New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-09-23
because she preferred q man with y
title. and to keep her uncla'a estates

IDENTIFY was not rich, and acomm0ner.
But bad as it was, while the dainty
oars rose and fell mechanically, they
kept saying, in low grumbling jerks, 1
g ohm Anderson, my Jo-J ohm, : in a.
curious, monotonous rhythm that
nearly drove her wild, and when she.
looked down into the water, dark,
bearded face with such a mournful,, 4
panied expression on it, gazed back at
her. Really,5it was too badit was
outrageous, just because she preferred
~ All! but did she prefer?
Alice started as this question sud
denly rose before her the first the uni
versal teacher had succeeded in calling
to her attention.
She knit her broad, white brows, and
threw back her head in scornful inn
patience, and then, right before her
on the glistening water, She saw some
thing that excited her wonder.
A low, fiat platform, like raft, with
a pole set up in the centre, and at its
top a circular disk. It was evidently
anchored there; but for what purpose?
And what meant that little skiff
noored alongside oft?
Some one must have brought it
there, yet no one was to be seen.
Slowly, with some hesitation, Alice
drew nearer, until close enough to veri-
fy her suspicion that she knew the
owner Of that boat. 1t was the one
Mr.. Anderson had secured for his own
use land hers, as she knew weln, but
where was he?
A terrible thought flashed into her
brain, causing a curious Tightening of
her heart-strings. She had driven him
away in despair, last night. Could he
But no, no! he was too good. too
brave, too honorable to seek a cow
ard s relief from sorrow.
Nevertheless, the thought overcame
all else, and she sent her boat flying
over the water toward that other
empty one-faster, faster yet, as she
drew closer; for PROSTATE on that
mysterious platform lay figure that
she knew-ah, yes, would know amidst
thousand peer of them all!
He never moved as she knelt at his
side, calling on him passionately to
speak to her. Heaven only knows
what wild ideas, horrible fears had
taken possession Of the proud girl.
But she remembered afterward that
her first glance was for an empty pistol
in his hands.
His clear-cut features were turned
skyward, white and drawn with pain.
There was no wound that she could
see, yet he remained deaf to her APP
peals for one word of forgiveness.
She looked round in despair, and
then she saw what the trouble was.
The huge timbers that formed the
rsft were not tied very closely togeth-
er. His foot had slipped between two
OF them like trap, and the grinding
and crushing had caused a pain so in,
tense that he had tainted.
He had evidently been trying to
free himself, for his pocket-knife lay
at his side, and the rope was partially
cut. s.,s3.,tt} j,
With trembling hands Alice complet-
ed the work, and tenderly released
the poor, bruised foot.
Just then he opened his eyes, and,
seeing her, raised himself on his ell
bows, gazing wildly at the sweet,
blushing face bending so near him.
cam I dead?" he murmured. els
this heaven?'s
Boom! boom! came heavily echoing
from the far away shore, and some
thing struck the Notwithstanding them
with spray.
Never was a man reused more effec-
tually fy
"Good hea,vens!" he cried, cit is the
battery firing at this target! Andyou,
my darling, my darling''
He struggled to get to his feet, and
fell back with a groan, and Immediate,
ly tried it again, only this time Alice
held him down, her hand on his
shoulder.
"They must be signaled, they
must he painted, cor you may be-
Oh, God!"
He covered his face with his hands
as the ominous boom rang out, and
again the spray fell over them.
Alice gave one glance at his white
face, distorted with anguish, then
sprang to her feet and, snatching off
her shawl, waved it over her head,
while she hurried to the target-pole
and held it there, like a broad flag.
She paid no heed to Aliens agonized
prayer to throw herself fiat on the
platform, but watched the distant
shore with intense earnestness.
-s"They see! they see!" she cried.
''rhey are waving flag, and now they
are putting off a boat. Oh, Allen, Al
len, you are safe now!"
The strain over she tottered over to
him, and dropping on her knees beside
him, laid her head on his shoulder.
Self-decepticn, was over forever!
He held her there, nothing 10th, heed
ing little the pain in his crushed foot.
He was too gloriously happy to care
for a trif1e like that.
81 came out here to take a look at
the target they set up yesterday, and
to say farewell to this beautiful bay
| was going away this afternoon shall
l still, Allie?"
A soft, hot cheek, pressed closer to
his, and that was all the answer he
got.
'And you take it all back, dear one?5
Are you sure-very sure, that you
prefer a poor man, plain Mr. to-
stHush. hush. Allen!" she said her.