The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-27

| effort to conceal her agitation, but all Jes-
| sizes soul was reflected in her ewes.
Yes, Jessie, l have to return soon to
my own country, far across the sea- Nor
ton continued softly. ''In the words of
the song you have SO often sung to me,
Jessie,
IT'S hame I'll be,
For am goin' home to my ain countrie,
And l may never again catch the trout
with you or stalk the deer in those forests.
AND Will you be sorry, Jessie dear?"
The girl looked at him for q moment. her
eyes filled with unshed tears, and then
turning to the prov of the canoe padded
along IN silence. When he again saw her
lace 1t was without a trace of emotion.
Il can hardly realize yet that you are
suppose it must be. Put on that big red
spoon. 1t will be good to-day"
Morton tshed mechanically and Jessie
padded along, straight down the lake
until they gained the point at which they
were accustomed to turn and work back,
reaching the wharf half an hour or so be-
lore dinner time. But now she kept
on, and Morton, filled with melancholy
and doubt, agitated with conflicting
emotions and resolutions, made no sug-
gestions to her. They had not spoken a
dozen words during the latter part of the
excursion. he made no further reference
to his departure, and she avoided the sub
lect. Both felt too awkwardly constrained
to talk with the freedom of other fishing
days.
But they were quickly aroused from this
apathy, for the sky suddenly grew darloi
with ominous clouds and the wind in
creased at a most alarming rate.
Jessie, it looks as if we were going to-
have a big blow" said Morton hurriedly.
breaking the long silence.
The girl looked up from the water andd
Morton remarked at once the alarm upon!
her face.
1--WE are" she said in subdued voice.
'Quick, Frank, take the other paddle. If;
we do not make the shore in the next tenl
minutes we are lost" and with defJ
stroke she turned the PROV of the canoe
toward the nearest shore.
In moment the storm was upon them
The lake rose In pillows like an angry sea
and dashed them with spray. The wateri
dashed over the gunwales of the canoe anH
threatened to fill her. Fortunately they
had a minnow can on board.
Take in your paddle and bail, Frank"
shouted the intrepid girl. Il can keep her
before the wind. Keep steady and bail"
Morton obeyed her, exulting in the bold
spirit that knew none of the timidity of
her sex IN their hour of peril On and on
ward the canoe swept, the supple figure of
jessie. like a goddess ''born to rule the
storm" her dress, soaked with rain, cling
ing to her exquisite form and showing ALI
Its graceful curves, crouched in the stern
and meeting every lateral swing of the
craft with her paddle
They were not fifty yards from the shore
when, with thrill of horror, Morton
heard crunching sound. The canoe had
struck an old log and was ripped wide
open, and in moment he was fighting the
waves, which scourged him like whips.
He struck out TO look for his companion
when crushing blow on the head de-
prlved him of consciousness and he knew
no more.
A sense of comfort and warmth, feel.
ing as if awakening from long sleep, and
Frank Morton opened his eyes and looked
up. His head lay pillowed in Jessie's lap
and her eyes were looking down into his.
"Thank God, you are safe, DEAR" she
said quietly. Hush, don't talk now, and
I'll tell you all about it. After you were
flung out the wave pitched you against that
unlucky stump, and l was Just in time to
catch you as you were sinking. / held on
to the canoe with one hand, and kept
your head above water with the other
you know l am strong and good SWIM
mer-and we were blown ashore, fortu-
nately, too, just at the point where there
were embers Of hunters fire, so l was
able to make blaze to keep us warm.
The rain has ceased, but we must be con.
tent to remain all night in the forest.
jessie said Morton, feryently, taxing