Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-12-24

just breeze enough to fill the tiny sail.
Lamar met me at the door.
Here's that book you wanted" said
I. There was an opportunity to de-
liver it this afternoon. and improved it.
Anything else you would like to have
done? 90
Nothing, thank you," he answered,
turning back into the house. The dire
full news he had received so recently
had had no softening effect upon him.
He showed no longing for sympathy,
no desire to seek from his physician a
word of encouragement.
johnson was at work near by, and
stopped to chat with him, while 7
watched the boat move slowly north
ward and turn at last into the inlet.
Miss Gray, sitting on the midship
thwart, was managing the sail, while
Mrs. Loring, at her old post, held the
steering lines. She was leaning over
the side, noticed, catching at bits of
driftwood floating in the current.
Its ladies' breeze. Johnson" said
I. 'barely enough to give the boat steer
age way"
'.Ain't much of it, )" he answered, "and
what little strength there's in it comes
in puffs. D'you notice 'em?''
Eyes, but they're baby puffs; no
weight in them ~
'sNot much, sir, that's true" said he,
going back to his task.
took my time in reaching the spot,
about 100 yards from the house, where
the boat vas to touch; but so slow had
been its movement that when I looked
back it was yet opposite the knoll. Mrs.
LOring was amusing herself as before,
while Miss Gray was exchanging friend
ly mods with the fisherman. On the
water just astern of the craft was a
dark line, advancing rapidly toward it
and marking the coming of a gust a lit
tie stronger than any of its predeces-
sors. A lew seconds later the sail filed
with the breeze, and the boat keeled
sharply, just as Mrs. Loring made an IN
usually reckless grasp at the driftwood.
I saw her, under the mbined impetus,
lose her balance and pitch headlong
over the side, struggle wildly in the
water, and then disappear beneath the
surface.
ran at top speed toward the knoll,
but long before I climbed its slope
johnson had leaped into the stream. He
had some little distance to swim, how.
ever, and, though once the drowning
woman's dress showed above the water,
she had sunk again before he could
reach her. He dived, but missed her.
Dorothy, with rare presence of mind,
had lost no time in bringing the boat
about, and when johnson rose to the
surface the little craft was close to
hand. Climbing into it, he stood for
few seconds searching the water for
glimpse of the unfortunate woman, and
then diyed again. When reached the
rocks above him, he reappeared for the
second time, and I saw that he had
been successful, at least in finding the
body. He was powerful swimmer,
and almost as soon as l could Chamber
down the lodges he had brought his
burden to the base of the lowest of
them Between us we had little diff
Guilty in raising her from the water and
bearing her to the level ground on the
top of the knoll. Close behind us was
the girl, aiding us when she could in our
sOrrOwful task. I knew what that
moment meant to her, and was amazed
at her self-control, Notwithstanding the
evidences she had given of her ability
to maintain it in emergencies. There
was little likelihood, though, that it
could avail augbt in the present in
stance.
Johnson's life along shore had IA
miliarized him with such cases. and I
had seen several in which resuscitation
had been attempted, but neither of us
had anything in his experience to war
rant much hope for Mrs. Loring, in
spite of the brief time she had been in
the water. Nevertheless, we 1abored
over her long after we realized that our
efforts were in vain. With that pale
faced girl struggling with the agony
which possessed her, yet working with
us unremittingly. it was a harder task
to cease than to continue our endeavors
Lamar approached us once, but, after
glance at the scene, turned away with
out word and reentered the house. A
moment later, however, old Martha ap-
peared, bearing stimulants, which she
placed beside me, and then stood watch.
ing US with awe-stricken curiosity.
AT last johnson rose.
cts no use. doctor, no USE he seid,
solemnly. ''The poor lady's gone"
The girl gave despairing cry. Some
time before she must have begun to
realize the truth, but she had battled
against it, striving to deceive herself.
NO, no, it can't be, it can't be-" she
mOaned ssOh aunt. aunti Gone pore,