Madge Morton, Captain of the Merry Maid

ot half so bad for Eleanor. She, at least, is going to spend her holiday with people she likes. But for Uncle William and Aunt Sue to leave for California just as s

girls lived on an old estate in Virginia, but for the two preceding terms they had been

were compelled to go west on important business. Eleanor was to be sent to visit a family of cousins near Charlottesville, Virginia, and Madge was to stay with a rich old maiden cousin of her father. Cousin Louisa did not like Madge. She felt a sense of duty toward her, and a sense of duty seldom inspires any real affection in return. So Madge looked bac

it would say. It would contain a formal invitation from Cousin Louisa, asking Madge to pay her the necessary visit. It would suggest at the same time that Madg

ed across the hall to the room of their two chums to consult them about a problem in algebra. Madge at that moment was

ve collapsed so entirely, simply because she was not to spend the first part of her sum

her eyes flashed, the color glowed in her cheeks, and Madge dropp

observed by the school girls. The sign read: "Studying; No Admittance." But to-day Madg

and closed Lillian Seldon's ancient history with a bang. Phyllis Alden had just time to grasp her own notebook fir

ed. "But just listen to me, and yo

was just long enough to tuck into a small knot on top of her head. But when Madge was excited, which was a frequent occurrence, this knot would break loose, and her curls would fly about, like the hair of one of Raphae

knew it better than Phyllis. She was small and dark, with irregular features. But she had large, black eyes, and a smile that illuminated her clever face. Pu

, delicate skin and blue eyes. She was the daughter of a Philadelphia lawyer and an only child. A number of her school companions thought her cold and proud, but her chums knew that when Lillian really cared for any one she was the most loy

well. She was either in the seventh heaven of bliss, or else in the depths of despair. Yet this time it did look as though Madge had

nor said you were upset because you are obliged to spend t

rld! Just think! Cousin Louisa has written to say that she can't have me, or rather won't have me, visit her. Sh

"You've nowhere else to go." You know how you

Louisa whom I once thought I disliked. Just look here." Madge waved a small strip of paper in the air. "Cousin Louisa has sent me a check fo

lf," objected Eleanor. "I should think yo

I want you three girls to spend the six weeks with me. Only last night Eleanor and

ndred dollars seems quite a fortune. Perhaps you ought n

side the door, "kindly remember this is the

flashed rebelliously. "It's that tiresome Miss Jones. You might know s

might hear you. She is ill, I am sure. That is what m

think of some way to spend our vacation and I never can think indoors. 'It is the merry month of May,'" caroled Madge. "Come, Phil, let us go down to the wat

ime. Shall we ask poor Miss Jones to go with us? She does not have much fun, and you know it is her duty to make us keep the rules. Miss Jones a

ss Jones to come out with us this afternoon, there's a dear. I told you I wanted t

h girl wore a tiny silver oar pinned to her dress. Only the week before Madge had won the annual spring rowing contest; for Miss

re in their own little, green boat, called the "Water Witch." Lillian sat in the stern, t

s in the world, locked her oars across the boat and sat

have the most glorious, the most splendid plan you eve

ing perilously. Before Phil could finish her speech Madge had tumb

ise to the surface. They were not frig

dea of plunging into the water in that fashion, not to me

turned white. Madge had on her rowing costume, a short skirt and a sailor blouse. She could easily swim in such a suit.

aid Phyllis. "I must dive and see what has happened to Madge. If

from behind. "Sit down, Phil. Here comes that wretched Madge, swim

ed off the skiff for pure pleasure. She had been swimming under the water for a little distance and had risen at a spot at which her friends were not looking. As she l

king the water. out of her hair; "but I had such a wonderful idea that it really knocked me overboard. I was afraid I would

she wrapped her sweater about her friend. "Madge, will an

meaning to create a disturbance, it suddenly came to me that the most perfect way to spend a holiday would be to live out on the water. First I thought we might just take the 'Water Witch' and row along the river all summer, sleeping in hotels

are a genius as well. You mean you can rent a houseboat with your money and we can truly sp

cold and half from happiness. She was begi

eby invite you to spend six weeks of your vacation aboard