The
party assembled at the ferry slip at nine o'clock, laden with baskets.
The McTeagues came last of all; Ryer and his wife had already boarded
the boat. They met the Heises in the waiting-room.
"Hello, Doctor," cried the harness-maker as the McTeagues came up. "This
is what you'd call an old folks' picnic, all married people this time."
The party foregathered on the upper deck as the boat started, and sat
down to listen to the band of Italian musicians who were playing outside
this morning because of the fineness of the weather.
"Oh, we're going to have lots of fun," cried Trina. "If it's anything I
do love it's a picnic. Do you remember our first picnic, Mac?"
"Sure, sure," replied the dentist; "we had a Gotha truffle."
"And August lost his steamboat," put in Trina, "and papa smacked him. I
remember it just as well."
"Why, look there," said Mrs. Heise, nodding at a figure coming up the
companion-way. "Ain't that Mr. Schouler?"
It was Marcus, sure enough. As he caught sight of the party he gaped at
them a moment in blank astonishment, and then ran up, his eyes wide.
"Well, by damn!" he exclaimed, excitedly. "What's up? Where you all
going, anyhow? Say, ain't ut queer we should all run up against each
other like this?" He made great sweeping bows to the three women, and
shook hands with "Cousin Trina," adding, as he turned to the men of
the party, "Glad to see you, Mister Heise.
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