Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-01

| Gus laugh. but the boat moved on. With
| an oath cast my sword from mo- throwing
| 1t behind me on the beach, and plunge,.
| into the water. Soon l was up to the neck.
and i took to swimming. Straight out TO
sea went the boat not fast but relentless
| ly. In grim anger 1 swan with all my
strength | could not gain on her. She
| had ceased now even to look where my
head had bobbed among the waves: her
| face was lifted toward the sky. BY heaven.
did she in very truth mean to leave me ?
l called once more. Now she answered.
Go back, she said. I'm going alone
by God. you aren't" / muttered. with a
gasp. and set myself to faster stroke.
Bad to deal with are women. Must she fly
| from me and risk all because | had not
| smiled and grinned and run for what she
| needed. like "a well-trained monkey? Well.
| l would catch her and bring her back.
| But catch her l could not. poor oars
man may beat "A fair swimmer. and she
had the start on me. Steadily out to sea
she rowed. and ! toed behind. If her
mood lasted-and hurt pride lasts in dis
dainful ladies who are more wont to deal
! strokes than to bear them-my choice was
plain. | must drown there like rat. or
turn back a beaten Alas for my tr-
| umph If to have thought on it were sin
I was now chastened. But Barbara rowed on.
| In very truth she meant to leave me. pun
/ ishing herself If by that she might sting
| me- What man would have shown that
| folly-or that flower of pride?
Yet was l beaten? | do not love to be
| beaten. above all when the game has seem
| ed in my hands. l had card to play. and
| between my pants. smiled grimly as it
| came into my mind. / glanced over my
| shoulder. l was hard on half mile from
| shore. Women are compassionate: quick
| On pride's heels there comes rernorse. j
| looked at the boat the interval that part
| ed me from 1t had not narrowed by an
| inch. and it's head was straight for the
| asst of France. 1 raised my voice, crying
stop, stop!'
| No answer came. The boat moved or.
| The slim figure bent and rose again. the
| blades moved through the water. Well
| then, tie card should be played, the trick
| of willy CANISTER. but my only resource
Help, help!' I cried. and letting my legs
| fall and raising my hands over my head
| l inhaled full breath and sank like a
stone far out of sight beneath the water.
| Here 1 abode as long as j could; then. after
( swimming some yards under the surface,
I rose and put my head out again. grasping
! hard and clearing my matted hair from
| before my eyes. / could scarcely stif1e a
| cry. The boats head was turned now, and
| Barbara was rowing with furious speed
| toward where / had sunk her head turned
| over her shoulder and her eyes fixed on
| the spot. She passed by where 1 was. but
| did not see me. She reached the spot and
dropped her oars.
| Help. help,' / cried, second time, and
| stayed long enough to let her see my head
| before / Owed below But my stay was
| shorter now. Up again, / looked for her.
| She was all but over me as she went by.
| She painted. she sohbed, and the oars but
| just touched water. l swan five strokes
| ard caught at the gunwale of the boat. A
| great cry broke from her. The oars .iell
| from her hands. The boat was broad and
steady. / flung my leg over and climbed
| in. painting hard. In truth, I was out OF
| breath. Barbara cried, You're SAFE aid
| hid her face in her hands.
| We We're mad, both OF us, beyond a
doubt she sobbing there on the thwart,
| painting and dripping in the bows Yet for
| a touch of such sweet madness now when
| all young nature was strung to a delicious
| contest. and the blood spun through the
veins full of life Our boat lay motionless
| on the sea, and the setting sun caught the
| underground of red-brOwn hair that shot
| through Barbara's dark locks. My own
| state was, l must confess, less fair to look
| on.
controlled my voice to a cold steadl
| ness. as 1 wrung the water from my
| clothes.
This is a mighty silly business. Mistress
Barbara" said i.
| l had angied for a new Outburst of fury
| My catch was not what / looked for Her
her face, pale and fearful. pleaded with
me.
| Simon. Simon, you were drowning
| Through my-my folly! Oh, will Won eve,
| forgive me? Tiff you had come 20 hurt
| l wouldn't have lived
YET you were running away from me-"
Il didn't dream that you'd follow. In.
| Then Ter eyes seemed to fall on my drip
| pirg clothes. In an instant she snatcned
| up the cloak that lay by her and held II
| toward me- crying, Wrap yourself in it,"
NAY. keep your cloak" said 1. II shall
be warm enough with rowing. l pray you