The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-02-22
"Oh, Tom and were children to-
yether. That makes a difference, you

"Oh, Tom and l were children to-
gether. That makes a difference, you
. see"
Il suppose so. But, Hetty, tell me.
do YOU love meP'' asked Dick, trying
to take her hand in his, liberty which
she did not seem to be disposed to per-
NIT
"I-I-let us go back now, Mr.
Dick" said Hetty.
Il love 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 a deal
of admiration for brave man. And
Dick Thortley seemed a valiant person
age to Hetty, since he had dared TO tell
her that he loved her.
.sWho does know, then?" asked Dick.
.I-cannot say; please let's go
back home now,n uttered Hetty.
s'Will we row the boat, the little boat
down there, up to the stream which
flows by the house?'' said Dick point
ing to a small boat near them.
If you WISH" said Hetty.
They got into the boat, and pushing
it ont from the shore Dick piled the
oars.
A silence fell upon them after the boat
had gone a 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 q
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
squarely upon the rock.
Miss Brown" said Dick, eve are in
a predicament.
''rm wet through and through. You
are just too horrid to upset the boat"
cried Hetty.
Strangely enough, the thorough vet
ting seemed to take 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
shore, all affairs connected with love
were as something utterly vague to
them.
"What shall we do?" said Hetty.
Dick did not reply. Swim he could
not, and he knew if he once lost his
hold he would 90 down, down to wa
terry grave.
Again Hetty said:
'What shall we do?'
a strange sound from Dicks lips
great heavens! 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
of the woman he loves, and does not
seem disposed to offer even q sugges-
ton as to how they shall escape passing
the night here in the water.
"I-rm sorry that we rowed. II
L IL
both be at the bottom by morning."
blubbered Dick.
why don't you do something. Mr..
Thortley? Swim to shore for another
boat. Do anything to get me off this
horrid rock"
''I-I can't swim"
Tom cam,
'Tm 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: Toni Tom! Tomw
'Hallo!' voice in the distance re-
sponded.
'.Quick, Tom. Out here in the lake
where the stream flows in," cried Hettv,
as she esped 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 ashore?"
yelled Dick.
''You poor fool! Walk ashore The
water is about waist-deep. You don't
want me to carry you, do you?" ex-
claimed Tom, as he walked off towards
the house, Hetty, very limp and drip
ping, walking by his side.
Dick walked to shore. What fool
he had been. If he had only known
the depth of the water, perhaps he would
not have lost Hetty.
Anyhow, he returned to the city in
the morning; and you may be sure he
never mentioned the little circumstance.
Hetty and Tom were married shortly
afterward. She said the sight of man
crying had cleared away all doubt, and
she straightway knew that she did in
deed love Tom.