,
l
f
“- write a book about soul" declared
r' grin.
, both birth and training.
\ wistfulncsa and odd moments at
ans. 1: s new: really a... you... re
Mollie. and she kissed hint emphatically.
“Write it anyhow." said our. "It'll
be a good one." _ _ a
When abs said that Mollie believed it.
toe to her 8am lesbians was the most
provoking. exasperating and delightful no!"
son she know. They had been married
four years, and never a quarrel in all
that time. People who worship each other
as did Beok‘and his wife cannot quarrel.
anyhow. Beck knew that his wife was
the most wonderful woman of all time. in-
cluding the future. Mollie knew that Beck
Why not wonderful in the least. but it)"
t l '0 and “line."
had only one fault-uh couldn't
nythiug. The word “do." in the
t' tutpltiyetl liy Mollie, meant much.
l unilit'iili‘ii in her opinion. ior he knew
“Hit silo ll'iin tight. and be admired her
tli-‘lt'ot'iltlzeni. "no" meant to be a social
tuct'tsa, a competent. always-chem. ver—
satile man of leisure.
Too young persons. each of independent
income and each born to a certain station
in society. int-vindin must follow a couraa‘-
in life that is largely not of their amti
braking. This course was so natural and
congenial to Mollie that it required no
effort and no thought. Beck always mar~
tried at her thorough command oi tbs
usages of their world. He was happy bad
cause she found her delight there. As
for himself, he frankly and goodvnaturedly
admitted that he was a “duh." ‘
Mollie had no illusions concerning Beak
:beiorc she married him. "flhe knew that.
as for “doing things" in their sphere, as
represented a perpetual deficiency. She
simply lored him.
herself of Book. it was a natur‘al result
that she should attempt to educate him into
I capable person.
Everybody who knew Back liked him:
"anybody who didn't do so ceased to in-
terest (illicilie. Yet after (our years Mouls'
mine tint he had made no
‘heBways of his world. . progrsu h
eek was in no sense std id:
was he an idler. He had azroferslham—
girl] engineering; but he had married to
cvote outset to Mollie Hem
eniiaeerlilng was a aide line. M”. "d
s e had to do was to
Beck made it his task to help ‘23., g:
was as faithful as a grateful dog. {or he
knew that no man was so lucky as Mollia's
husband. Mollie did not object to Beck's
profession, tor it made tcw dratts on his
'time: neither was she particularly mg...
cated in it. She was not in the least
selfish. She wanted Book to have just as
fine a time as she had. and she labored
with] him likcda atl‘other teaching a child.
ova an cacao
oration. pa and amused to].
“Beck. if you could oul d is
she would exclaim. laughi’ng.o aomethlngl
“I know.” Beck would. answer with a“
“I own up."
“Beck. you’ve got brains;
can."
“Sure," Beak would say im
. ",1 “W" "at“ work. you knfifwtglgd
dont have really to work, Beck. 1 don't.
suppose it's right to say so, but housefly
I don't care whether you work or not."
“fieither do I. sis: not a bit."
“ ut there are so many things you ought
to do besides wor .
ever learn?" king Beck, Fm you
Hi9 bridge was an abomination. ,
he liked mildly. but he sautemyeicaliui: '
wasn't much of a sailor. He could swim.
but there was nothing particularly fashion-
able about that. Opera made him sleepy.
and boxpartiea were a form of penance.
Now, in all things like these Mollie
was beyond doubt ciilclent. by reason of
She enjoyed life.
and she worked loyally to teach Beok‘how
to enjoy it. Back never tired of trying to
learn. and never deceived himself to the
extent of believing that he was learning.
“You must try and keep trying.” said
’Mollie. '
“You bell"
going to.”
“ “Somehow I'm
sated. Beek."'
“I’m interested in you." .
Summer seemed to be the most hope-
less season for Beck. He never succeeded
in grasping the theory. much less the de-
tails, of a society summer. Newport was
a puzzle. Europe was. a place to travel
through and nothing more. A coaching trip
in Scotland was simply an opportunity to
be Moilie's slave. A West Indian cruise
on Colonel Bagley'a yacht. with a bright
company at young people. was a duty to
be conscientiously performed, because Mollie
was there.
Each summer revealed Beck doing his
desperate and, incincient beat. The on]!
chgugcs that the season ever seemed to
produce in him were periods of occasional
pra-
occupation. Mollie, watching over himIas
she would overs child. was quick to notice.
I ”it" ran
declared Back. “'I’m
afraid you're not intara
' yet unable totatbolu: tor when she asked
Beck what he really wanted to do. the
answer always‘waa:
"‘Just whatever you want to do. Mollie
girl. I'm having a has time!”
BlillR fifth summer was at hand. fol-
lowing a long season of pursuing the
pleasures in which Mollie was an expert
and Beck a willing blunder-er. Mollie had
been thinking about that summer: in tact.
she had planned it. “It provided (or one
startling feature.
She sought Beck's data one evening and
sat down for conddencca.
"fleck. what are we going to do this
summon“. she asked abruptly. M
' “Why-ewby. whatever you say.” he
answered in surprise.
“That‘s. agreed. then, u in Whatever
.' 1 m2".
“You know it is." said Back. putting
down his pips. "What else?"
"All right. Beak. I'll hold you to that.
Remember!” ‘ “
- Bcek‘uodtlcd and smiled and waited.
"Backdoor. we're going to scpara ."
. “What!" He stared.
i‘lisaotlyfi’ said Mollie. smiling. "sepa-
' ‘ . ‘ , ‘ .
But having possessed ~
war»
fBeekl Quick! I’ve col. ill What shall I do?”
rate. 0! course. I don't mean really
separate. But just tor a while—tor the
summer. perhaps." ' '
"But. Mollie—w" ‘ ,
"Lia now. Back. It's like this—I'm
land 0 is lot at things—society Won"
. “So am I."
“Stop tibbiog. Beck; you're not.
can't learn."
“Well. I know I'm a dub." he admitted.
"but I try." :
"Bless your dear heart. of course you
try. You'd try anything I, asked you to."
He nodded firmly.
“But you simply don't seem to have the
knack of doing things. Beck.“
you. Oh. no; I know that I don't bore
you. We couldn't bore each other. be~
cause we know better. But the things you
don't know how to do bore you.
see it. Now, mother and l have the usual
campaign planned."
She laughed. and Beck joined.
“I‘ll help carry it out." he supple-
mented. '
Mollie shook her head.
“No. Beck; I won’t drag you around.
Don't misunderstand; you won't, anyhow.
but. don't. It isn't because I don‘t. want
you around. It's because I’t‘n selfish to
make you come. You’re so awfully good
to me. and so patient. that I get con-
science-stricken. I’m not going to indict
another summer on you. You're going to
do just as you please—by yourseltli‘... ,
“I please to go with you," ssid""Beck
stoutly. _ . .
"Oh. no. you don’t. young man.
You
0!
course. I'll miss you dreadfully, Beck. and _
you'll miss me. It you don't. I'd scalp
you. But mother and I are loin! in
for the usual whirl. and you're not. You're
going to be left to your own devices."
Beck looked mournful, for he felt that
Mollie was going to win. ‘ '
"It‘s the only sensible thing. Beck. 0!
course, it you find you positively can‘t
amuse yourself, why. you can join us; but
I insist on a trial—a month, at least."
"Well, Mollie," said Beck slowly. “it
you‘sny ao--—"
Hollie, sat on his knee
head.
"I'm doing it because I love you," she
whitpcred. "Really. Back. And maybe
you’ll find something that you can do if
youlra left to yoursclt for a while.” ‘
“That’s so." answered Back thought.
fully.
0!.le and Bee “separated" la the
' early part at Jude. She cried a little
as Beck put her and her mother in the
parlor car for Newport. Beck was glam.
but he smiled. He knew that Mollie was
ageing to have a fine time, anyhow. She
liked Newport. and after a month there
and hugged his
she and Mrs. Hemyngway would join Mr-
Wetherell’s yachting party through some
of the big Canadian lakes. ’Aitcr that they}
might go to the Virginia mountains. Beak
was tovwrito whenever he wanted to, and
Mollie promised to he. a faithful corra-
apondent. ‘ .
Mollie had been doubtful {of hit. Wflh.
crell’a cruise ‘uatll'it started. and than she
‘ found, that it was all luxury and no hard.
shiny Illa big motor yacht bad the furnish-
ings his small but select hotel. And the
party was excellently chosen. Mr. Wetla-
cre‘ll'a two daughters were there. the Van
They bore '
I can'
save for variety as to also and shape.
is oft in the woods somewhere.
Amber-gs. the Shipmana. lira. Bob bites!-
cater, Billy Grovestoen and Tod Galloway—
all seasoned experts in the polite wars of
enjoying: life. like route was so plotted
that it revealed a succession o! lashlonable
hotels and interesting towns. '
It was in the second week of the cruise
that Mollie saw her first woodman. and
she suffered a sharp disappointment. Mr.
Wcthcrcll had sent for guides. because some
of his party eipressed a desire to ilah (or
'lunge. .
a rather picturesqt'. wild and romantic
person—a sort of compromise between. a
pioneer and a pirate. What she at was
a short. chunky, ordinary man. who wore
suspenders and avast and smoked powerlul
tobacco. And the rest were all like hlrnA.
farmer was fully as poetic. .
Jack Greene took at! his hat with no
inconsiderablo graca‘whcn, Mollie spoke to
him. ’ .
“Tell me.” she said. "is it dreadfully
hard living in the woods?" ..
Jack grinned as he appraised her Paris
coatumo with a respectful glance.
“Can't say as it is. ma'am.” he an-
swered. , ‘
“And they tell me a great many city talks
are here in the woods, camping just say
you do." v
."Lota of ’em: yes. ma’am."
‘.‘Thc reason I ask is that my husband
I test he
won‘t like it much: his unused to‘that
sort of thing.” '
“1.0m of city people come every year."
remarked Jack. “They seem to git him
pretty good. Fact is. most of 'cm keep
a-comin' back. They may stay away for a
while, but after a spell they geo'rall!
come driltin' in. There's a teller up north
of here now that ain‘t teen hero for ll"
‘ or six years. Two days ago he shows up.
comin’ through trout Tcmlakaming way. [is
couldn't stay away."
“And people like that have A to It!"
guides, of course?"
”Yes, tun’am: most of 'em do. But
Paddlin' Sum don’t carry no guides."
"Paddling Sam!" echoed Mollie. “What
an odd name!” . ‘
"It ain't his regular
explained Jack.
nothiu' else. He‘s a city teller. I don’t
rightly remember his real name. except the
Sam part. We call him Paddlin'yBam
’cause he's got a bug on paddlln'. [Likes
to keep movin'. Now. there'sa city teller
that can take care of himsell as good as
I fll‘l- , v " K.
“White I could remember his name."
added Jock. “He's some swell city man.
Begins with a B, seems to me. new."
"Mollie gave m little start. and stared at"
the guide. J
"Describe him." she said.
."Wsll. he's a little more than
height.
mania
face." . . - w . ..
_ Mollie gripped her mussel and leaned
forward. _ .
‘7 “Ilsa he got a funny-looking scar. over
his left eye?” . v r
, “Right.” said Jack. grinning. "“3. it...
has- goes up iromihis Iayeltrow “4W“
Mollie’s idea 0! a guide had been
name. 0! count." "
”But we never called hint .
. and his lace
He'd ‘waigh about-a hundred and
, seventy. I guess. Light hair salesmen
".“What‘aest
_. lion-z Then harem mam . . . - .
. “0h. Becki” aha cried. 3,“!ols poor boyl
branches out into two lines. I seen 8am
git that. lickin‘ s‘l‘ronch bread up bass.
'bout eight years ago." '
8 Mollie gasped. And they called this man-
am . ‘
“Is his name anything like Beekmsul" .
site w tapered. '
“Bis t again, by dingo! _! guess 308
know him. Thatjs his name. stirs enough."
Mollie allowed herself a moment in which
to recover her point. Then she said lonely:
"I do knowhbn. 1 want to see him. .
Is it possible i" ‘ ' '
."Why. yes. ma'am."
“Please take me at once." she com-
manded Jack. ’ ‘
"In that rig. ma'aml" he asked cal-t
ually- ,
“Yea; isn't it all right?" 5 »
“Oh. yes.” he said with a smile. as he
took the stern paddle. while his Indian arc
aiatant stood ready in the bow.
THE canoe was driven swiftly across the
lake and around a point. beyond which
was revealed a long and islandvdottod arm.
Close to heavily forested shores their course
lay. until tlnally the woods. themselvea‘
blocked the passage. The nose of the canoe
was driven on a little beach. and Jack
helped her out. .
"Just a short carry." he said. -
The, Indian picked up her pillow and seat.
and started up a trail that nomad oov’loss
itself in the brush. Jack swung the-canoe
it)“ his shoulders and followed. Mollie
brought up the rear. Her pumps were
poor tootgoar for a Canadian portsg'e. and
she had hard work keeping pace with‘tha
bobbing canoe in front. but the iourney
was not long. ‘ _
The! embarked in a stream now and rot-
lowed lts winding course tor a few miles.
until it spread into a lake of ripping silvarJ
“Sam's on a little island round that
point," volunteered Jack with a gesture at
his paddle. '
Mollie sighted a tiny brown lent. hall
hidden in trees. five minutes later. . Thurs
was no sign of life as tho _ canoe was
rounded up alongside a rocky la'adlng place.
As Mollie stepped out Jack called:
"Ob, Semi" " ‘ "
A figure arose where it lay halt hidden
by a tree—that o; a man who rubbed his
eyes alecpily. Mollie felt a moment’s inla-
giving. Certainly this creature was not
Beck. He wore a stubby growth” of beard.‘
and arms" were the color of
dull copper. A brown, flannel shirt ‘- was
open at the throat. and j his legs were
encased. in a dirty and Qpatched pair of.
trousers. Hobnallcd boots graced his test.
and 'abova them protruded several inches o!
coarse gray stockings. tied about with hits
at shoelace. , . ,, ‘
The man looks step forward. until at
Iiolly in astonishment. and than gavafa 1
about. It was Becki ‘But such a Back!
She was lilted‘up in. ajbear's embrace
that cared nothing'lor Pa’ria'gowu or‘bsbl
“Mollie!" he exclaimed in bewilderment.
2' ,‘ l ; I, . . ‘ ‘.
ans struggled ms and looked at him with
an ‘aapteaaio'n o! _ solicltuds‘ demand-ans
am can is at» ; drove you out”
D " r;
Beck knitted his (omitted in psrpiatlli
and kissed her again.
“Oh. I'm all right." he as! “Jacks
this is my‘ wife.“ . ,-
Mollle'a eyes turned again to Back.
"Poor boyi" she repeated. "Oh. Back}
I’m sorry! I feel so sufllvl"
And then Beck explained. with many ln-‘
terrootions. certain facts about ‘ his earlier
pastimes that brought a succession of as-
:laumaticna trom his fashionably gownsd
ea .
“You never told me a word at all this.
Book.” she said accusingly.
“Why. it never occurred to me that
you‘d be interested. Mollie." '
She sat, with skirts” drama carefully
about her tact. trying to adiuat her
thoughts. ‘
'fAnd you can really live this way i" aha
murmured. ”Beck. I don't understand it.
What in the world do you do for
“Getting hungry?" asked Beak. bright-
ening. “'l'm starved." ' ‘
"Well. tr. past luncheon. I'm afraid." ‘
admitted Mollie. - ‘
“I was going to have a bass for dinner."
condoned Back. ‘ "Do you mind waiting?
I've got to catch him first. You can come.
all you'llke. Better yet, you can catch the
ba .
the adventure. As Bock slid the mos
into the water. aha ‘esclalmedr-
“Beek. those trona'era are a positive tllae
mn‘n‘ , - ‘1 , . . ‘
“Oomiortable." he answered with a grin.
"I know they're not pretty." .
next fifteen will" a! Hallie'a lilo
tarnished her with some new and curl-
ous sensations. First. there was the spec-
tacle of her husband. squatted on his heels
in the stern o! the ‘caaoc. swinging hla'
paddle with deep. noiseless strokes. "Then
he prepared the rod for her. and showed
her what the reel was for and when to...
troll. She took‘ it in her gloved hands
ainaerlr- .
Then minutes later. as they glided aottly
past a. rocky point. there came a sharp ,
splash sixty feet astcrn. a bending of slender
bamboo and a shriek from bionic:
“Becki Quick! I've got itl- What
shall I do?" ‘
“I! . , . _ ,
She smiled doubttoiiy as they started on-
racer",
Explaining to an exquisitely groomed-
womanot society who has hooked her first
. bass just how to play-it is not a simple»
undertaking. but Back want-about it with-t
outexcitemcnt and with calm assurance.
Mollie coulduot‘ believe it d really hap-
pened when a skillfully wlcl, nat‘acoopad
into the canoe a st’ruggllngfiflaahlng. bal- ~
lll'dn‘lltwfilll that shook apray‘in all Adira‘ec
tions. ”‘ ~
"Pound ...‘. train up Back cglt- .
ically. ‘ "Iou’ra doing anal . He'll do tor
dinner.” . » , v
Ho‘drove the canoe swiftly back to camp.
~lift‘cd‘hlolllo ashore. madaflhar contorthhla
can log and promised to hurry dinner. Jabs
had (on... silent. within in. last law
minutes. watching her husband with melons
eyes. Ital}, _ _ so 1m impossible.
Desk was doing ml
The witar
ghpva . .
sack. .d extracted Q. Ma 9!: mean and
a pct-d; 5W9. Than. With d “Mathis“
ha spreads tablecloth at Home's ta‘at. .
t
i
. intersection“. “aisles“
"made tea trons little tablets. " INN" N! , ‘ , _
f“ ‘ “WM“: ‘19 maths inl‘fosnvaa, “ your wonderful son-urlmv.
00R Sam Beck didn’t
‘know a parlor trick,
,. “not a’single one, and that’s .
only half the agony; he
couldf'fi learn mil?! A guy
bail do of a wife began
to ’sw rather poor
aim of her Sum until,
she saw him in an en-
vironment where he shone.
it
She did not interrupt him. having failed
futon onuecltleas inoculation. Never in be!
life had she cutcn from it ill plate. with
”iron knife illil] fork. owl never lied sh.
limped tea from an aluminum cup. Most
Imaainn of all things. lu‘nt'evcr. was tho
r itself it was grind. ’
“Iggtlnu'w "imiliiiully ‘liiil delicately, at,“
llacover- hut stilt“ was hungry. Becks
biscuit‘ ---o unlwlitmtbie. Au for her fish. '
It was . . utterly new and strange article at
at and delicious.
‘1"; I‘d only known you were cominfl."
o i'ctl. "I‘d had a t‘illli‘." _
‘Bgtelltmfhlgnhed up" after dinner with the
Isms easy confidence that lli‘ allowed as In
cook. Water for the dishes had been hoi -
ing while they ate. and lie scrubbed then;
and stood them up to dry. ‘l'lmnnantsho
the food were carefully burned in the cakes
or the fire. Then he sat down to onto a.
Mallie‘a face became corrode.J " h‘
“Iou’vc been dcccivmu the. heck, heal.
said. "Tell me more aflizilut WWMWS u .
lot 0 .uuuc.
“flake Efglriiifo: slipped punt. and Home'-
' Beck
d iii no hurts to l« turn.
“we! name again. showed her
kpluinctl why certain
I were likely flailing ground and why
not worth wasting time upon.
333.33.. licr a lesson in padldhnfg. ”I“
As the shadows deepened on tile av m
Iltla 01,1110 lake he sent the canoe can,
as moving noialeanly toward a l o
be” on... a creek came down and tho
‘2“ grew rank in the shallow stints-{@523
glared in‘ awed wonder as he soft y“?! t .
on the shoulder and pointed. “l mu is
her iwn dark. moving shapes. close in
giggled. shore. Now and then her ear
caught . heavy Sl-illlslllllg. 1mm“ an.
. Dusk was: coming With the re M the,
roach oi u tunmlinn sunnucr‘ntg d ”When
:iiently paddled back to the min-15.3....“
the brown tent was now almos
. there. waiting. ‘
T521523? “if"? "' asked Jack. with d
ma‘am.‘
Bhutto at the iutltiugegunsc'tfhm She m“
Mollie $023: stitch and laughed curiously.
"if!“ he: i:\\' minutcs.” who. answered:
"Gonzo here. Book. I want. to talk to you, .
They out near the tent.
talking in law
l the Indian
ccasionally Jack on:
”unlit Spas of low laughter. Presently
goth lighted a tiny acetylene lamp, {and
it! white glare showed two heads heat C use
over is dy-leai torn from a book. as to
It was getting dark when Book to .4
his feet and walked down the slope tours
the shore. where the guides were wattmg.
He handed Jack
two pieces of paper.
“Make a hustle. Jack. for the ytatgtg
where you got my wife. They ll‘bohge g:
worried about her." said Back. 1‘ 1:110!“l
is a memorandum for you. The at or
star a lady aboard the yacht.,
place
1‘“ expect
an noon tomorrow."
,oglgolllfififdtl? comin‘ ’l" asked .Jack nod-
ding toward the slender figure on thehlacq
dross. sitting with her back against a tem-
lock and gazing out across the stalled wa era.
"Nix!” said Paddling Sam with a gun.
‘ t a
read his note by the light 0
JA'naKatch as' they neared the Woman“.
yacht. It said:
Five pounds bacon. five pounds sugar.
three pounds flour. one pound graham
flour. small bag salt. has pepper. two
pounds butter. half—pound erbswurat.
one pair threc‘point Hudson Bayonona.
pair boy's boots, number nine. hnh’nailed, ,
two pair wool stockings to lit: boy a flan-
] u'elrshirt: lady’s Woolen skirt. short; felt
hat. hroadvbrim, six and a half; one pair
moosebide moccasins. Let Mrs. McCarthy
at comp store select. . ’
Jack staged the note carefully in“ his vast
pocket and brought the canoe olongstde the
Evaleen. He heard excited voices: then a
cry:
. “Where
daughter?" - ‘ -
The guide bonded on a crumpled paper,
and. under the yellow light of a hm...
lantern Mrs. Hcmyugwuy read:
Mother Dear: .
I have decided to go away with l'.
tiling Sam. He is a wonderful man—-
nothing like Beck at all. He can do
things—the most marvelous thingsl|
Mother, hecan cook. Think! He knows
all sorts of [now things about the woods.
and canoes. andhtastn. and fishing. He
{showed me a moose-«duo of them! He
taught mo how to catch ‘. buss. Nobody
in the world can do so‘ many things as
Paddling Sam. Mother-dance he thrashed
an awful lumhorman—Wilh his fists. Im- '
aginel "He‘s just been trnvollng 200
miles in a canoe. all alone. Tomorrow
we are going to start for some place—-
I think he said north of here, through
some chain of lakes. I don’t know ex-
actly—:1 don’t care. Perhaps we'll be
gone a couple 0! Weeks, perhaps four or
live. We can't tell; you don‘t want to
tell. It doesn‘t matter, anyhow.
To,“ Jack to be sure and hurry tomor-I
row morning. with my duflie; I think
that‘s what Sam calls it. And he mustn't
target the grub. MOLLIE.
" l‘nere’s a P. 8.. mother. just to allow
you .I’m not crazy—~Paddliug Sam is
is she? Where is my
And that's the way Mollie discovered llll .
“hnsbantl; ' ‘J
. , game-toasty room Leaner campus
Norwalk Chronicler