The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1896-12-05

people ran hithcr and thither. But It
was a long way to the guards station,
and nobody did anything.
Once, twice, the boy had gone un-
der.
"Oh. save my child!' and the mother
ran across the sands until the water
dashed about her waist, reaching her
arms out across the waves.
God! Would no one go to him:
Suddenly. through the thick of the
crowd, someone was pushing. 1t was Il
girl in a grass linen bicycle suit and a
pink shirt waist. She had stripped OIL
her leggins and her tan boots and toss
ed off her jacket and her hat, but that
was all. A moment later she sprang
into the surf and swan out arm over
arm in long, sweeping strokes.
Come back. for Gods sake. or you
will be drowned" some one shouted,
but the girl did not swerve.
The people on the shore Oeld their
!, breath. but the girl kept on, and when
at last a big white cap broke and scat
tered at their feet they saw Miss Birule
/ Maloney swimming into land. bringing
Stanley along with her.
Il have brought you your son. she
said a moment later, as she laid the
+ boys limp body at his mothers feet.
e There was Il touch of defiance III the
girls voice. but the tlOod-gates were
a opened in the mothers heart and she
e held out her arms and threw them
It around the girl. There was no pride
d then in the fearful mothers eyes; no
scorn in the poise of her fine gray head,
Miss Brides look of defiance faded be-
o fore the softening picture. n without
a word she slipped away. leaving the
Y mother with her son.
That afternoon Miss Birdie heard a
1t gentle rap on her door and opened it to
e see Mrs. Mason standing without.
d Il wanted to speak to yOu," said Mrs.
le Mason, looking about her at the tum
e bled room. Drawers and trunks were
e. standing open and the bed was piled
IS with dresses. There were evidences
ID of packing all about.
ID Il have come to ask you to forgive
me-" said Mrs. Mason. putting her slim
white hand on the girls shoulder.
'Oh. you needn't do that" Birdie
said.
But | want to do it," Mrs. Mason
went on. Il want you to forgive me.
have misunderstood you. perhaps.
have not been quite just to you, but
love my son.; he is all l have in the
world"
Yes" the girl said.
you love him, too, perhaps NJ
mother said. You have promised to \
his wife. You nave risked your life TO
him.
Il have promised to marry him.
have risked my life for him." the cir
repeated slowly. Then suddenly sh
broke into a shor laugh that was no
pleasant to hear. Il have risked m,
life for him! What is that to do: Wha
is my life worth: What is my LIT
worth to such as you-you who hav
scorned me and trampled upon me?
! hadn't meant to do anything about i
but since you lave come, l may as we
tell you. If you had acted different
l shouldn't have dom what l did. ]
YOU had treated me %once-just once
as if | were anything but dirt beneat
your. feet. l shouldn't have made 70
suffer as did. But l couldn't help i
40; 1t made me mean. l never thought
but WAS mean before, but you made me S
tel and | lust wanted to see YOU prOu
head humbled. But l am satisfied.
took your son away from you, but
as have given him back to you. l meal
ere what / said this morning down on tt
,... T houo ~ivnn him hack IN Won
cen What do you mean? That you W
not marry him? That you do not lo'
ger him?'
riv- Mrs. Mason's heart stood still wi
hope, though her pride had been hui
bled.
air, The girl laughed again, a hard, co
S if laugh, that had no mirth in it.
S Of You love him." she said, "and y
ing. YOU know no more about love tn
was that? l love him well enough to ha
on risked my life for him, you said. III
} to was nothing. l love him better tn
the that. l love him we'll enough to
acre away and never let him see me aga
hers l know l am not fit to be his wife.
and know that some day he will be the m
wing YOU want him to be. Then l shall I
the be fit for him. And this morning, thu
on the beach, when you put your ar
lelp. around me, l knew what should do.
rror- came back to the hotel and wrote a
ever ter to Stanley. He will get it tom
word row. with the ring l made him give l
,ath- BY that time l shall be where he {
. never find me. l love him we'll enor
r. for that, but he shall never know it.
God help me, but love like t
makes you fit to be his wife, Mrs. .
son said. reverently.
The girl smiled, You had better
1d back to him now she said wear
But you won't give me away? ,
people in the hotel will say YOU h