Hooking Watermelons | Page 9

for the melon. As he gave it to her their
eyes met a moment, and their mutual appreciation of the humor of the
situation expressed itself in an irrepressible smile that seemed instantly
to make them acquainted, and she responded almost kindly to his low
"Good-evening."

Amy came home jubilant next day. Lina May-nard had invited her to
her party, and had been ever so good to her, and there was nobody in
the world like Lina. Arthur listened and said nothing. All the next week
it was the same story of Lina's beauty, good-nature, cleverness, and
perfections generally, and, above all, her goodness to herself, Amy
Steele. Lina was indeed fulfilling her promise with generous
over-measure. And after once taking up with Amy, the sweet simplicity
and enthusiastic loyalty of the child to herself won her heart completely.
The other girls wondered, but Lina Maynard's freaks always set the
fashion, and Amy, to her astonishment and boundless delight, found
herself the pet of the Seminary. The little blonde, Lina's sweetheart,
alone rebelled against the new order of things and was furiously jealous,
for which she was promptly snubbed by Lina, and Amy taken into her
place. And meanwhile Lina caught herself several times wondering
whether Arthur Steele was satisfied with the way she was keeping her
pledge.
It was Wednesday night, and Arthur was to return to New York
Thursday morning. Although he had walked the street every afternoon
and had met nearly all the other girls at the Seminary, he had not seen
Lina again. His mother, whom he took about a good deal on pleasure
drives, seriously wondered if the eagerness of city life was really
spoiling his faculty for leisurely pleasures. He always seemed to be
looking out ahead for something, instead of quietly enjoying the
passing sights and scenery. He had consented to accompany Amy to a
little church sociable on the evening before his departure. It was a
species of entertainment which he detested, but he thought he might
possibly meet Lina there, as Amy had said some of the Seminary girls
would be present.
At once, on entering the vestry, he caught sight of her at the other end
of the room among a group of girls. At the sound of the closing door
she glanced up with an involuntary gesture of expectancy, and their
eyes met. She looked confused, and instantly averted her face. There
was plenty of recognition in her expression, but she did not bow, the
real reason being that she was too much embarrassed to think of it. But
during the week he had so many times canvassed the chances of her

recognizing him when they should meet that he had become quite
morbid about it, and manifested the usual alacrity of persons in that
state of mind in jumping at conclusions they wish to avoid. He had
been a fool to think that she would recognize him as an acquaintance.
What had he done but to insult her, and what associations save
distressing ones could she have with him? He would exchange a few
greetings with old friends, and then quietly slink off home and go to
packing up. He was rather sorry for his mother; she would feel so badly
to have him moody and cross on the last evening at home. Just then
some one touched his sleeve, and looking around he saw Amy. She put
her flushed little face close to his ear and whispered:--
"Lina said I might introduce you. Is n't she beautiful, though, to-night?
Of course you 'll fall in love with her, but you must n't try to cut me
out."
Arthur was Amy's ideal of gentlemanly ease and polish, and she had
been very proud of having so fine a city brother to introduce to the girls.
Imagine her astonishment and chagrin when she saw him standing
before Lina with an exaggeration of the agitated, sheepish air the girls
made such fun of in their rural admirers! But if that surprised her, what
was her amazement to see Lina looking equally confused, and blushing
to where her neck curved beneath the lace, although the brave eyes met
his fairly! A wise instinct told Amy that here was something she didn't
understand, and she had better go away, and she did.
"The melon was very good, Mr. Steele," said Lina demurely, with a
glimmer of fun in her black eyes.
"Miss Maynard, I don't know how I shall beg pardon, or humble myself
enough for my outrageous treatment of you," burst forth Arthur. "I
don't know what I should have done if I had n't had an opportunity for
apologizing pretty soon, and now I scarcely dare look you in the face."
His chagrin and self-reproach were genuine enough, but he might have