The Argosy for May — page 169: what you’re looking at

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356 admiration. “You must tell me all about your experiences.”’ Hudson frowned. The idea of Grant figuring as the hero in a series of roman- tic happenings didn’t exactly appeal to him. Accordingly, he sought to “ butt into’ the conversation. ‘“Miss Wakefield is a splendid sailor,’ he said; ‘‘and she can sail a boat with the best of them. She has promised to look over my yacht when it comes down, haven’t you, Miss Wakefield?” ec Yes,” “But tell me, Mr. Grant, do you know anything about boats?” ‘“T have studied them all my life,” was the reply. “ Well, then,” continued Miss Wake- field, ‘‘ perhaps you can settle a disputed point for me. It all centers about the management of a sailboat. The most fascinating chapter in ‘ The Green of the Sea’ contains a situation which I con- sider impossible. I’m curious to know what you think of it, both from a literary standpoint as well as from the possibility of the thing. I believe that such episodes must be accurately described or not at all. Then, too, I want your opinion con- cerning the construction of the various chapters.” “But, Miss Wakefield,” interrupted Hudson, “Grant knows nothing about such matters. He is not interested in books. Are you, Grant?” . Hudson gave his friend a piercing look. “ Absolutely not,’ quickly answered Grant. : ‘“Oh, I had forgotten that,” said Miss Wakefield; ‘but you do know about boats, so that is enough. I will explain the entire story to you, and you can give me your ideas. You must have some ideas, you know, even if you don’t wish to have them,” she added, with a charm- ing smile. — A few moments later the dinner-party broke up, and the four people wandered out on the veranda. ‘What do you say to a stroll on the beach?” suggested Hudson. ‘Just the thing,” replied Miss Wake- field. ‘Come with us, mother. Mr. Hudson will take care of you, while Mr. Grant and IL finish our little discussion about the book.” answered the girl politely. THE ARGOSY. With these words she gathered up her skirts and, taking Grant’s arm in a friendly fashion, as if she had known him all her life instead of but a few hours, started down the steps to the Boardwalk. Hudson stood for a moment as if petrified. He couldn’t say or do any- thing. In the meantime the two figures were rapidly disappearing in the-crowd. It was Mrs. Wakefield’s voice that brought Hudson back to a sense of the conventionalities,and politeness. “ If you don’t mind, Mr. Hudson, will you excuse me? My daughter is such a walker. It is difficult for me to keep up with her. Suppose you leave me and join Elizabeth and your friend. If you hurry I am sure you can overtake them.” ‘IT don’t think I shall bother about doing that,” replied Hudson, trying his best to control his feelings. After he had found a chair for Mrs. Wakefield he took himself to a dark corner of the piazza, where he smoked a cigar and muttered into his mustache all the expressive words of his vocabu- lary. 2 The moon was sailing high when, from his sequestered refuge, Hudson de- scried Grant and Miss Wakefield return- ing from the Boardwalk. They were laughing and chatting in high spirits as they came up the steps and strolled down the piazza toward him. He saw them looking at the occupants of the rocking-chairs. Finally they reached him. | ‘Ah, here he is!” exclaimed-Grant. “Where did you and mother disap- pear to?” inquired Miss Wakefield. Then, without waiting for an answer: ‘‘ We have had such a delightful evening, haven’t we, Mr. Grant? We didn’t no- tice that you two people were not fol- lowing us until we reached the Casino. We were so interested in. the boat ques- tion.” “ Well,” asked Hudson, with grim po- liteness, determined to die game, “ did you settle it?” “Not yet,” answered Grant. ‘But we will to-morrow,” added Miss Wakefield. “ Mr. Grant and I are going to get up at six o’clock and take a sail. There is nothing like practical demon- stration in order.to prove things. Now, 9)(0)(6) (C@ ANG S (C@