Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-02-08
ea'e touch one s hand pe snd ths

-
careless touch al one hand and tho
glance OF two CHR. brown eyes.
II On this summer afternoon with which
our story opens. David had but started
up the little path that led to the house
when he saw Grace coming toward him.
She was dressed in white. and as she
stood there waiting for him with her
bright, eager face she seemed to David
something infinitely above him and his
existence. too pure and sweet and love
" Tor human touch. There was great
munger in the gray eyes as he looked
ana FOR an instant the thought flashed
through his mind of what death would
pc Tor the sake of one like this.
I'm going to get your father to row
me over the rapids up to Fish Glen"
said Grace. "Your mother and Tommy
are going with me and we're going to
camp out for three weeks. Father can't
go for a few days and 1 want you to
bring him up. Tn afraid to have him
row over the rapids alone. Tommy
said some one got drowned there very
Often I'm not afraid to have you
bring him, though" and the girl looked
at David with eyes SO full of trust and
friendly liking that it brought a great
throb of joy to his heart. He stood
before her dumb and speeches.. But
Grace. though she noticed his silence,
thought nothing of it, and with few
more words, went back to the house.
Poor fellow" she thought, Ibis bash
fitness is actually painful;;" and for the
rest Of the evening she spoke no more
to David.
The next day the party set out and
the following days were lonely ones at
the farmhouse. Mr.. Scott had insisted
on Mrs. Gregg taking the mdch-needed
rest A man and his wife had been
brought over from a neighboring farm
to help with the work during the alb
sence of the party; and SO everything
went on much rs usual both in the
house and in the field. Down among
the wheat stacks the work went on as
busily as ever. None was more active
or energetic than David, but his COM
panions noticed that he looked often up
the river where, miles away, tiny
white specll could just be liscerned and
in the gray eyes fixed upon it was a
look that puzzled them.
Two. weeks went by, and Mr.. Scott
and David were to start the~naNt after
noon for the camp.
Saturday morning was the time when
the mail was brought from the nearest
| town some sixteen miles away. MIR,
| Scott had wished to wait for this and
so it was afternoon before the little
boat pushed off down the river. The
current was very strong and farther
down were the rapids Of which Grace
had spoken. The seemingly peaceful
little stream covered dan gers which
were well-known to those who had liv
| ed for years beside it; but even then
accidents were Of frequent occurrence
| But Mr.. Scott, as well as his daugh
ter, had unlimited confidence in the
strong. experienced arm of David. Mr.
Scott sat idly in the end of the boat
! looking carelessly over some unimpOr
tant letters received that morning
The moments glided by and soon they
were almost at the camp. Mr.. Scot
folded UP the letter he had been read
ing and put it with the others. Heres
one for Grace" he said, shell be glaC
to get that from Harry. Harry's going
to marry her when we get back. l sup
pose she told you about it? With 8
| look at his companions face. But
| Grace had not and it needed but ont
glance at the misery in the gray eye:
to tell the story of David's heart.
Mr. Scott was silent. Like flash +
all came to him. What need or use Of
words? And so he said nothing, bu1
there was world of sympathy in the
kindly blue eyes as they rested upo1
the face Of the younger man.
The sun had sunk and the evening
breeze, cool and soft, came to then
across the duslzy hills. Far away VI
the river dim mist was rising. A few
faint stars We're shining down upon the
water calmly and quietly, as though
there was never breaking heart in al
| thesg great, wide world and naught bu
joy and peace.
The boat grated harshly upon thu
bank. Mr.. Scott stepped out and turn
ed to wait for his companion, but Da
vid with one quick stroke had already
sent the boat far out into the stream
and to save his life the man upon the
bank could not have thought of a wore
to say in the presence Of the white
faced boy in the boat. He watched
him with a great pity in his eyes till
the boat was lost in the shadows Of
the evening. Then he walked slowly
toward the camp and Grace wondered
much that night at her fathers silence
| line next Gay an uptufneu Dodl wax
found some miles down the river and
few days later David's body wa:
brought to the farm. But there wa!
nothing in the still, white face to tel
aught of the tragedy of the summer
night.
"Strange," said the men as they gath
erred about the quiet form with awe
struck faces. David was the best row
er about here" But Mr.. Scott sale
nothing, and if at times the last look il
the gray eyes came to his mind none
knew of it-not even Grace.
N.x-..l I1aatorxz RidIle