Page:George Weston--The apple-tree girl.djvu/132

 "Poor thing!" said Charlotte, more dryly than he. "Well, if you're ready now, we'll start."

They caught up to the highly courted Perry Graham at the fourth hole, and Charlotte had a good chance to look at him. "He's really handsome," she thought, her heart beginning to pound as she thought of what she was going to do. "I'd better do it now," she hurriedly added, "or I'll be too nervous."

The fourth hole at New London is a secluded stretch of sward, hidden by a hill from the clubhouse and skirting a grove of yellow pines. Mr. Graham's first shot had only gone about twenty yards, and as he walked toward it Charlotte very carefully began to take aim at him. At home she had often practiced hitting trees in the orchard; but this, you see, was more difficult because the tree was walking away from her.

"I don't want to hit him too hard," she thought, "only just enough to tell him how sorry I am, and make him re-