Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-12-17
ON THE RIVER.

On Inc QecK OF DldCk looking
sloop, which lay in the middle of
wide river the closing in of summer
day, l0unged r serious-face, blue
shifted, felt-hatted young man smok-
short pipe.
He was approached by pretty,
brown-faced girl, who came upon him
from the little cabin aft. He took his
pipe from his mouth and looked sill
emily at her.
81 came to have a serious talk,
Jacob" said she.
well, I'm ready" was the rejoin-
der. 1--WE been expecting something
such for a week or more. It's the old
subject, eh2"
Parody" she answered, Bat it is
different from what | have said be-
fore. Jacob, can't marry you"
"WhatW Tie glared at her furious
ly.
II can't L arr. you, | say, and
what is more, | mean it.
and please why can't Miss Joseph
inc Hitter marry Mr.. Jacob Carney2"
he asked with mock pollteness.
Because we should never be hap
by together afterward. You are to
quick to anger, too improvideut to
save or to spend carefully, and too
unreasonable. think you may have
en- idea that you love me, and | am
sure l could love you too well, in
spite OF your faults; but happiness
does not come of love upon one side.
nor always if it is upon both. 1t has
cost me, and will cost me, much
heartburn, but it had much better
burn now than for endless years af-
terward. l have decided, and you
know what that means
He said nothing for many minutes,
but he finally spoke:
" "You mean, this, Josie, whatever
you say. You mean that l am but a
deck-hapd on your fathers craft
that / have not good looks enough.
and that | am not fool enough To put
up with your vagaries. That's it.
Stop, don't interrupt. I've got as
much pride as you have, and
SO l say here, on this very
spot, that now that you have re-
fused me, / shall go straight to the
devil / haven't any object in life,
and if drink and deSauchery will ruin
me, | am going to ruin that way. |
tell you not to speak," he cried, in
high temper. Il am going now, and
shall Begin by stealing your fathers
boat. You tell me / am too quick to
anger, to improvident to save, and too
unreasonable, and you may now add
am too cursed proud to take a jilt-
ing from such as you, and stay in
your sight, like a whining dog"
Womanlike she bitterly repented
even her just act, and arose from her
position with purpose. She gather
ed some articles of apparel, and with
another boat pursues HIM. She wand
cred for some days; went high and
low, IN and out, into groggeres and
dens, but found nothing. Not trace
and her remorse grew with the hours.
As for his part, he does as he
has promised, and plunges headlong
INTO vice. He stupefies himself He
Wanders among the shipping, is kick
about, and is locked up out Of harms
way, and let go again. He struggles
ABOARD ships and steamers, and hides
away to sleep off his stupor, and so
wipes out all memory of his once
crazy love, ard all vestiges of the
sweet face he Used to adore.
On wild night some men find
nm aboard a river steamer already
cast off and bound down to the city
below. They fling him aside with
curses, and he lays himself down
against the door of the pilot house. It
Is iearfully stormy and drenched by
ram, and pierced by cold, he comes to
ais senses in the middle of the night,
and looks about him. He sees that
JIney are at high speed. He arises,
looks about, and recognizes the place
and the boat, for he is familiar with
ltne river and its channels from its
mead to its meuth. He stands en-
urely sobered in the darkness, look
ing at the pilot house windows, at the
man at the wheel.
suddenly he fancies he sees him sink
gradually, still holding at the wheel.
ne tries 70 rise, but again his knees
pend and his head falls forward. At
Sais instant shouts arise from the men
below, and the wheel slips away from