound you at every turn, and makes your life wretched with well -merited self-reproach Never try to kill Time. Rather enjoy to the full every hour, every minute, of his existence.' 'By Jove I * exclaimed Harold, 'Is that how » country life makes you feel ? I shouldn't mind trying it then, myself.' 1 A country lif« ? ' Her eyes were dancing with fun. 'Oh yes, of course. Can any life be so pure, so happy, so fraught with innocent pleasures that never pall or weary ? But my mother is expecting me, Mr—' The interrogative arch of the pencilled brows was simply entrancing. * Austen, Harold Austen' he said hastily. ' Good bye, Mr Austen*' * Don't say good bye, say au revoir.' *Oh no, I cannot. That must be left to chance— or you.' The last two words were uttered m a soft whisper, and without even another glance she was gone. '■■ Hal walked by 'Geoffrey's side m silence for some moments, then he burst out, < She's glorious 1 She's divine !' Geoff was engaged m, rolling, up a cigarette. : )i -No' doubt she's all that,' he said as he fastened the paperi v» What's her flame?' / t (Gontinutd inowruxt it tut,)