The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-07-05
PERSEVERANCE

most welcome. For there, darkly outlined
against the sullen glen, stood q little cabin.
win lts thread-ike wreath OF smoke curl
in9 upward, and an old fisherman sitting
!aenelng his nets on bench beside the
door, - = :. - -
And Mr.. Creston, who had been wander
!ng hopelessly among the marshes for some
sme. with lively sense Of tbs inconven-
3ence OF getting lost in those saline deserts,
Rood and stared at it as if it were q will o.
the-wisp.
I'm sure it couldn't have been there five
minutes ago, he pondered within him
"'Evenin', stranger!" said old Zadoo
Peck. Been a shootin', eh2"
I've lost my way. said Cheston, pluno-
ing through the tall reeds, until at iast ia
gained secure footing by the cabin door
"Well, l thought likely" Commented
Zadoc. Amt many folks comes here a
purpose" ''''o "
"CouldI obtain nights LODGING and
some supper" limited our weary SPORTS.
man. ''>
II guess So" serenely answeraa n.
Peck, IF you don't mind s}ee an* nn "r MI:
AS for supper, Perseverance, has Zone ont
eh?" Ao LUKE" clans'
his son" thought the major. what
equalnt couple they must be !"
nut ne sat down in the red light and
looked at the morning glory vines txained
% inc window, the busy fingers of the old
man. the murmuring wilderness of reads
and rushes beyond.
That's right, said Zadoc: set down sud
take 1t easy. Perseverance will 30 hack
Pteuy quick with the CLAIMS, ana then you'll
get some good, hot supper. Perseverance,
Is master hand TO cook"
a., fer5eVerance came presently; but to
Major Cheston's infinite SURPRISE she wa.
no lubberly boy. nor half civilized vonn~
man. out tall, blooming maiden of sixteen
xlto 1etty hair floating down her back
large, dark eyes, long lashed and almond
snaped-and cheeks like roses. Her short
gypsy like skirts revealed shapely brown
ankles and pretty feet, yet bearing the inn
press of the wet sands vhere
she had waded out to dig clans. and on ona
arm she carried basket of CLAIMS. whose
weight would have been no trifle even to
t9e staAwart muscles Of this major of cav
airy. ~"''
She was not at all embarrassed by the
presence OF stranger. but came frankly ur
10 him' setting down her basket to examine
the contents of his game bag.
1ou've had poor luck, stranger, haven't
ycu?' she said, pltingly II could hu' done
better myself. on them marshes at this
time O year."
perseverance, is first rate shot,"
chnckled the old man. go now, girly,
anu COOK us some supper"
1he roast clans, coffee and corn bread
were most Oalatable: and after supper.
MAJOR Cheston gave Persever ance news
paper from his pocket.
1t Is this morning's," said he. "Would
you like 10 see it?'
But she motioned it away.
-! cant read, said she inditferentlv.
lou can not read!" echoed the amazed
Sixteen Perseverance, answered rea-
dening. ' AVA
my sister Kate is only SIXTEEN" said
MAJOR Cheston, speaking without due re-
9ecuon, and she reads and writes four
olnerent languages, plays the piano and
guitar. draws and paints, and
fssev! said Perseverance, archine her
slender neck. Can she shoot black duck
and curlews?"
That is ha,dly one of the accomplish
ments prescribed for young ladies'" said
the major, smiling.
''Can she swim?
s'No, but
Can she clip blue heron on the w;nog
or get IN a haul Of blue fish when the ti']a
Is strong and the wind due east? or fipht -
snark' hand to hand, with only a marlin
spike for a weapon?"
ana once again Major Cheston was CON-
pelled TO answer in the negative
T., wen, sad Perseverance, complacent
And she rose and went out of the room.
ana MAJOR Cheston saw no more OF her that
night. ~ "a '0' 'D''
She isn't offended, is she?" he asked Of
ond 1 .t feck; who was smoking pipe
"Otfenled? Our Perseverance, offen,a
cdr echoed the obi man. "You don kncu
her, stranger!
But really hazarded Cheston, lit ia
scarcely right to bring up girl like that in
sucn total ignorance, nov is it?''
well, We haven't no schools nor acadia,
mes hereabouts.' said the old man. "And
we had, perseverance, wouldn't 20 to EN-.
nte!" @ "''At5 n'7'-
And Major Cheston wasted no mora t;n,o
in argument.
He slept we'll and soundly that night IN.
der the slipping roof of the little garret.
through whose shrunk boards the nu;at
stars peepcd down at him. and ut dovhreaI
ne went down upon the shore.
The reeds were all etfaced nOw-the tide
Was coming in with rush and a roor
and an occasional flying shower of snrav
yhe fresh wind took Off his hat, and whirIe,1
1t into the water. He made an invoI-
untary plunge after it, lost his footing on
the slippery sands, and the next instant ha
vas struggling for dear life with the surf
dragged constantly down, and still further
out to sea by the treacherous undertow. Tn
q last effort to regain himself, he strack
MS head against jagged point of stone
and know nothing more.
"You needn't thank me. stranger " so;a
old Zadoc Peck, as he stood over the 70.
covering patient, with hot towels and bran
dy flask. >: didn't know a thing abont Il
till she ran up, as white and breathless as n
snow3h furry, to get me to help you in. She
had SWIM out to sea, and dragged Won
back to land herself! She's brave girl i.
Perseverance. and there's nothing she cam
do If once she sets herself about it,"
Major Cheston thanked his young res-
cuer earnestly; but nothing would induce
her to take the gold he offered her.
lit must be poor creature that wants
reward for saving mans life," said she.
with short laugh.
And Cheston desisted.
Tho girl is too pretty" he said to uim-
self. NO one but the hero of third class
romance ever marries half civilized younp
savage, because she has dark eyes and hair
growing low on her forehead. I must oct
away from this place-and I must keep
away!'
Physically, this was all easy thing to do:
but mentally-what is there but the wild
winds of heaven so uncomfortable MA
mans .thoughts?
At the end of a year he came back from
Switzerland, and went straight to tho Long
Island Marshes
II must see her." he said to himself. IT
must tell her that love her. I must ask
her to be my wife,"
But the train which ran out to Nineveh.
the nearest station, TALL beautiful girl. in
cashmere dress, sparkling with jet, and
saucy black hat, came to him, holding out
her hand.
"You are Major Ohesto4,2" said she.