St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-09-12
JOHN MARKHAM'S SWEETHEART.


John Markham, returning from his office
one evening, finds the following note upon
the table in his room:
My Dear Mr.. Markham: 7 have just heard
that you were in the city. Why have you not
been to see me? Your mother and myself are
old schoolmates, aud am sure she must nave
told you of me. l have invited few friends
to go down the river tomorrow evening on q
moonlight excursion, and shall expect you
to join us and permit me to make your &C
quaintance. We go on the Water witch,
which leaves her wharf at 4:30, and shall
take it ill if you do not put in an appearance.
Sincerely, MARY e. LANE.
Now, the truth is, his mother has often
written him of Mrs Lane, and has charged
him repeatedly to go and see her, but owing
to his Discrimination for society he has failed
to do so. He knows that the motherswould
be seriously displeased if he refused her
old friends invitation. and so he writes a
courteous acceptance, but, be it said, not
without some grumbling.
The next afternoon about o'clock he
goes down to the wharves, and after some
search succeeds in finding the Water
Witch, and is told by the agent that
the steamer has been chartered for
the evening by Mrs. Lane. A few
moments later he is in pleasant converse
ton with the lady; and ere the boat has
left her mOOring his hostess has presented
him to her other guests. Some of these
the gentlemen especially-he has met be-
fore: but, as they are not particularly con-
genial to him, and are inclined to be a little
superciliOus. moreover, he gradually with
draws from among them, and begins saun-
tering about the boat on a tour OF inspec-
ton.
Suddenly, upon the stairs, he comes
face to face with Miss Genevleve Ward,
who is ascending them and is laughing and
talking with gentleman beside her. Mark
ham steps aside to allow them to pass and
she looks him full in the face, smile of
amusement playing around her lips as she
notes his evident embarrassment. Neither
of them speaks; but he lifts his hat and
goes on down the steps.
..What BOBBY he is" she thinks; she
cannot look me in the face without blush
ing"
His thought is this:
what fool l am to love a woman as
heartless as she is. She has refused my
love and now she laughs at it. l shouldn't
have come on this confounded excursion ii
1 had known she was to be of the party;
but l suppose am in for it now"
Then he lights a cigar, but soon he
throws it away and goes up on the open
deck again. Miss Ward is surrounded by
a group of young society men. and is fool
ishly sitting perched up on the railing
which runs round the open space OF the
steamer She steadieS herself by resting
one foot on chair near her, and is laugh
ing at some joke told by one Of her COM
panions.
'.Confound the grip Markham exclaims
to himself. Il wish she would get down
from there. Haven't any of those fellows
sense enough to know that that's danger
ous?"
He is tempted to speak to her himself;
but knowing how useless it would be. and
dreading her treatment OF him, he puts
away the idea and passes on,
A moment later scream from woman'S
throat rings out, followed by half dozen
EXPLANATIONS from the people behind, and
he knows instantly what has happened.
Quick as lightning he turns and springs to
the side of the boat. The place Miss
Ward had occupied moment before is va
cant and a woman is struggling in the
water. The men that had been laughing
about her stand silent now, dazed by the
other guests all is confusion and one
woman has tainted.
Without moments hesitation Markham
throws off bis coat and hat, steps over the
railing. and, steadying himself for an in
slant, drops quickly into the river below;
at the same time a bell rings in the engine
room. and the great wheels of the steamer
are stopped. There are excited cries and
p,opx, dirootinpc ooIlod aftar hin, hut thew
are'unheard and he disappears beneath the
water. 1t seems an eternity before he
rises to the top again, but when he does he
shakes the water out of his eyes and strikes
out swiftly toward the spot where white
straw hat is tossed up and down on the
waves made by the steamer. He swims
easily. hand over hand. and in few sec
onds has reached the hat, and is talking to
the girl beside it,
'Take hold of my shoulder, Miss Ward
not tightly. but so as to support yourselfl
There is no danger if you will but keep
your presence of mind; a boat has been
lowered and they will pick us up di-
rectly."
They were soon on board the steamer
again.
Two hours later, and when the moon is
slverng all the world. Miss Ward,
dressed in her own clothes-which the
clever stewardess has dried and ironed-
comes out of the cabin. A crowd of
friends gather around her, and among
them the young fellows with whom she
spent the first part of the evening. These
last she snubs rather severely, and then
Joins Markham, who is standing near the
railing, and says, lightly:
You saved me from drowning, and that,
too, without my permission. How did you
know, sir, that it was not a case of suicide,
and that would not be angry with you fol
fishing me out? Now you shall do penance
by talking to me the rest of the evening. u
"A heavy punishment, truly" he replies.
laughing as he speaks.
Afterward, they see a good deal of each
other, until the Wards leave the city for the
summer In the autumn, when they return,
he is again frequent and welcome visitor
at the house He has never repeated his
declaration of love, however; and this some
what to Miss Wards surprise.
What she thinks is this:
81 have sinned away my day of grace
and he has ceased to care for me. Well,
ruefully, lit is my own doing"
But one day his love gets the best O.
John Markham's philosophy, and then h,
goes to his sweetheart and tells her that h,
is going to leave the city.
81 have come to say go0d-by to you," h
says.
''But-suppose don't want you to go,
she says, twirling her fingers nervously anc
speaking very low.
''What do you mean?" asks Markham
hurriedly.
Il mean that don't want you to g,
away" she replies.
And then she looks up into his face an(
her eyes are full of happy tears.
do not know whether he went or not
but he kissed her then and there.