Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-04-16

"Well, you didn't give me much
time" he said.
She smiled, too remembering her alb
surd terrors. Their exchange of smiles
made them feel like old friends He
looked attentively into her face.
"Haven't I met you before some
where?'' suddenly asked the young
man. "It seems to me that have seen
you somewhere"
"No, I am sure we haven't met. ]
have not left home for three years, but
that doesn't matter. I'll do all can for
you, just as if we were old acquaint-
ancestor Vania's sake,' she added
softly, as if to herself. "Tell me what
you want"
II want to get to the opposite bank. "
Gall right. Get in. -
She jumped into the boat, and he fol-
lowed her.
"Give me the oar" he said. II know
how to row. You will have to row back
again, and you'll get tired"
"Oh, no. I've often rowed across. "
For some time they kept silence.
"Your face is covered with blood, p"
said the girl presently "There's towel
in that basket in the bows"
He took the towel, dipped it in the
water and wiped his face with it.
tSit down in the bottom of the boat.
You will be more comfortable there. "
He oheyed her like child.
"Whom are you going to in the vii
lage?" she began again. Friends, or
have you relatives there?"
81 have no one there at all"
"No one? Then why do you want to
60 there?"
They had reached the middle of the
great river aud were quite alone be-.
tween earth aud sky. They could just
see the shore on either side above the
surface of the water. The trees and
houses looked like tiny objects in a pic
ture. From the bank their boat must
have looked like wee nutshell driven
by the wind.
Thus thrown upon each other in the
utter solitude of the wide water, they
forgot the strangeness of their meeting
and were natural and friendly with one
another.
The young man smiled family at the
girls naive question.
"Do you know what covering ones
track means?" he asked.
"No, l don't know"
"Then hope you never may have to
know"
He did not try to explain to her. He
was so utterly worn out that every
word was all effort to him.
"Ah, understand" she exclaimed
suddenly. "It means making it diff
cult for people to follow and catch
you"
He nodded his head.
"But how will you 60 on farther
when you're SO done up that you can
hardly sit upright" asked the girl.
"Oh, shall manage" he answered.
II am resting now, and by the time we
get to the other bank shall come to
life again"
She looked at him incredulously and
shook her head.
"You don t believe me? You'll see. 7"
"But you are quite ILL.,"
"Oh, that's nothing. l shall pull
through" he answered coolly.
The girl made no answer and fell in
to brown study. She frowned little,
and set, determined look came into
her face.
what are you doing? You're not
steering right" he cried out, observing
that she had turned the boat and was
rowing down stream.
II am going to take you home with
me-" she answered simply.
The young man could hardly believe
his ears.
Home with you! But why? Oh, you
don't know what you are doing. Why,
that may cost you"-
II know. But what of that?"
She dropped her eyes as if embar-
rassed or trying to evade something.
But her eyes shone under their lowered
lashes, her breathing grew quicker and
bright, transparent color famed in
her cheeks. She looked radiantly lovely
for a moment.
But, look here. Why, you're one of
us!" he said admiringly, lowering his
voice to a whisper.
The girl raised her truthful, confding
eyes to his.
NO" she answered. Cant l be
willing to do it without that? Its
for Vania's sake For all I know he
may be in the same need as you, and
perhaps God will remember me and
send some one to help him too" she
ended earnestly.
"She's good, simple girl, B" thought
the young man. 1t was great tempta-
tion to him to place himself under her
protection, but he fought against it.
"Wait bit," he said, leaning for
ward and laying his hand upon her oar.
"You surely are not living alone? Do
you know to what you expose all your
family by sheltering me?'
The girl hesitated for a moment and
pondered.
"It doesn't matter" she said at last,
freeing the oar from his grasp. "Fll
take it all OH myself. My people shan't
know anything about it. What am I to
call von2''