The Grant County herald. (Big Stone City, Grant County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1883, 1880-02-14

tte iAeaA you AIN I.Solhg 10 tthe up
with any one else, and 60 aboard any
other barge-ne, no. he cried, II won't
be SO mean as TO ask you that. But, Pru-
dence, dear, some day you may have TO
leave him; and when you do, will YOU re-
collect as John Grove loves YOU better
than augAt else in the wide world and is
waiting for you to Gomez
"Yes, John, | said simply.
'Iou mean it, Prudence?, he cried IN
delight as he caught my hand.
cs. John: | don't know anybody else
and there's no one as cares for me-
"Hundreds on the river, he said sharp
~.
Then | don't care tor them, John"
said simply; "and If you like me- and /
ever do-icaye-oh, dear what am
saving
sat down On a fender and covered
my face with coalsc red hands, and be
gan to cry: but he took my hands down.
and looked long and lovingly IN my tace,
with his great honest brown eyes: and
then lie couldn't speak, but seemed TO
choke. .ht last he gasped out:
'Thankv Prudence thankv. I'm 60
ing away now . wait, for you'll come f.
me some day, know
didn't answer him.
For the time may cone. my lass,
when you,l. he al alone il the world;
and when ii docs come, there's the cabin
Ct the Betscy Ann, clean painted up, and
waiting for you. lust as her masters
awaiting too
lie went quietly over the Side and cas-
Oft tie rope, and was gone before knew
il. and | sat there in the calm afternoon
I and evening, sometimes crying, some
/ times teeilng hopeful, ana with q sense
Of Joy at my heart such as never felt
+ before.
And 50 tHat evening deepened into
\ night, the barge 4 quarter If amlle astern
/ Of us and no wind coming only the tide
I t. feIp lis on our way.
+ + must have been about ten O'Clock t
night when | was forward seeing tn the
! light hoistcet up TO keen anything from
running intoa-. when heard father come
stumbling W. from the cabin, an make
"a II IN come forward to me.
,prue. he cried, "P:ne?1'
"l-es father, coming. | said ;and then
| uttered 9lid shritl, and rushed to-
warss where shf boarfsul-t. astern by her
I.palnter hauled her - and climbed III,
tor Io sooner had ans Sered than heard
a cry afd /. heavy splash. and | knew
father had gonc overheard.
VA, in the boat in i moment. and
lad the skQll over tIie stern, padding
away in tie direction that the cry had
come from but, though taneled that
iii those horrible minutes | saw Il hand
stretched out Of the water asking as it
We're for help. padded and skulled
about till was far from our barge, and
then sank down, worn cut, 70 utter q
i moan OF horror, and sob, "0h, father
What shall | do
i is that you, Prudencel' SAID volce
near me.
YES, John yes, cried, looking out
through the darkness out of which a
boat seemed to steal till It was alongside.
when John stretched out his hand and
took mine
Quick, | -asped save him, John
II father-gonc overheard" !"
aWhen vou slrlehed out, Prue.'
YES, YES, Oh, save him. save him
NV poor lass, he said, that GOOD
'a' - =, 81 80 bean naadlina ,o,1t
',.1,.'1i ;,-co a'' +rrin., ana von tar waut
), 4,,o l,a,,s and yc41 were cone.
Y ~, - ,a.Iar, saiIel .tather--.aye
, hlm..'
NV poor lttIe .a,s, he SAID. tenderly
: y ~, ! H., -. esn ~ Ill ynn <raw 4-I
i denee, what car d..
! Ia;a not answer, far / disi not know
a.. -. - i ,n',.t have hpcn svrnt lar ava,
I'a' - - a,,4, ~ b4oinnine totee
ns1ple 49, ,,'as ',, aonaa,ite Ione IN tie world