The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-01-27
and Dicks heart jumped up into his

"Ihere now, HotCy, uon MI Inort
lev rue. Can you not call me Dick"
81 might, that is if l had known you
longer"
you call that--farmer, Tom"
"Oh, Tom and I were children to-
rether. That makes q difference, you
Sec"
II suppose 80. But, Hetty, tell me.
do YOU lovo me?" asked Dick, trying
to take her hand in his, a liberty which
she did not seem to be disposed to per-
nit
u-I-let US go back now, Mr..
Dick" said Hetty.
Iloye you, Hotty 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
os admiration tor brave man. And
Dick Thortley seemed valiant person.
ape TO Hetty, since he had dared to tell
her that he loved her.
"Who does know, thene" asked Dick.
"I--cannot say; please lots so
back horne now" uttered Hetty.
"Will we row the boat, the little boat
down there, up TO tho stream which
flows by the house," said Dick point
inc to a small boat near them.
..If you wish" said Hetty.
They rot 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 suiliced 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 crystai
waters into the lake.
Dick turned tho boat around-hor-
ror,-the frail affair struck against
rock, and in another instant they were
both precipitatcd into the water.
Dick, as he went over, managed to
grasp hold of the boat, and Hetty, ~
luck would have it, found herself seated
sGuarely upon the rock.
Miss Brown" said Dick. ''we are in
u prcdicament.'
I'm wet through and through. You
are just too horrid TO upset tho boat"
cried Hetty.
Strangely enough, the thorough wet
ting seemed to take all the romance ont
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 ~ something utterly vague to
them.
What shall we dc?" said Hctty.
Dick did not reply. Swim he could
not, and he knew il he once lost his
hold he would 20 down, down TO wa
terry grave.
Again Hetty said.
What shall We dcp
A strange sound from Dicks lips
great heavens the fellow ia crying like
q baby.
That wa enough for fotty. And
this man had just told her that nc loved
her, and asked her if she lo.cd him
Now he is crying in the very presence
of the woman he loves, and does not
seem disposed to offer even y sugges-
ton rs to how they shall escape passing
tho night here in the wator
Tim sorry that we rowed. II
.--Miss-B - Brown, | guess We'll
both be at the bottom 10y morning"
blubbcrcd Dick.
"Why don't you do something, Mr.
Thornley, Swim to shore for another
boat. Do anything to get mo off this
horrid rock"
IL can't swim
Tom cam,
"l'm glad TOTO hear it, IL wish
Tom was here"
Hctty then seemed to be possessed OF
an idea which she suddenly put into
effect, for raising her voice to IT'D highest
pitch. she cried Toni Tom! TomH
Halo" q voice in the distance re-
sponded.
Quick. Tom. Out here IN the lake
where the stream in" cried IIetty,
as she cspicd Tom's form upon the lake
shore.
And then Tom dashed into the water
and walked rs quickly as possible to
Hetty, took her in his arms, and walk
ed back to shore
Help How am | to get a.hore?'
yelled Dick.
You poor fool Walk ashore The
water Is about waist-dcep. You don't
want me to carry You, do you"' eX-
claimed Tom, ~ he walked off towards
the house. Hctty. 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 ri 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 tho little circumstance.
lIetty 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.
Lord Wolseley Of Egypt.
1t is seldom that, in England, sol
der reaches by his own skill and oour.
u