The Story of the Gravelys

e river in her pink boat

s, and complexion-except her hair and eyes, which form

in the late afternoon, when all the other boats and canoe

nd to many of the fishermen and river-hands with whom she h

, the time of her evening meal, unless it was that she was so full

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ld take her knitting to the veranda and sit tranquilly awaiting the ret

a is a

a is a

must not be selfish. I will just row r

ng lot. Poor old man Bobbetty had lived here alone for so many years that he

ll, and the young people did not like its reputation. Th

stood alone and solitary, dropped like a b

y round the spruces singing softly to herself,[101] wh

thout speaking, and Berty stared at him. This was no ghost. Poor old Bobbetty had not appear

the islet, took her hands from the oars, and, pulling her note-boo

I judge from appearances you have done, I a

rs t

y Gra

per flat on the blade, stuck a pin through it to make it

took the slip of paper. Then reseating himself with a slight[102] smile, he produced

d lost my boat. I accept

rs t

r Jim

ed his answer to it, saw Berty draw it in, read

in, somewhat clumsily, seated hims

the oars, and had calmly seated herself on the stern cushi

studied the shell-like tints of the sky. Suddenly she hea

so, but slowly and gradually giving way

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at amused him, and prese

rty, with prete

, but I guess it isn't good manners for o

benevolently, "the who

ntil at last he was obliged to take his hands from th

per from the bottom of the boat, and her whole head was concealed by it.

e paper dropped, and he saw that his compan

uth, "it is too funny. You hate the sight of me, and write notes to avoid me, and then go

1

tasy of youthful enjoyment, and his harsh, thick tones gradually died away

mewhat calmed down. "I guess I ought to apologize to yo

m obliged to you for getting the park, but I must say I wish y

wn," he said,

ked Berty,

e confusion. "I slip down aft

workmen are getting on

do you want that

he boys can go down to the river, but the women and children have no chance. Poor souls,

Mayor, cautiously, "I

o build baths," s

te charity," s

much pride as you have. What the city does for them is all right-what private citize

gingly over his shou

iness to you in my own boat when you can't escape me. Pray te

ut with me he's got an axe to grind for some one, so I steal off alone whenever I can. Nobody goes to that i

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body ca

se, but I was asleep unt

delicious?" sai

iative eyes wander over the blue water and the smiling lan

murmured the girl, "it seems sac

ds, there wouldn't be any Riverport," said

id Berty; "poor, sordid,

red at her. Then he said, "If it weren't

owing down to it, and worshipping, and prostrating our so

n. Then he said, "You don't

hat instant till they reached the[107] city she poured out a babble o

y wharf?" he asked, at last, wh

d Berty, "after

ly. "I am so little in ladies' soc

u'll know it because all the wharves round are black and dingy, but o

he little boat was gliding t

nd come in through the hou

ed his guide up through the tidy back yard to the big old-fashioned house

al good-sized rooms that had been used for[108] servant

poor people," said the Mayor, as he tramped

"I can't tell you how we appreciate it after our limited outlook from Grand Avenue. Here

ndows were open, and also a glass door leading to a veranda, where a table was prepared fo

e is Mr. Jimson-you remembe

ame in from the veranda and shook hands with him. This was Madam Travers. He ha

[109] granddaughter and me?" she asked him,

A rising breeze had just brushed a

uttermilk I see?" h

id the old

said, and he droppe

nd, looking longingly toward the table, said, "I can't

cream?" asked Grandma, le

!" he said,

e, and corn-cak

r's farm in the country," he replied, s

ndma. "Now I'll ask a blessing on this food, and then, Berty, you

ie, and cold ham, and chicken, in[110] addition to the ot

class tea," he

m a Chinese official to my late husband. I will sh

er he had finished his meal, and sat gazing out on the

time," said Gra

a big dinner which I hate, and sometimes you get tired of your own

said Grandma. "They were

looked down into the back yard where Berty had gone to feed some white pi

young and overzealous at times, and will heartily scold the la

e Mayor, with a sigh; "good-nigh

dma, with quaint, old-fashioned courtes

gripped her hand till it ached. Then h

rty, coming into the ro

said

her grandmother, she knew, was inexorable. No one should ever ridicule

andma," she remarked, softly, "it

ne?" repeated

person, you stop speaking to[112] that person. You get into

said n

life, you must have often noticed it is not only mean, but it

randma, quiet

o make?" inquired Bert

ple slowly cr

bed, saying, as she did so, "I wonder whet

rolled up her knitt

ype="