to be troubled by her thoughts in regard to him--the difficulties that contact with him seemed toprognosticate. For this meant contact and friendship, maybe, and she was no longer in any mood to resist him,whatever people might think. And yet here was her friend, Grace Marr. Would she want her to know of Clydeand her interest in him? She was troubled. And yet she could not resist smiling and looking at him in a frank andwelcoming way. She had been thinking of him so much and wishing for him in some happy, secure,commendable way. And now here he was. And there could be nothing more innocent than his presence here--norhers.
"Just out for a walk?" he forced himself to say, although, because of his delight and his fear of her really, he feltnot a little embarrassed now that she was directly before him. At the same time he added, recalling that she hadbeen looking so intently at the water: "You want some of these water lilies? Is that what you're looking for?""Uh,
Air Jordan 6, huh," she replied, still smiling and looking directly at him, for the sight of his dark hair blown by the wind,the pale blue outing shirt he wore open at the neck, his sleeves rolled up and the yellow paddle held by himabove the handsome blue boat,
Air Jordan 23, quite thrilled her. If only she could win such a youth for her very own self--justhers and no one else's in the whole world. It seemed as though this would be paradise--that if she could have himshe would never want anything else in all the world. And here at her very feet he sat now in this bright canoe onthis clear July afternoon in this summery world--so new and pleasing to her. And now he was laughing up at herso directly and admiringly. Her girl friend was far in the rear somewhere looking for daisies. Could she? Shouldshe?
"I was seeing if there was any way to get out to any of them," she continued a little nervously, a tremor almostrevealing itself in her voice. "I haven't seen any before just here on this side.""I'll get you all you want," he exclaimed briskly and gayly. "You just stay where you are. I'll bring them." Butthen, bethinking him of how much more lovely it would be if she were to get in with him, he added: "But seehere--why don't you get in here with me? There's plenty of room and I can take you anywhere you want to go.
There's lots nicer lilies up the lake here a little way and on the other side too. I saw hundreds of them over therejust beyond thatisland."Roberta looked. And as she did, another canoe paddled by, holding a youth of about Clyde's years and a girl noolder than herself. She wore a white dress and a pink hat and the canoe was green. And far across the water at thepoint of the very island about which Clyde was talking was another canoe--bright yellow with a boy and a girl inthat. She was thinking she would like to get in without her companion, if possible--with her, if need be. Shewanted so much to have him all to herself. If she had only come out here alone. For if Grace Marr were included,she would know and later talk, maybe, or think, if she heard anything else in regard to them ever. And yet if shedid not, there was the fear that he might not like her any more--might even come to dislike her or give up beinginterested in her, and that would be dreadful.
She stood staring and thinking, and Clyde, troubled and pained by her doubt on this occasion and his ownloneliness and desire for her, suddenly called: "Oh, please don't say no. Just get in, won't you? You'll like it. Iwant you to. Then we can find all the lilies you want. I can let you out anywhere you want to get out--in tenminutes if you want to."She marked the "I want you to." It soothed and strengthened her. He had no desire to take any advantage of heras she could see.
"But I have my friend with me here," she exclaimed almost sadly and dubiously, for she still wanted to goalone--never in her life had she wanted any one less than Grace Marr at this moment. Why had she brought her?
She wasn't so very pretty and Clyde might not like her,
Air Jordan 3, and that might spoil the occasion. "Besides," she addedalmost in the same breath and with many thoughts fighting her, "maybe I'd better not. Is it safe?""Oh, yes, maybe you better had," laughed Clyde seeing that she was yielding. "It's perfectly safe," he addedeagerly. Then maneuvering the canoe next to the bank, which was a foot above the water, and laying hold of aroot to hold it still, he said: "Of course you won't be in any danger. Call your friend then, if you want to, and I'llrow the two of you. There's room for two and there are lots of water lilies everywhere over there." He noddedtoward the east side of the lake.
Roberta could no longer resist and seized an overhanging branch by which to steady herself. At the same timeshe began to call: "Oh, Gray-ace! Gray-ace! Where are you?" for she had at last decided that it was best toinclude her.
A far-off voice as quickly answered: "Hello-o! What do you want?""Come up here. Come on. I got something I want to tell you.""Oh, no, you come on down here. The daisies are just wonderful.""No, you come on up here. There's some one here that wants to take us boating." She intended to call this loudly,but somehow her voice failed and her friend went on gathering flowers. Roberta frowned. She did not know justwhat to do. "Oh, very well, then," she suddenly decided, and straightening up added: "We can row down towhere she is, I guess."And Clyde, delighted, exclaimed: "Oh, that's just fine. Sure. Do get in. We'll pick these here first and then if shehasn't come, I'll paddle down nearer to where she is. Just step square in the center and that will balance it."He was leaning back and looking up at her and Roberta was looking nervously and yet warmly into his eyes.
Actually it was as though she were suddenly diffused with joy, enveloped in a rosy mist.
She balanced one foot. "Will it be perfectly safe?""Sure, sure," emphasized Clyde. "I'll hold it safe. Just take hold of that branch there and steady yourself by that."He held the boat very still as she stepped. Then, as the canoe careened slightly to one
Chat Sentinela
