Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-04-28
FROsTBURG, Md, SATURDAY, APRIL %, 1900

her. In vain she struggled to rrmCn-
Der the truth and patience and strength
of her betrOthcd. He was too well
known to her to be seen through Il
glamour. With auSterc serenity he in
sisted upon an early marriage day. lie
refused apparently to feel any jral
ousy at the constant companion ship Of
his sweetheart and Cecil Underworld
And Barbara was angry ut him for
this too.
"IIe has no scnsibility," she said to
herself.
One wild day when the wind cried
through the tree tops and the waters
lashed along as if in stress OF pam
Cecil Underwood came to her in an i'm
perativc mood.
You must come walking with me-"
he said. The day expresses me. |
have to speak of the torment of my
heart, and | will keep still no longer
even at your bidding"
Barbara wet out with him. They
walked under the pines, whose roar
filled the world with their lamcntings.
They We're silent, conscious of the
storm within their souls.
LET us take boat" said lrbara
when they had reached the rive.
"No, no. he protested. but she seem
ed not to hear him and united her Skiif
and leapcd into it.
Come" she said. He hcsitatcd, 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 u.s. She
glanced behind her. 1t was true that
the tossing white name of the water
horses was not more than half mile
away, and the boat was quvering in
the pull of their great power Barbara
smiled a little. 1t would not matter to
her so much, she reflected, if her great
problem were to be solved that way
But, still, it was cowardly to die. She
set her fine young strength to a resist
ance, rowing up stream and inClininS
the boat toward the southern shore.
SO absorbed was she in this task that
she did not notice the man with her till
she heard him crying, with wild inn
portunities to his Maker:
"ROw, Barbara, row! Row, girl"
Then. looking at him, she saw his face
was corpse white and quivering with
fear, and the next moment he sank. an
inert heap, ut the bottom of the boat.
Get up" she commanded, and take
the tiller. Get up instantly.' He
Obeyed dimly, shaking and sick with
terror.
Barbara bent to her heavy task and
made by means of brave efforts a lit
tie headway. But the wild horses
plunged on and dragged her at their
heels. She was almost on the verge Of
yielding to their relentless strength
when a boat shot out from the bank.
1t came toward her quaking skfr with
magnificent momentum. Barbara rec
OgniZed the occupant at once. 1t was
George CaXtOn. a hidcous humiliation
filed her soul. She was almost tempt
ed to yield to that Juggling of the wild
horses. She looked ut the half faint
ing, praying creature beside her and
then at the approaching man. And 4
moment of Gethsemane came to her.
Then, white and courageous, she re-
newed her efforts. \ moment later a
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 lcaped lightly to
land and stood there smiling strangely.
Il am thankful with a great thank
fulness that | owe my life to you,
George" she said. at is privilege"
She held out her hand to the other
man.
"Goodby," she whispered.
"Pity me! Pity me!' he cried.
81 do" she responded. "Goodby."
lie went slowly under the pines,
walking fccbly like a man who is old
and ill. George looked after him with
commiserating eyes, but Barbara was
relentless.
"Give me your arm" she said, with
tender graciousness. I'VE will walk
home together, George. Trib-
une.