CHAPTER XXIV.

A SCENE ON THE WATER.

"How lovely," exclaimed June as she stood one moonlight evening on the bank of Clear Lake. "Look! Scott, is it not beautiful?"

"Its quiet grandeur can hardly be expressed in words," said Scott.

"Look at that lovely island!"

"It is beautiful," said Scott, looking out over the water.

He had taken a seat on the beach, and thought the scene was the loveliest he had ever beheld. The trees overhanging the water cast broad shadows on the silvery surface under the bright light of the moon.

"Listen," said Carrie, who had just stepped up beside him. "Mr. Wilmer, is not that beautiful?"

Every voice was hushed to catch the sound of music which came floating over the water.

"It is a band just nearing the island," Guy said as he stepped down to the boat which lay at the water's edge.

June entered the boat, and calling to Carrie to come, she sat down and dipped the clear water, throwing the bright drops high in the air.

"How lovely it is, Guy; who could fancy a scene more beautiful than this?"

Guy dropped the oar that he held, and taking June's little hand within his own, said in a low voice:

"June, my darling."

"Hush, Guy, Scott and Carrie will hear you."

"Well, what if they do? It is no disgrace to call you that name, is it?"

"No, but it is foolish."

"Haven't you studied my character yet enough to know your own heart?" Guy asked as he pushed the boat from the shore, leaving Scott and Carrie still on the bank.

"I do not know. I have studied your ways, but really I have failed to find many faults. I do not see you using tobacco, and----"

"Oh, June, I do not care a penny for the weed, and now when I come to think of it, I do not wonder that you dislike it, for it is a filthy habit, but about my other faults, June?"

"You must have overcome them or----" she stopped speaking and looked down into the water.

"Do not be afraid to say it, June, darling, either I have improved or you are learning to love me in spite of my faults. Is not that it?"

"I guess so," said June, without raising her eyes.

"June, my little darling," Guy said, leaning nearer, and speaking in a low tone, "will you not say, now, that you will take me as I am?"

June's delicate hands were folded, and her eyes were looking far out over the water. It seemed to her that a little fairy world had opened before her, and a king, with a heart full of love had bade her enter. The lovely moonlight, the soft dip of the oar, and the strains of music which came floating over the water, falling in such melody on her ear, gave a bright halo to the little fairy world she was just entering. She could not have told why she was happy--so very happy.

"I am waiting, very impatiently," Guy said, "just as I waited once before, and have waited ever since."

"Guy," she said, "it is a very grave question that you have asked. It is a question of a lifetime."

"But you can love me, June, can you not?"

"Yes, without trying," she said, honestly.

"God bless you, my darling; you will promise me then."

"No, I will leave my answer with Scott. If he consents I will be your wife. His experience has been a sad one, and he will never allow me to make an unhappy marriage, if he can avoid it."

"But, June, his wife was untrue to him. Do you think I could be untrue to you?"

"I do not know. Men tire of their wives, as well as women of their husbands."

"I am sorry you have so little faith in me."

"Do not think that, Guy, but Scott had faith in the woman he married, though I do not think he would have married for some years, had it not been for mama. But he married her without knowing much about her, and was deceived. His whole life was wrecked by one woman's vanity." Guy had rowed the boat out upon the lake leaving Scott and Carrie far behind upon the shore. The oars were held idly in his hands, and the boat was dancing lightly up and down upon the waves.

"See, Guy," June said, "you and I are drifting on at the mercy of the waves. The oars are at your command, to turn the boat as you will, or to allow it to drift on to whatever lies ahead of us. I am entirely at your mercy, for we are alone in the boat. You have the power to carry me to destruction, or to turn and take me safely back. If I were your wife I should be bound to you for life. Nothing but death could sever the tie, and should your hand and heart fail to perform their duty, I should be left to drift on to destruction or to be cast upon the island of despair. It was the hand of my brother's wife that wrecked his happiness. She held the oars that carried him down the stream, and had it not been for his great strength of body and mind he would have gone down to ruin. But I am not brave like Scott; few people are. Scott is a hero."

"Yes," responded Guy.

"I wish those truants would hurry back and take us to the island," said Carrie. "I am getting tired of waiting."

"I will row you over there," said a soft, sweet voice, "I am going there myself."

Carrie had noticed a boat nearing the shore, and looking down she saw a woman seated in the center.

"Will you come?" she asked in a very low voice.

"Will you go, Mr. Wilmer?" Carrie asked. "I suppose those truants will be only too glad to be rid of us."

They entered the boat and were soon speeding over the water at a rapid rate. "How beautifully you row!" said Carrie. The young lady made no reply. Carrie looked at her, thinking her very distant or very timid, she could hardly tell which. She thought from what she could see of the face that was almost hidden by a broad hat she must be very pretty. Her hair was decidedly red and hung in graceful curls about her neck, and over her forehead lay little shining rings of which Carrie only caught a glimpse as she turned her face toward the light. She wore a gray dress, and her hands were encased in gray gloves.

Scott tried repeatedly to get a full view of the face under the hat, but the red curls and the round fair cheeks were all he could tell of the lady's looks, though he noticed the extremely pretty shape of the foot encased in its kid boot.

"Do you live here?" Carrie asked by way of introduction.

"No," was answered in a low tone.

"You row beautifully, at any rate," said Carrie.

She made no reply.

They were nearing the island.

"Oh, it was about here that we all came so near being drowned," said Carrie.

"How?" Scott asked.

"By the sinking of a steamer. Oh, I shall never forget that time. How frightened we all were."

"Were any lives lost?" Scott asked.

"No; but there were some very narrow escapes. But the most wonderful of all was that of Guy and a young girl my aunt had adopted. Every one had left the boat but those two, and, of course, we had not the least idea that they could be saved, for the steamer went down before our boat reached the shore, but would you believe it, that young girl swam to shore and reached the island before Guy did."

"She was a brave girl."

"Indeed she was, but oh how odd she was,--that is she had a strange disposition. She used to look so angry sometimes that I almost felt afraid of her, and she could shoot like an old hunter."

"That was quite remarkable."

"Indeed it was. We often wondered where she learned it all, but we never dared question her for fear she would not like it. She grew terribly angry once when some one told her she looked like a gypsy, and really she did. She had the loveliest long, black hair that I ever saw, and beautiful black eyes, and how they would flash sometimes. But even if she was spunky, I did love her, and I would give almost anything to see her again. She left my aunt about as mysteriously as she came to her. They looked the city over and advertised in every paper, but they could not find her, and they thought the world of her too. Every one praised her bravery and I used to tell Guy it would not terminate like a novel unless he married her."

Scott stepped from the boat, and offering his hand to Carrie assisted her to the steps that led up the bank, then turning, extended the same civility to the lady in the boat, but she bowed, and without a word floated out on the water, before Scott had scarce time to tender his thanks.

"Well, that is strange," he said; "she is so very obliging, and yet she will hardly condescend to notice one."

"You deserve a good scolding," said Carrie, as she looked down and saw Guy and June, who had just arrived, and were waiting for a landing place. "How did you think we would reach the island?"

"We saw you enter the boat," said Guy, "and we knew you did not care to come with us."

"And that you did not care to have us?" said Scott.

"We were very well satisfied," Guy replied. "I want you to come with me a moment," Guy said to Scott, "and the ladies may remain in the parlor until we return."

Guy had made up his mind that he would not sleep until he had learned Scott's answer in regard to the question he had asked June. They went to the shore where they found a rustic bench.

"Scott?"

"Well."

Guy's hand went nervously to his face and toyed with his silken mustache.

"Scott Wilmer."

"What is it?" and the lips closed firmly. "Why don't you be a man, Guy, and speak out? Take her if you want her."

Guy did not know why it was, but he had not half the courage to speak to Scott upon the subject that he had to speak to June.

"What do you mean, Scott?"

"Why, do you think I am blind? I have seen for some time that you think more of June than of all the rest of the year."

"Do you really mean that I can have your sister?"

"Certainly I do. The thought came to my mind a great while ago, and it gave me a great deal of pleasure, but I did not know it then. I do not know of a man on earth that I would rather give my sister to than to you, Guy Horton."

"God bless you, Scott Wilmer; you have made me happier than I ever dared hope to be."

"Be good to her, Guy, as long as you both live, and Heaven grant that your lives may be happier than many others have been. Have you spoken with June?"

"I have."

"And did she give her consent?"

"She left her answer with you."

"Go bring her to me, Guy."

When Guy returned accompanied by June, Scott drew her to his side, and, taking her in a close embrace, he said: "June, my little one, it is all right; but why did you leave your answer with me?"

"Because I thought you knew Guy's nature better than I did, and you would know best."

"If you love him, June, I am glad, for he is my choice of all the men I know. His faults are very few. Be kind to him, June, as I know you will, and, Guy, remember your great responsibility.

"Take her then, Guy, and treat her tenderly. I know you will, but if you should ever deceive her, Heaven help you, for if her life is ever wrecked as mine has been I should show you no mercy."

He pressed Guy's hand, kissed June tenderly, then turned and walked away.