he started to . wade into deep water, but as soon as the water came
up to his chest, his feet refused to stay tinder him; backwards,
sideways, to the front, they would persist in . rising to the surface,
In his evolutions to keep his balance, a drop of water splashed
into his eye. Then Perkins began to dance. It seemed as if
acid could' not produce a more stinging pain. But the circum
stance gave him an idea, and he ran back to the bath house for
his handkerchief, which he pinned inside his bathing suit at the
shoulder.
Hardly was he back in the water when Mr. and Mrs. Jaimeson
appeared. A suppressed murmur went through the crowd of
bathers, Everyone was looking at them. What arms the man
had, and what a physique! But far more attractive was the
woman at his side. Her dark skin, her strikingly beautiful face
and figure, attired in the tastiest of bathing suits, were the source
of generous comment and admiration. How she swam! One
who has watched the average woman try to swim would have
gazed with wonder on her supple form as she seemed to glide
through the water, with scarcely perceptible effort. Jaimeson did
not swim so smoothly. His powerful arms churned the water to
foam in his vain effort to keep up with her, while she looked back
with a playful, teasing laugh, But as her face was turned Jaime
son awkwardly splashed a few drops into her eyes. She stopped,
and then tittered a piteous little scream as the brine.took effect. Up
came those little hands, but she drew them away quickly. Jaime
son was at her side instantly, trying with his big hands to wipe
the fire from her eyes, but their fingers only brought ten times as
much water to her eyes as had splashed in. She pushed him
away frantically, and stood wringing her hands in apparently the
most excruciating pain. Jaimeson stood helpless, with a look of
despairing agony, for he knew lie had caused this suffering to her
whom he loved so dearly.
Perkins, who was only a few feet away, was amused, but this
was exactly the' opportunity he had been waiting for. Quickly
rushing'to her side he applied his dry handkerchief. Her eyes
were shut tightly, but she put her arms around his neck and fell,
back so that he was obliged to throw his arm around her waist to
support her.
" Oh, that makes them feel so much better, dear!" she said.
Perkins' breath was almost taken away. He realized the
mistake she had made, yet the moment was delicious. The trust-
The Free Lance,
[OCTOBUR,