Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-07-06
4Would it bear YOU up?n he asked.

ne S61O III q voice tudt uoFeu QeTs ana
I should sink like stone" It seemed
impossible for them to part while that
witch light cleaned upon their en-
chanted wood, and when the shadows
grew gray they became part of them
Like shadows they faded from each
others sight.
That night when Barbara went about
her duties and afterward when she lay
in her bed she found herself happy with
the elate and triumphant happiness OF
which she had dreamed. George Cax-
ton, her promised lover, seemed part
of the work-a-day world. Her thought
turned away from him in spite of her
efforts to be loyal
She felt sure she would meet the
stranger again in the woods, and she
did, many times. He was a writer by
vocation. He even confessed to being
a poet. He was not well, he said. The
city had worn on him. So he came
home for a long rest there among the
pines. His name was Cecil Under
| wood.
Barbara found it impossible to re;
sist the charm of his personality. He
seemed to make the whole world over
for her. In vain she struggled to re-
member the truth and patience and
strength of her betrothed. He was too
well known to her to be seen through
a glamour. With austere serenity he
insisted upon an early marriage day.
He refused, apparently, to feel any
Jealousy at the constant companions
ship Of his sweetheart and Cecil I'm
derwood. And Barbara was angry at
him for this, too.
HE has no sensibility," she said to
herself.
One wild day when the wind cried
through the tree tops and the waters
dashed along as if in stress of pain,
Cecil Underwood came to her in an inn
perative mood.
"You must come walking with me"
he said. 1.-The day expresses me.
heart and I will keep still no longer
even at your bidding"
Barbara went out with him. They
walked under the pines whose roar
filed the world with their lamentings.
They were. silent, conscious of the
storm within their souls, says the Chi
cago Tribune.
LET US take boat" said Barbara,
when they reached the river.
'No, no." he protested, but she
seemed not to hear him and united her
skiff and leaped into it.
"Come." she said. He hesitated, but
followed. AS the little boat felt the
lift of the waves the pain in her heart
seemed to tighten, and she let the cur
rent carry her along unconscious of
the passage of time. Suddenly Cecil
cried out:
THE rapids. Barbara! The rapids!
See where you have taken us!" She
glanced behind her. It was true that
the tossing white manc of the water
horses was not more than half a mile
away and the boat was quivering in
the pull of their great power. Barbara
smiled a ittle-it would not matter
to her so much, she reflected, If her
great problem was to be solved that
way. But still, it was cowardIy to die.
She set her fine young strength to a
resistance. rowing up stream and in
cining the boat toward the southern
shore. So absorbed was she in the task
that she did not notice the man with
her until she heard him crying with
wild opportunities to his Maker:
"Row, Barbara, row! Row girrr"
Then, looking at him, she saw his face
was corpse-white and quivering with
fear, and the next moment he sank,
an inert heap, at the bottom ct the
boat.
'"Get up" she commanded, land take
the tiIler! Get up Instantly" He
obeyed dimly, shaking and sick with
terror.
Barbara bent to her heavy task and
made. by means OF brave efforts, lit
tie Roadway. But the wild horses
plunged on and dragged her st their
heels. She was almost on the verge Of
yielding to their relentless strength
when boat shot out from the bank.
Il came toward the quaking siif with
magnificent momentum. Barbara rec
ognized the occupant at once. It was
George Caxton. A hideous humiliation
filled her soul. She was almost tempted
to yield to that tugging of the wild
horses. She looked at the half-faint-
ing, praying creature beside her and
then at the approaching man. And a
moment of Gethsemane came to her.
Then, white and courageous, she re-
newed her efforts. A moment later
line was thrown to her. She made it
secure. Then she in her boat and
George Caxton in his began a struggle
against the powers of the river. in
which they soon conquered:
George helped the trembling Cecil
to shore. but Barbara leaped lightly
to land and stood there smiling
strangely.
81 am thankful with great thank
fitness that 1 owe my life to you,
George" she said. 1T is privilege"
She held out her hand to the other
man,