Mexico Missouri message., 1900-04-19
NUMBER "a


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She shook her head muurriully, and
hrsaid in Il voice that moved her; "And
| should sink like u stone" It seemed
impossible for them to part while that
witch light cleaned upon their en-
chantcd wood, and when the shadows
grew gray they became II part of them
like shadows they faded from each
others sight.
That night when barbara went about
her duties and aftcrwnrd when she law
in her bed She found herself happy with
the clatc and Triumphant happiness OF
which she had dreamed. George CaN.
ton, her promised lover, seemed part
of the work-a-day world. Her thought
turned away from him in spite of her
efforts to he loyal
She felt sure she would meet the
stranger again in the woods. and she
did, many times. lie was writer by
vocation. lie even confessed tn being
poet He was not we'll, he said. The
city had worn on him. SO he came
home for long rest there among the
pines. His name was Cecil Under.
wood.
barbara found II impossible to re.
sist the charm of his personality. lie
seemed TO make the whole world over
for her. In vain she struggled to re.
member the truth and patience and
strength Of her bctrothcd. lie was too
well known to her to he seen through
glamour. With nustcrc serenity he
insisted upon an early marriage day
lie refused, apparently, to feel any
jealousy Mt the constant companion.
ship of his sweetheart and Cecil I'm.
derwood. And Barbara was angry at
him for this, too.
"llc has no sensbility," she said to
herself.
One wild day when the wind cried
through the tree tops and the waters
lnHhcd along ns if in stress of pain,
Cecil Underwood came to her in an i'm.
pcrativc 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 went out with him. They
walked under the pines whose roar
filled the world with their lamcntiugs
They were silent, conscious of the
storm within their souls. says the Chi.
cago Tribune.
Let MS take II 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 1t.
Come" she said. lie hcsitnted, but
followed. As the little boat felt the
lit OF the waves the pnin 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:
"lhc rapids, barbara. The rapids!
See where YOU have taken u.s." She
glanced behind her. II was true that
the tossing white name Of the water
horses was not more than half n milo
away and the boat was uuivCring in
the pull Of their great power. Barbara
smiled a littlc--it would not matter
TO her SO much, she reflected. If her
great problem was To he solved that
way. But still, IL was Cowardlv TO die.
She set her fine young strength to u
resistance, rowing up stream and in
clining 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 girl"
Then, looking ut him, She saw his face
was curpsc-whitc and quivcring with
fear, and the next moment he sank.
an inert heap, at the bottom of n"
boat.
sect up" she commanded, "nnd take
the tllcr. Get mp Instantly" Ilo
oh"ycd dimly, shaking and sick with
terror.
barbara bent 10 her heavy task and
made, lay means Of brave efforts, II III
tie hcadw.y. But the Wild horses
plunged on and dragged hrr AT their
heels. She wns almost on the verge ~
yielding to their relentless strength
when boat shot ont FROM the hnuls
II cam" toward III" uuakug skin with
magnificent momentum. barbara rec
ogniIcd the occupant at once. II wHs
George CnNtnn. \ hidcous humiliation
filled her soul. She was almost tempted
10 yield tu that tugFiuE Of the wild
horses. she looked at the hnlf faint
ing, prnNinE cr"ntur" bcsid" her and
then ~ the approaching man. And
moment of Gcthsomanr cam" a. her.
Then, white mud courageous, she re-.
ucwrd her efforts. \ moment later n
line WINS thrown to her. She made il
secure. Then she in her boat and
Gcorgc CASTOR iu his hogan struggle
arniu', IA" powers of the river. IN
which they soon conquered.
G"rrr" helped the trembling Crcil
10 shuic, but barbara lcap,d lightly
to land and stood there smiling
strangely,
81 nm thankful with great thank
fulucss that ! owe my life 10 YOU,
George" she said. "It ian privilege"
She held out her band to the other
man.
"Good'by," she whispered,
pity me- Pity me-" hc cried,
81 do" she responded. "Godd.hy."
lie went slowly under the pines,
walking feebly like man who IL old
and i'll. George looked after him with
commiserating eyes. but Barbara wns
relentless.
| "Giyc me yOur nrm" she snid with