4
THE STUDENTS JOURNAL.
Joe grunted. It was his usual way of answering this question. But it seemed to satisfy Liza.
Still, there were times when Joe's taciturnity disturbed her, especially when it indicated that he was going to go against her wishes. This happened occasionally for Liza had all the whims of an impulsive, untrained nature; and Joe had no taste for "making a fool of himself."
To go to the picnic was one of the things in which Joe felt he would be compromising himself. He thoroughly disliked Liza's cousin Nelly; had always maintained toward her an attitude of hostility. It would be inconsistent now to accept her invitation.
"Well, I can go with Charlie Crandall then." Liza said. "We're going down the canal and Charlie has been wanting to take me out in his new boat for sometime."
Liza threw out this suggestion mischievously but when Joe said decidedly.
"You won't go, Liza." Liza suddenly felt that she would.
"And, then, you know," she added, "We shall have to go through the lock, because it will scratch the boat so to pull it around on the gravel. And the boat is so light that when the water rushes into the lock it tosses it every way. Charlie isn't very careful, anyway."
Joe was sternly silent He knew by the look in Liza's eyes that she would go. He knew too that it was very dangerous to go through the lock in a small boat. He knew that Charlie Crandall was a rather reckless fellow, and that Liza was impulsive enough to run any risk. He could prevent all trouble by going to the picnic himself.
But on the other hand, there was that disagreeable, sarcastic Nelly. If he went, she would say inimical things, and make him very uncomfortable. He had been consistent in his indifference to all her advances toward friendship, as toward all people whom he did not like. Must he grow weak now?
Liza went to the picnic. She said, "Goodbye Joe," in a gay voice, and with tears under her eyelids which nobody saw. She didn't want to go. It would be no fun for her without Joe. What made Joe think he could control her actions? It was that that sent her off.
When they came to the lock, Charlie Crandall offered to let Liza out while he
went through the lock alone. But he made the suggestion in such a way that Liza scorned to get out.
"All right then, go ahead," he cried out to the man who was tending to the gates.
They were soon shut in the lock, and the water was rushing in rapidly. It was exhilarating! The boat was tossed about by the waves. They had to scream to make themselves heard above the roar of the water.
The boat was light and plunged from one wall of the lock to the other. But striking the corner, where two of the walls met, it stuck fast.
"It will shake loose in a minute."
But it didn't, and the water continued to pour into the lock. The roar of the waves seemed to grow louder and louder. They called, but no one answered. Four bare walls around there, and water beneath! Water, which was now pouring into the boat, and would perhaps soon be over their heads.
"Help! Help! Oh, he must have gone into the house. You must push it loose!"
With a mighty effort the boat was freed, but with such an impetus that it was overturned and its occupants dashed headlong into the water.
Late that night a light was burning in the little lock house on the canal bank. Within, the young girl was just returning to consciousness, after a severe struggle with death. At her bedside knelt Joe.
The heavy eyelids opened slowly. The voice said feebly.
"Joe."
And, then all the closely pent affections of an undemonstrative nature was set free in one word.
K U. Emblem.
"Sweetheart."
During the past week the committee has received prices on executing the design from several more manufacturing jewelers. According to figures now received it will probably be possible to furnish the solid gold, fourteen karat pin for $1.25 or perhaps a little less and another good grade pin at about 75 cents. The carefully executed and colored drawings of the design that have been received with the bids show that the pin will be a very pretty one. A little more time will be given, to the jewelers who have signified their intention to submit prices.