Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-01-21

snow, See Here" Painted Her Res
cuer.
had given forth / O'clock did she dis
Germ a chance of mounting the parapet
unnoticed. She made out dimly the
hrddled up figure OF Il man, apparently
asleep in one corne of the stone seat,
but her swift movements would be lit
tie likely to arouse him.
Father. forgive met" she once more
prayed. Forgive me, as l forgive
himv' And so, her last thoughts cen
tering ;zpon her recreant lover, she
stepped lightly on to the seat and
thence sprang on to the parapet.
So swift and agile were her move
ments that Daft Billy, keenly as he
was on the alert, was within an ace
of being too late to save her from the
death she sought SO eagerly. But Prov
idence so willed it that his trembling
arms were ciasped round her knees ere
she had taken the fatal leap, and that
she was half-dragged, hatfield to the
foot-walk.
Now, see here, lady painted her
rescaer, I've got you hard and fast,
and If you don't promise me faithfully
to go home and give up this idea, I'll
give you In charge of Il policeman. SO
help me, | willh" And he retained il
trembling grip OF Zana's arm, await
ing her reply.
"You are like all the rest she re-
torted bitterly. Il sought to do you
good, to make your life happier. and
you repay me by cruel ingratitude.
Man. man! Why could you not leave
me alone to find peace and rest at
last9"
Because I don't hold with girls,
whatever their errors or misfortuncs
may have been, running their souls for
all eternity by ~self-murder," was tie
cripple's reply; and somehow the poor
distorted face seemed to light up wi Q
q fantastic kind Of beauty as he spols
the words. I'm but a miserable. dart
sort of chap" he added, land | can't
think of most things. But | know that
you were abont to do a wicked and ac-
cursed thing. Here! You gave me
what l daresay is a heap OF money,
when l only asked you 30 buy a half
penny paper. Take it back. I'm not a
beggar, and I'm not a theft l am a
bit queer In the head. Take 1t and
promise me you'll go home"
Something In the words and manner
of this outcast newsvendor touched
Zana as the ~eloquence OF a Westmin-
Ster mon might have failed to do.
Conscience whispered to her that ne
was right, that she had, In sooth, been
about to commit a crime In the eyes
alike of God and man. Had she ef-
fected her purpose her body would
now be lying in the Thames mud; but
was it certain that even the Divine
mercy extended TO self-destructlon?
In the action of her haif-witted, I'M
couth companion she seemed to recog-
nize the guidance of an Almighty hand
stretched forth to save her. He was
loyal, too, and honest, this human
wreck; he disdained to accept what to
him would mean a large fortune, be-
slowed In the recklessness OF contemp-
plated death. His words were those OF
principle and his deeds those OF an
honest man. Therefore. she felt that
b could trust him. despite his almost
repellent exterior.
Il have no home" she said TO him.
at least lone That I can return to-"
THAT'S odd" was his con,ment
"very odd. Pieaty OF money and no
home-you can return to. It's clear,
beyond me: but then I'm dnller-witted
than other folks. Eut. anyhow, VIII
you promise not to. do that AGAIN."
And ne pointed significantly to the par
apet.
Yes" answered Zana wcarlly, II
promise"
"Cvme. that's betterr" ne said. re,cos-
mx her arm 'Now put these PURSES In
-Four POCKET and try and think where