River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-07-11


HER
trust herself to look again; so, calling
Don To her. she stroked his pretty
head gently and said;
You must go. Don. You must try
to reach them"
The dog gazed up into her eyes with
absolutely human intelligence, as
though he understood the workings of
her mind. while she fastened an end of
the Irvine through his collar. Then
She bent and kissed the silky, white
head.
At that moment, owing to some
change of the wind. Barbara's voice
sounded shrill across the water: Help,
Help
Go. go. Don, CO., exclaimed Mar
gerry, wildly.
The dog without moments hesita-
tiOn seized portion of the Irvine in
I his mouth. and dashed into the surf.
/ lie breasted the waves boldly. while
Margery. shilling her trembling hands,
bent all her mind and skill to tho ravel-
ing of the great Irvine mat. Forum
ately il still ran smoothly. Row after
1 EnN anu SAiiA l'ou
head appeared and disappeared over
SUBMITS of the small frothy waves.
The sun had set, and the three fig
ures upon the rock stood as silent and
/ dark as bronze statues against the
| primrose-colored sky. Suddenly Don
/ disappeared. Margery looked right
and left. but could not see him. Then
/ her courage gave way. and she sank
| upon the sand and buried her face in
/ her hands. She was aroused into ac-
/ tivity again by a shrill bark. and a
scream in a woman's voice. Don had
/ reached the rock in safety.
Only ward or two of the Irvine re-
manned in the girls hand. This she
fastened securely to the painter of the
| boat. which lad meanw lille drifted in
and lay almost at her feet, throbbing
and trembling, as the waves broke
i against its side.
Running out waist-deep into the
water, Margery showed the boat before
/ her; then. warned by wave breaking
/ over her shoulder and drenching her
/ TO the skin. she fastened back to the
/ beach. For some minutes. which
seemed like hours to Margery. the boat
remained stationary, and the girls
heart sank lower and lower. She
called herself wretched fool for not
having gone at once for help. She
started to run along the shore-where.
| she knew not, only she could not stand
/ idly by while the water closed over
those she loved best on earth. 1t was
more than she could endure. Her feet
/ felt like lead, and she staggered as she
ran. She had gone but a little way,
] however. when, CHANGING over her
shoulder. she perceived that the boat
was moving from the shore. Don must
have accomplished his errand of mercy,
and have been understood. She knelt
down on the sand and. with elasped
l hands, prayed softly, while she fol-
lowed the course OF the frail vessel.
1 II moved merrily ca. now dancing
along with light. jerky movement,
now sailing straight ahead; but pres
emily the darkness of coming night
shut everything from her sight, and
| Margcry again covered her eyes with
her hands.
/ Hours. dreadful. hopeless hours,
/ seemed to have passed. when her ear
was gladdened by the thud of an oar
against the row. ok. She dared not
I believe ii. but at last she ventured to
raise her eyes and saw the fash of the
/ dripping blades. and with frightened
gaze counted the dim forms in the APP
preaching boat. One, two, three; an
impatient whimper announced the
presence of Don. the rescuer, the fourth
in the boat. Then the CIR 5 strained
nerves gave way. and she hung herself
upon the sand and wept a. she had
never wept before.
cold vet nose was thrust against
her cheek. and she sprang To her feet
To find Don frisking about her. his
silky coat dripping wet with water.
The keel of the boat grated upon the
sand. In another moment Margery
was in her mothers arms
''Oh. how you must have suffered,
my poor little girl she murmured.
''lou are a treasure, exclaimed
Aunt DorcaS- We had given our
selves up for lost We are wet through
to the knees. but that doesn't matter
How did YOU ever think ofit2 And that
darling Don, Come here, both Of you.
and be kissed"
Barbara came next, her broad face