Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-03-28

grasp and passed beyond her reach. but
she leaned frantically over in vain at
tempt to regain it, and with her weight
on one side, the boat gave a lurch and
she was precipitated into the water
One wild effort to regain the boat, then
all was blank. &C.,
When she C me back to Consciousness,
it was to find herself on shore with Don
aid En- erson's strong arms about her
ard her he I'd resting upon his breast
while with grave, anxious face he was
looking for some sign of life.
my darling" he murmured, softly,
and pressed kiss upon her pale brow,
while Myrtle made an effort to prins
up, but her st ength was gone and shc
sank back powerless.
Then gathering her up in mis- arms
he would child, he bore her to tn
house and laid her upon the lounge i
the sitting-room, and when he had
called Mrs. Murray, he went to hi
chamber.
Aunt Fannie proceeded to put yer,
helpless, meek little girl into dry cloth
ing; then give her a hot draught an,
sent her to bed two hours before sun
set.
The vigorous treatment averted any
unpleasant results OF the immersion il
the pond, and next day Myrtle was near
ly recovered from the shock, little
paler that usual, trihe languisbed, bu
a very interesting convalescent, Nh
Emerson thought, when he entered tn,
sitting. room, and found her reclinin;'
upon the lounge.
"Mr. Emerson, I owe my life to you.
Martie said, with emotion when hecam.
forward and took her hand in his. 'Hon
can ever repay YOUR and. her dark
expressive eyes filed withtears.
"Dare | claim reWard?"
Donald Emerson looked earnestly
down in the young face, pure as the fra
grant water-lilies in the vase on tia
table.
The look in his clear, gray eyes asket
the question he feared to put in words
and bright glow Stance the pale cheel
of the girl, but when he asked will
voice husky with intense feeling, Evil
you be my wife?" she answered frank
ly:
I never thought Of such a thing, Mr.
Emerson. / am very grateful for youl
kindness, and l respect you highly, bu
do not love you. | am only little
GIRL" she said, speaking neryOusly, 'ano
never loved any one like that" then
the tears began to sparkle in her DARK
eyes.
II will not distress you," Donald En-
erson said; sit foolish to think that you
could care for me. We may be friends
still?" be asked, holding out his hand as
he was about to leave the room.
eyes, oh, yes! [ want you always &c
he my FRIEND" Myrtle exclaimed i'm
pulsively.
always, nv little girl" ne answered,
graveiy, holding for single instant bel
little hand in his firm clasp, and ther
he left the room, while Myrtle, though
she did not love, Donald Emerson the
least bit, though it was rather nice to be
loved.
An hour afterward Mrs. Murray came
IN to fi1.d Myrtie's ey IS very bright and
her cheeks very red and questioned he1
anxiously, for she feared she was fever,
iBh.
''Not at ALL" Myrtle told Aunt Fannie
,'she was much better"
"Mr. Emerson has gone away very
suddenly" Mrs. Murray remarked, after
Il little pause, "to be gone an indefinite
period, l should think, for he said it
might be for month or perhaps year.
Do you know any reason for his going,
Myrtle De Forest" Aunt Fanny ques-
toned, with the sternness Of a Judge.
"No-yes-we!l it might be what
said" Myrtle answered, with flushed
face, and fearful eyes.
Then she told her aunt what Mr.. En-
erson had asked, and her answer.
"Foolish child" Mrs. Murray said, as
she shut the door and left Myrtle to in
dulge in a fit of crying.
September came, clear and crisp, with
it's invigorating air, its breath of frosti-
ness.
Myrtle would soon go home; somehow
she did not care as much for the country
as she used to, she told Aunt Fanny,
and perhaps she should not come next
summer, at which Mrs. Murray smiled,
when Myrtie's back was turned.
ga letter from Mr. Emerson" Myrtle Is
aunt remarked, carelessly, at the din
ner table: she has been Cry i'll since lie
vent away. He writes that he shall re-
turn when Miss De Forest goes back TO
the city, but he will not come to annoy
her w tn his presence"
"Auntie," Myrtle said, in a very per-
suasive tone, write and tell him to
come straight back. I don't want to
keep him away from his homeland tell
hat-that-M write De Forest wants him
to come; there, will that be an unmai-
denly message, Aunt Fannie?"
"Quite the reverse, l should say"
Mrs. Murray replied, with gleam Of
mirthfulness in her pleasant black eyes.
Donald Emerson came back, and Myr-
tie, with the fckleness ascribed to wo-
men, had changed her mind, for to the
same question again asked, she answered
yes.