Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-03-29
A WOMAN'S REVENGE.
How a Deserted Wife Evened Ac-
counts with Her Husband.


The last boat of the season going
south was slowly picking it's way
floating down from the great Missis-
-sippi. Now and then the ponderous
wheel at the rear would cease to re-
volve, then as the great engines would
be reversed the wheel would turn
backward, extricating the Prov from
the threatening ice, then veering to
the right or left would again move
forward.
The captain, who had for twenty
years plowed up and down the grand
old Mississippi, a hale fellow well met
with old water dogs, looked little
anxious, for he was DESTROYS of reach
ing Keokuk that night to lay by for
the winter. But there were the treach-
erous rapids, with their hidden rocks
and swirling eddies between him and
his port. 1t was dusk when the boat
rounded the bend at Nauvoo and came
in sight of the rapids stretching away
to the south for distance of nearly
twelve miles So far as the govern
.ment was concerned. the navigation
season was closed, aud the signal
lights, telling of hidden dangers. were
not burning. Here and there along
the shore could be seen faint lights
telling where the barge houses, the
homes of the men who were working
ON the canal then being built, were
.moored to the rivers bank.
The passengers were gathered near
the pilot-house watching the move
ments of the beset steamer. Swiftly
the bronzed pilot swung the wheel
around, and slowly the prov turned
shoreward, much to the disgust of the
deck hands, who did not relish the idea
of another night of the season to be
spent at town like Montrose.
There was one passenger watching
the movements of the boat with an
eager, agOnized face, who burst into
tears as the boat turned in it's course
and made for the shore.
She was the only lady on board, and
mindful of her lonely situation.
Night SXas fast approaching and the
captain. moved to unwonted sympathy,
paused in his pacing up and down, to
inquire, in softened tone, il he could
be of service.
She hesitated for a moment, then,
gaining courage as she noted the
rugged yet kindly face, said:
81 must reach Keokuk this evening
My husband starts south on the last
boat tonight. 1 mast be there or shall
miss it Is there no way of crossing
the rapids?"
"a skiff would crush like an eggshel
in that heavy ice over yonder,'' replied
the captain, ''yet"-he eyed the lady
~curiously-'tis it so important?"
e. = -
me-" Her voice was low and solemn
-E'If there is one chance in a thousand
am willing to risk it. Here" she ten.
-dered hundred dollar bill, ''give thi!
to the man who is ready to take tina
chance"
The captain turned grufiy away
pretending not to see the proffereC
money, and was soon in deep converse
ton with the pilot. you sss," ex
planned that worthy. sit would be dan
zgerous enough even in daylight, and al
night it is a laundering big risk. Ever
if we clear the rapids safely, l doub
if the skiff would stand the pounding
the ice would give it before reaching
the city, but''-his eyes wandered t.
the lonely figure outlined against tn,
evening sky-there was pathetic lone
that woman is in some desperate
trouble; had row with her old mar
likely; go-yes-good-b Cap, Jake
q. will take my place at the wheel in thu
spring if l don't come back. would
take one of those black lubbers along
but they are such blamed towards"
ST will go, sir, if you need me-" spol,
up a clear, bOyish voice, and youth o
perhaps eighteen years, who had lis
tened eagerly to the conversation
stepped forward, saluting the captain.
IAN right, go ahead"
1t did not take long TO get the frai
bark in readiness, while the male pas
~sengers discussed the foolhardy per
Torrance. One elderly gentleman, will
"a fatherly smile, ventured to remon
-strate: s"Why, madam, it is sure dealt
to go in that way. j would not let ;
daughter of mine undertake it unde
amy consideration. You had better wal
until the early morning train"
Thank you, must go now" wa
the quiet reply, as the gray-hoodeC
figure, enveioped in a storm cloak anC
warm furs, was helped into the ice-en
@circled boat, already freezing fast wher,
1t lay. The pilot and youth seated
themselves at the oars. How cold ans
blue looked the bending sky; how tn,
Zee crunched and ground hungril,
around the moving boat. slowly givin,
way under the steady strokes of tn,
willing men.
Far ahead of them the rapids SCENE,
TO be one solid mass of ice;! but the ex
perienced eye of the pilot told him