The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1897-05-01


Don't ask you what?"
"Don't ask me anything, please! 1
shall be greatly obliged to you, if you
will humor me-"
'Well, you are n queer girl" he
commented. you reach the point |
where life has no further charms for |
you, and then Immediately begin to |
ask favors."
Under pretense of working at the |
engine, he managed to turn the little |
lantern so that it shed a fuller light |
upon her face.
The cheeks were pallid-naturally, |
Joe inwardly commemorative the
great, tender eyes and inexpressibly
sweet face did not belong to woman
who would deliberately end her life.
1t was a face with which any man
not wholly a brute would be Unable to
avoid falling in love.
''See here" came suddenly from Joe,
''you didn't really mean to jump into
the water?"
"Oh, but you promised, sir, to ask
me no questions"
Il didn't promise; it was you who
made the request.
Il make it again." she pleaded.
"Surely you will humor me-"
"And do everything else that you
ASK" cried Joe, suddenly, overwhelm-
ed and conquered by the most wonder
| full little face he had ever seen. what
shall do, first of all?"
Talk about something cheerful"
she urged, with a SILVER.
"Well in the first place, you're GER
tainly wet, and you must be cold"
ooh, no; the night is too warm for
that"
"Won't you take little taste of this
brandy?" he suggested, producing his
flask. at may save you from catch
ing a severe cold" She took the flask,
but only the merest drop passed her
lips.
Then Joe, in obedience to her whim,
branched out into dissertations on the
most general topics. He felt that he
was talking like an idiot, but he evil
IDENTIFY pleased her, for soon she joined
in his talk, and displayed not only I'M
common intelligence, but Il vivacity
that was hardly to be expected.
All this time they had been speeding
I'D the North river. Joe suddenly
awakened from his delicious absorb
ton to find that they were opposite
Harlem.
"Where shall I'land you?" he asked.
Anywhere; l must be getting
home"
And may I escort you there?"
ooh, no; not for worlds"
Her look was both pleading and
frightened.
"At least, may l call tomorrow, to
make sure that you have not suffered
from your eXposure?"
please don't think of doing that
either. And don't try to find out any
l. thing about me-"
81 am n gentleman" said Joe, with q
/, simplicity that much have touched
1 her. The boat had landed by this time
She stood up shook out her garment:
which were almost dry by this time
+ and held out her hand.
"Good-by," she said, land thank YOU
thank you for more than l can tel
u you. We shall probably never NEE
i again, but l shall always look bacl
upon you as one of my friends. Thanl
y you, again, most earnestly, and good
by"
Joe held her hand for a few second
longer than he needed to. and tippe'
l. his hat almost reverently as she glide
away.
mo, she certainly didn't mean t
commit suicide" he soliloquized, gaz
10 ing intently at her rapidly disappear
% ing form. "Confound it, if 1 meet tina
girl again, shall certainly fall in Low
n with her. What is all the myster
back of this affair, wonder"
The Nancy backed water again, the
.e steamed down the river. Twenty mil
utes later the launch was at her bert
q. and fifteen minutes after that the fiji
was drawn and all made snug aboI
le her.
Then Joe wended his way home, h
a. pretty craft forgotten in the maze {
thought with which the adventure {
n, that evening had filed his head.
And when, In his bed, Joe ParsoI