A Colony of Girls

by Kate Livingston Willard

  CHAPTER IV.

  A SAIL ON THE "CYCLONE."

  "They have hired the dear old _Cyclone_, Helen, because the menthought the wind was bound to be light to-day and we would have somuch more sport in a small boat than on the _Vortex_."

  Nathalie stood in the doorway, gesticulating eagerly with her slenderbrown hands. Her pretty face was quite flushed with excitement, andher hurried words tripped over each other in their anxiety to bespoken.

  "You see we must make haste, for Dick says we must be at the dock ateleven, or we won't catch the tide."

  "But what about luncheon?" interposed Helen quietly.

  A comical expression of dismay crossed Nathalie's face.

  "Oh, dear, I suppose you will want to kill us; but Jean and I, in asudden fit of enthusiasm, said we would attend to that, and not onething have we done yet."

  "Did you think to provide any cold meat for sandwiches?" demanded theyoung housekeeper.

  "Oh, yes; there are three stout chickens, some cold corned beef, and a'bit of ham bone,' as Bridget puts it, gracing your larder."

  "Well, we haven't a moment to spare, so call Jean, and let us getright to work."

  The pile of sandwiches grew rapidly under the girls' deft hands, andlittle Larry, wandering in from the veranda, looked longingly at theseinteresting preparations.

  "Wish I could go with you," he ventured, with sudden courage.

  "Don't speak of it," replied Helen emphatically, as she ran out of theroom to get a fresh supply of bread.

  "Guess you'll all be drownded, anyway," and Larry eyed them with asuperior and triumphant mien.

  "That's right, my cheerful little brother," laughed Jean. "Always lookon the bright side of things."

  "Now, when shall we tell Aunt Helen we will be back?" asked Nathalie,as they were fitting the cover down on the well-filled hamper.

  "Not later than five, I should think."

  "Don't let's commit ourselves, Helen," suggested Jean. "It is such abore, and we will be troubling about it all the afternoon."

  "We must be home by five; I am not willing to leave the children anylonger than that."

  "Perhaps you can manage the wind to suit your own purposes. You knowit generally plays more or less of a part in sailing," and Jean gave avicious tug at the last unfastened strap.

  "Don't be impertinent, Jean," Nathalie called out, as she ran swiftlyupstairs. "Never mind, Helen, her youth is her only excuse."

  "All the same, we shall be home on time if possible, dearie."

  Jean laughed good-humoredly.

  "I am always disagreeable," she admitted, "when anyone speaks withdecision. I don't know why, but it sets my teeth on edge."

  Dudley met them at the wharf with the cutter from the _Vortex_, andsoon they were pulling swiftly out to the _Cyclone's_ mooring. As theyrounded the stern of the old oyster sloop, a young man was seenstanding at the wheel, his slender figure held firmly erect, one handshading his eyes as he scanned the blue waters of the sound.

  "Who is that?" whispered Mollie.

  "Up oars!" cried Dudley, intent on bringing the cutter up in goodform, and in a moment more they were clambering up the gang-steps, andMollie's question went unanswered.

  "Hullo, Farr," called Dick cheerfully, and thus addressed, LieutenantFarr left the wheel and moved leisurely forward.

  "You will have to individualize for yourself, old fellow, for it wouldbe impossible for me to name all these charming people."

  "Time enough," spoke Farr, in a well-modulated voice, as he raised hiscap and glanced at the group before him.

  "Come, let us get off," he said, turning abruptly to the men, and soonthe _Cyclone_ was sailing lazily away before a light breeze.

  "How delightful!" sighed Eleanor Hill, as she settled herselfcomfortably to windward. "This is my idea of bliss."

  Farr paused an instant on his way aft and glanced interestedly at thegirl's earnest face, then proceeded to his place at the wheel.

  "For pity's sake, let somebody go and talk to that man," said Jean,dropping her voice.

  "I fancy he doesn't care much about it," replied Eleanor quietly.

  "You go, Em," Mollie suggested.

  "Certainly!" and, nothing daunted, Emily started up.

  "Who doubted her willingness?" laughed Nan saucily.

  Eleanor shook her head at the speaker.

  Dick threw himself down in the midst of the group of girls and kept upan incessant chatter.

  One voice was lacking in the general interchange of nonsense, forto-day Jean Lawrence, who was usually the merriest of them all, foundher interest flagging strangely. Sitting somewhat apart from theothers, her eyes wandered persistently to where Farr was courteouslyand patiently initiating Emily Varian into the art of steering. Therewas something about the man that caught her attention and held italmost against her will. She noted with what an air of distinction hisrough yachting flannels were worn, and how beautifully shaped were thelong slender hands which moved so lazily, yet with such a suggestionof strength. His cap was drawn down over his face, so that only thelines of a well-molded mouth and chin were revealed, and Jean foundherself waiting with almost childish interest for a glimpse of theeyes so tantalizingly hid from view. A sudden shout of boisterouslaughter from Dick brought her sharply to herself, and with a keensense of shame, and a passionate hope that her defection might havepassed unnoticed, she turned and plunged into the conversation.

  "Let us have some songs, girls," suggested Eleanor. "We are gettingvery much demoralized, and I don't know what that strange man willthink of us."

  "Oh, if I were a little bird how happy I would be," began Jean, withmore energy than correctness.

  "Hold on, Jeanie," interrupted Nathalie, catching up her mandolin,"the other words have lots more flavor."

  "Oh, the first that came a-courting was little Tommy Green, The finest young man that ever was seen, But the words of my grandmother ran in my head, And I would not listen to a word that he said."

  "There, that will do, Nathalie," interposed Helen with decision.

  "Not at all," cried Jean.

  "Says I to myself there must be some mistake, What a great fuss these old folks make, If the boys and the girls had all been so afraid, Why grandma herself would have been an old maid."

  Jean sang the foolish words recklessly, and when she had finished shota half-defiant glance from under her long lashes in Farr's direction.His eyes met hers with a long, steady look. Somewhat disconcerted,Jean flushed hotly and turned hurriedly away.

  "That was a daisy, Jean," and Dick roared with laughter.

  When the merriment had subsided a little:

  "Farr," said Dudley, rising and making his way out of the circle, "Ithink you have had your turn at the wheel. Suppose I take your placefor a while."

  "I hope you are not very much bored, Mr. Farr," ventured Jean shyly.

  "Quite the reverse--much entertained," he replied quietly.

  Jean wondered if there were a touch of sarcasm in this reply, but hisface was impenetrable.

  "Charming accent he has," smiled Eleanor in an aside to Nan.

  "I wonder where he got it, don't you?"

  "Have you lived very much abroad, Mr. Farr?" queried Eleanor, turningpolitely to him.

  "And why do you ask?"

  "Why, your accent is so un-American."

  A broad smile crossed Dudley's face as he caught Miss Hill's words. Itamused him not a little to hear reticent Farr thus catechized.

  "Where are you from?" asked Nathalie, coming to the front in her usualoutspoken fashion.

  Farr glanced at her, and then, after an instant's hesitation, answeredlanguidly.

  "From New Jersey."

  At this the little group, throwing manners to the winds, burst intomerry laughter.

  "Doesn't look a bit like a mosquito," said Nan to Mollie in an audiblewhisper.

  Poor Mollie looked quite horror-struck, for she felt sure that thesaucy words had reached Farr's
ear.

  If the man felt any annoyance he was most successful in concealing it,for his expression remained quite unchanged. Not so with poor Jean,who had flushed hotly at what she considered Nan's unwarrantableimpertinence. She made a swift, angry little movement, and the bookshe had been holding slipped to the deck. Farr leaned forward, andpicked it up. As he returned it to her his eyes met hers with a quiet,reassuring smile, for he had been quick to notice the girl's silentchampionship, and it had greatly touched him. The color in Jean's facedeepened, and with sudden shyness she dropped her eyes.

  "Have a cigar, Farr?"

  To these two Clifford Archer's question came almost like aninterruption, although no word had been spoken between them.

  "No, thanks," taking from his pocket a silver case of curious design,"but, if no one objects, I will light a cigarette!"

  "I can't help it," cried Nathalie, laughing until the tears were inher eyes, "did you hear the way he said that word 'cigarette,'--withsuch a lingering over each syllable? I am sure you are a Spaniard, Mr.Farr, in spite of New Jersey."

  "I knew it," Nan put in, "the moment you spoke."

  "Ah," exclaimed Nathalie, drawing back in mock affright, "you are anexile."

  "How interesting," spoke Nan. "Do tell us all about it."

  "About what?" queried Farr coolly, and Nan subsided, feeling suddenlyvery much embarrassed.

  Eleanor Hill caught an expression half impatient in Farr's eyes, andturned warningly to Nathalie.

  "You will be sorry."

  "When I'm sober," interrupted the young girl merrily.

  "What a rowdy you are, Nat; Helen is looking at you mostdisapprovingly."

  A shrug of the shoulders was Nathalie's only answer, and starting upshe crossed over, and stood before Farr, where he sat at Jean's side.

  "You have been very good and patient," she assured him with amischievous twinkle in her brown eyes, "and now I am going to rewardyou by unpacking the luncheon hamper."

  "That's a good idea," cried Dick; "I am almost starved to death."

  "What delicious salad," exclaimed Churchill a few moments later, asthey sat about the open hamper. "Miss Helen, you are a culinaryartist."

  Helen smiled her thanks.

  "May I not sit by you, Eleanor," pleaded Clifford Archer, droppingdown on the deck at her side. "With you near me I could never knowhunger or thirst."

  "Nonsense," frowning on him in seeming disapproval. "I think yourappetite is one which stands you in good stead."

  He was a handsome youth, graceful in the extreme. It was a constantsource of annoyance to Eleanor Hill that she found him so charming,for, she often assured herself, there was nothing to the boy but hisgood looks and perfect manners. But who will dare to say that theseare nothing?

  "I do hope there are plenty of sandwiches," sighed Nan, as she sateating her fourth.

  Dick tipped up the plate, depositing a dozen or more in her lap.

  "That enough?" he asked innocently.

  "You idiot!" cried Nan.

  "Do say something new, Nan," called Mollie from the other side of theboat. "That is the third time to-day you have given Dick thatappellation."

  "How can I help it," groaned Nan, "when it characterizes him soperfectly?"

  "You can't," said Nathalie consolingly, "and if I were you I would notattempt to."

  Dick looked at both girls with withering scorn, then glanced by themas if their existence were a matter of small import.

  "Helen, can I open the beer and ginger ale now?"

  "If it will be any comfort to you, Dick, you have my consent."

  "I think I will try another sandwich, if Miss Birdsall can spare meone."

  "Then catch, Mr. Farr," and Nathalie tossed him one, with unerringaim.

  "O Nathalie," protested Jean, with changing color.

  "Well, I am glad to know he is not a muff," said Nathalie, as Farrcaught the sandwich. "What is the matter, Jean? I didn't know you wereso easily shocked."

  "Look out for the boom," called Dudley most opportunely, and the_Cyclone_ came swiftly about.

  "What an unfortunate move. Now the sun is right in our eyes," and Jeanlooked up at Farr appealingly. "Won't you please have it removed?"

  "Why, certainly. Are not your wishes my law?" and even as he spoke thesun slipped under a cloud.

  "What a wonderful man," Eleanor Hill laughed softly.

  The afternoon sped away all too rapidly, and the hours were as minutesto the happy young people skimming the waters of the beautiful sound.Nature was at her very best this sunshiny summer afternoon. Lightfleecy clouds scudded swiftly across the delicious blue of the vaultedsky above, and in the distance the low, far-stretching, Long Islandshore was bathed in a soft, violet haze, broken here and there bypatches of white, glistening sand.

  The _Cyclone_, with every yard of canvas set, was running gayly beforethe breeze, which since noon had grown strong and steady. The swash ofthe water against the boat, the slight straining and creaking of therigging, the sighing of the wind in the sails, were sounds sweet asmusic to the ear of every true lover of the sea.

  And now the summer day began to wane, and in the western sky the sunwas shining with a brilliant radiance.

  "Ah!" sighed Jean softly, as they dropped anchor in Hetherford Harbor,"why do all pleasant things come to an end?"

  "But they invariably do," and there was a touch of genuine regret inFarr's voice, which was quite sincere; for in this last pleasant hour,he had thoroughly enjoyed a delightful _tete-a-tete_ with his prettycompanion, and had every reason, in spite of the merry chaffing ofthese gay young strangers, to vote the day a great success.