The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-02

said little Harry Beckett, in a serious. explana-
tory tone.
He id my papa, idn't he, Aunt Kate" pro
tested jamie.
He will bring jamie something, I am sure"
answered Kate automatically.
And thus, with prattle of children, and JOY
and expectation Kates morning in the big, red
curtained, comfortable room passed slowly away.
During the afternoon the temperature fell
rapidly, the fakes of snow became fine particles,
a stronger wind blew, and the river began to
dash up and freeze against the wharf. Al 8
o'clock John Kennedy crossed over from his
store to report that the ferryman had refused to
cross.
How can George get over, thenl" asked Kate.
almost crying.
'.Sol White will send him across on his big
boat" answered John. Don't be afraid, Kate,
we shall see him on time"
When Beckett, after a cold drive of FIVE miles
from the railway village, reached the river OPP
posite Kennedy's house to find the ferry had
stopped for the day, he went straight to Sol
Whites shotel."
"Hello, White?s he said; II want you to put
me across"
"By golly," said Solomon, coming forward to
shake hands, I'VE hain't got no boat"
where's the big red one?"
'Stole. Some fellow run off with her day be-
fore yesterday night. Ii ever | catch him
Give me the skiff then"
Toms got the skitf across the river. He
won't be back till night, maybe"
Il must get across somehow protested Beck
EFT.
"Idon't see how you're goin' to do it. unless
you swim, boss. By golly, / mind we'll when you
done that, too, onct. But it wasn't quite this
kind of a day. Say, have got a canoe, though
-basswood-a daisy. She's under the back shed.
Poorly heavo kind of weather for a canoe, though,
hain't it, Mr.. Beckett!'
Safe enough. I've been out in canoes far
worse days. Let me see her; is she a good oneY"
BEST canoe ever | seen" responded Sol, who
never owned to owning anything not better than
anything else of its kind.
She was indeed a pretty craft-long, deep,
strong, light, graceful and seaworthy for a
~practieed man.
There's rot many would like to try that
water in her" said Sol obviously, as they carried
her down to the shore. Nor there's not many
I'd leave have her, for fear of accidents"
Beckett started and looked with a new inquiry
out to where the flashing waters gloomed away
to concealment by the swift snow. Accident!
Here was the opportunity for which he had
vairly planned! No one could possibly sus-
pect him should he never reach the other shore
a third of q mile distant across that darkling
river!
But oh! to leave Kate and the children. Oh!
to give up the meeting when so near, for which
he had been living ali that night and dayl
Sol miscorstrued his hesitation.
'sThere's nothing for you to be afraid of, Mr..
Beckett" said he, encouragingly. Il know what
you can do in a canoe. BY gosh! do you mind
the day of the big storm when you would go
across to see the missis9 She was Miss Ken
nedy then. My! how the wind did come roarin'
up the river-this amt a patch on it nohow!'
Then Beckett pushed off. Solomon watched
Till the man and boat became an indistinct,
gloomy blotch through the snow. Then getting
his hand to his mouth he cried:
''Mr. Beckettm
what is it?' came the answer clear and sharp.
I'm afeared you'll get lost. | guess l had
better blow the horn every now and then to
guide you"
THANK you, SOL" cried George, after a con-
siderable pause, twenty minutes will be long
enough
AS he spoke the canoe was still jumping in the
short chopping waves of the shore eddy. Next
moment Sol lost sight of it. and, raising the
straight tin horn to his lips, blew a long note.
When he ceased the impression of descending
stiffness about and behind him became almost
painful. accumulated as it was hY the whelm and
surge of the river before.
How are you making out, STRIP he cried
loudly. But no answer came. Again he raised
the horn to his lips.
AT that moment the canoe was wallowing dag
onally across long swells in the main channel
whose bubbling and foaming crests now and
again few off in drenching spray. George, lay
ing down his paddle, placed his hands on the
%gunwales and fell a thinking, while the canoe,
falling off a few points, drlfted easily with the
rollers.
11C WdG hllu vi JULIUS n Gdlu lOIuO
entering his bar half an hour afterw ard;
'Whiter'n ever | saw him afore; looked set and
faraway like, and there was d kind of something
as if he was a kind of suffering, too. He put his
getting away. Then he was off. My! she was
goin' proud and easy! stood on the shore till
now, blowing the horn to guide him"
II reckon he got %acrost," ventured the solitary
loafer at the bar.
''Acrostr' returned Sol, with scorn, ''acrost!
He'd a-got acrost if it nd a-bin the Atlantic
ocean,"
"How dark it's getting" said Kate, looking
out toward the hidden river. A mysterious
hush of anxious expectation haG come over the
house.
ought to have been here now,' she said
TREMENDOUSLY.
"Oh, no, dear. The train would be delayed
by the Storm" answered Laura, with q cheer
full voice that was belied by her slight shudder.
The children crowded around their moth ers
with a sense of something transpiring and re-
quiring explanation.
.You said papa was coming. mamma" cried
little Maud, and he isn't here"
Papa is coming" said stout Harry, trying to
cheer his mother. ''Papa will soon be here
now" he added with a curious imitation Of Hates
voice and manner.
John Kennedy came in stamping the snow off
and glancing sidewise at the women who looked
at him with appeal.
George will be along before a great while,
now, he said, cheerlly. 'They are footing for
the ferry on the other side. He's there, waiting,
Of course"
But the ferryman won't CO." said Kate.
mo, but White will send George over when
he finds the sulky chap won't bulge. Don't be a
bit alarmed, Kate"
But soon after John went out again; he began
to look anxious. He came across Whites man,
Tom, who had a skiff, and from him learned of
the theft of Soils big boat.
There amt a thing around the place except a
Eastwood canoe" Tom said, and Kennedy in
stantly thought of Beckett's disposition to make
light of any risks OF water. Still the horn
sounded at intervals from the other shore, some
times very family because of the rising blast.
1.-The boss is on the toot a good DEAL observed
Tom. Just amusing himself. l guess, unless
he's trying to show somebody the way across"
by thunder cried Kennedy" that's lust
mhat ho ic dninn Ill hot An Paa1A44, 49,