Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-04-15

Don't ask you what?"
Don't ask me anything. please, I
shall be greatly obliged to you, if you
will humor me-"
wei. 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 fuller light
upon her face.
The cheeks were pallid-
Joe inwardly cOmmented-but the
great tender eyes and ineXpressibly
sweet face did not belong to woman
who would deliberately end her life.
1t was 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"
II 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 shiver.
We'll. in the first place. you're GER
tainly wet. and you must he cold"
'Oh, no; the night is too warm for
that"
Wont you take little taste of this
brandy he suggested producing his
flask. st may save you from catch
ing n 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 un-
common intelligence, but vivacity
that was hardly to be expected.
All this time they had been speeding
up the North river Joe suddenly
awakened from his delicious absorb
tion to find that they were opposite
Harlem.
Where shall | land you?" he asked.
"Anywhere; | must be getting
home"
And may | escort You there?"
"Oh, no; not for worlds"
her look was both pleading and
frightened
AT least, may 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
thing about me"
Il am gentleman" said Joe. with a
simplicity that much have touched
her. The boat had landed by this time.
She stood up. shook out her garments
which were almost dry by this time
and held out her hand.
"Good-by," she said, "and thank you
thank you for more than l can tell
you We shall probably never meet
again, but l shall always look back
upon you as one of my friends. Thank
you, again, most earnestly, and good
by"
Joe held her hand for n few seconds
longer than he needed to. and tipped
his hat almost reyerently as she glided
away.
NO, she certainly didn't mean to
commit suicide he soliloquized. gaz-
ing intently ut her rapidly disappear
ing form. "Confound it, if meet that
girl again, shall certainly fall in love
with her. What is all the mystery
back of this affair, l wonder"
The Nancy backed water again then
steamed down the river. Twenty min
utes later the launch was at her berth
and fifteen minutes after that the fire
was drawn and all made snug about
her.
Then Joe wended his way home, his
pretty craft forgotten in the ma1e of
thought with which the adventure of
that evening had filled his head.
! And when, in his bed, Joe Parsons