The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-08-14
A KNOTTED CORD.
[By Charles Kelsey eainesl

10y OnarieS heiSey GdlueSI-
The boat was 6 mere wisp of thinnesi
cedar and wavored like a leaf as held it.
step lightly to the centre, said, gaz
ing upon her through the faint witchine
htarlight, lard thenn-
And them she cried mockingly. ooh
yes; walk steadilyto the bow and seat N.Y.
self OF coursel Don't know it ala"
BY hearth" said /
Yes, by heart" she admitted softly
''every word you ever spoke to me- And
how else should 1 step but lightly you
fussy, uncomplimentary- and my
lord and king. she concluded in breath
less whisper.
We were but nine days married, Madge
and 7. We could not bear as yet the rude
stare OF the world, and like biras, we had
nowa to the depths of the forest. Eccen-
tricl What cared weg-reveling amid
woods and waters, adoring each other,
happy beyond belief 1t WAS the fulfill
ment Of our dreams, itself how dreamlike
The painter lay at her feet. STOPPING,
he caught it up. "Before 1 step at all, -
she ann ounced, imperiously, Il shall tie q
\ good hard knot in this rope See how the
end is frayed. / can't allow any such
slovenly housekeeping in our boat"
ooh, hurry ! muttered, with sudden
thrill Of Impotence. at will be broad
tight before we get under way, ara tnere'A
be no chance OF deer"
How slight matter Yet She
stopped and looked at ne. knew that her
eyelids trembled; up to that moment no
such tone had ever Jared upon her ear
from ME. The knOt was half lied, but the
cord dropped from her hand; she entered
the skiff without word
How quickly things ever TO be remem
bered seem TO be forgotten ! dipped my
paddle into the dark water, and as we
glided from the deep shade OF the oyernang-
ing wood and came under the sparkling SKY
Of the open river, all shadows seemed TO be
left behind
She twined her fingers around the not
unfamiliar stock of q light rifle. 1T seems
Dreadful 10 shoot at them,'' she said. "but
rll try"
II was the last hour or night, but as yet
no star had waned. On the water all was
dim; the shore was q belt Of darkness; the
voices Of the forest were sunk TO whls-
per. An expert with the paddle, l loved
my art The canoe, under my delighted
touch, slipped onward. smooth and still l
could hear faint ripple from the Prov AS
il cut the wavelets; / could hear the low
rustic Of my clothing at every motion; 1
could almost hear the soft breathing OF my
loved one. II lily pad brushed beneath
the Keel the sound broke like crash on
the silence. But the keen, thin blade OF
the paddle was mute; not even when let
my hand lave with it IN the warm gush
that swelled along the side did any gurgle
rise from its eddying stroke 1t was an
hour of ecstacy-how can l tell it, We
were lovers in world SO new and fresh
and sweet, floating alone in the tremulous
gloom, and as for the future, or whittier
this tranquil stream was bearing US
whittier does every stream bear every life.
The bsnks that we skirted first were high
and steep aud gave little hope Of game.
Then tie river widened, the shores we're
low aud marshy and the light fringe OF lily
pods broadened 20 nndulating meadows that
reached far out over rods Of pondlike shall
lows The forest was waking now, and the
air was full of noises, crashings IN the
brush, splashing among the reeos, wood
cries Of every sort. Just before us, almost
at the waters edge-a weird sight always
and spectral in that wan light-a grove OF
dead timber stretched up with gaunt,
blauched arms as il in warning. | saw that
Madge dropped her glance. All over the
surface Of the water chill shreds Of mist
were scudding, and the familiar exl anse
loomed out like an unknown sea. A slight
SILVER sent its tremor through the sAiH.
Have we not came long way!" she muir
INJURED.