The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-02-05

| 70 look up quickly; and she hlushed as
sh found his eyes gazing straight into
hcas.
.sIIetts. IL love you
i There; il was said. The die vas cast,
and Dicks heart jumped up into his
! throat.
mir Thornley,
There now. Hetty, don't Mr.. Thort-
| ley me. Can you not call me Dickp"
| 81 might, that is if had known you
longer.
You call that--farmer, Tom"
"Oh, Tom and I were children to-
| gether. That makes difference. you
see
/ Il suppose so. But, Hetty. tell me,
do you love me?" asked Dick, trying
So take her hand in his, a liberty which
she did not seem to be disposed TO per-
! nit.
"I-I-let us go back now. Mr..
! Dick said Hetty.
Hove you, Hetty. viii you not give
me just one small ray of hope?"
IL don't know" responded she.
! Dick seemed very much in earnest
Tom had never, during all the years of
! their association, spoken of love. She,
| like other girls in common, had deal
of admiration for a brave man. And
Dick Thornley, seemed valiant person
age to Hetty, since he had dared to tell
her that he loved her
WHO does know, then?n asked Dick.
'.I-canhot say; please lets go
back home now,n uttered Hetty.
''Will we row the boat, the little boat
down there, ND to the stream which
flows BY the house?" said Dick point
ing to a small boat near them.
eff xot1 wish - said Hetfy
They got into the boat, and pushing
it out from the shore Dick piled the
oars.
A silence fell upon them after the boat
had gone short distance.
Dick was doubtless thinking how he
could make two pounds do for two per-
sons. when it barely sufficed for one.
Hetty was thinking that this would
all be very nice. if it had only been Tom
instead of Dick.
They reached the inlet to the lake.
where the small stream poured its crystal
waters into the lake.
Dick turned the boat around-hor-
ror!-the frail affair struck against a
rock, and in another instant they were
both precipitated into the water
Dick, as he went over, managed to
grasp hold of the boat, and Hetty, as
luck would have it, found herself seated
quarely upon the cock.
Miss Brown" said Dick, eve are in
predieament."
I'm vet through and through. You
are just too horriS to upset the boat"
cried Hetty.
Strangely enough. the thorough wet
ting seemed to talre all the romance out
of both.
Here in the water up to their waists,
Dick hanging on to the shattered boat
for dear life, and Hetty seated upon the
rock, some ten or more yards from
shore, all affairs connected with love
were as sorr ething utterly vague to
them 80
What shall we doP'' said Hetty.
Dick did not reply. Swim he could
not, and he knew if he once lost his
hold he .would go down, down to wa
terry grave.
Again He.ty said:
What shall we de?n
strange sound from Dicks lips
great heavensi the fellow is CRYING like
a baby.
That was enough for Hetty. And
this man had just told her that he loved
her, and asked her if she loved him.
Now he is crying in the very presence
Vi Tie WOiIdU HG IOftS. dHu QOGS nut
seem disposed to offer even a sugges-
ton as to how they shall escape passing
the night here in the water.
Tim sorry that we rowed. II
-Miss-B- b Brown, I guess Wen
both be at the bottom by morning."
blubbered Dick.
sWhy Cont you do something, Mr..
Thortleyp Swim to shore for another
boat. Do anything to get me off this
horrid rock. :"
IL can't swim"
Tom cam,
-.I'm glad TOTO hear it. II wish
Tom was here
Hetty then seemed to be possessed of
an idea which she suddenly put into
effect, for raising her voice to its highest
pitch, she cried: Tom! Tom! Tomr'
.'Hallor' voice in the distance re-
sponded.
''Quick, Tom. Out here in the lake
where the stream flows in" cried HetGy,
as she espied Toms form upon the lake
shore.
And then Tom dashed into the water
and walked as quickly as possible to
Hetty, took her in his arms, and walk
ed back to shore.
"Help! How am l to get ashorea"
yelled Dick.
"You ,,oor fooli Walk ashorei The
water is about waist-deep. You don't
want me to carry you. do youP' ex-
G. aimed Tom, as he walked off towards
the house, Hetty, very limp and drip
limo WALKING nv his side