The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-01-05

the creek.
She changed her seat and | handed
her the oars. Margaret" | said, with
n bit of tremble in my voice, "good-by."
mo, no, not good-by. I'll meet you
at the creek, depend upon it,"
A few strokes drew her away from
the bank She stopped, rested one hand
on the handles of the oars, and with
the other waved me an adieu, then
pulled out into the river as gracefully
as water-sprite. / watched her till ]
could see her no more; then feeling of
isolation came over me. My little army
was scattered; the escort had probably
been captured; PUNK had gone back
to the confederate camp; and now Mar
garet had parted from me.
Sltirting the base of hill, / crossed
road, and soon after found myself on
the river bank above the ferry. There,
about mile ahead, was the island,
line of low timber extending from the
river westward marking the line of the
creek. | walked briskly till struck
the creek at its mouth, then looked
about for Margaret.
She was not there.
My heart sank within me. felt sure
that if she had arrived she would make
herself known, but thinking she might
be hiding, waiting for me to give some
signal, | called:
Margaret"
No reply. How odd ones voice
sounds calling in the night at nothing!
The stiffness Knocked me.
| sat on log to rest, and peered
down the river. wondered what time
it was. 1t must be near morning, but
had passed through so much since
the evening before that it seemed there
had been two nights instead of one.
listened for some sound that would
denote pursuit, but could hear nothing.
With such perfect quiet about me, it
seemed impossible that | could be in
imminent danger. | looked up at the
moon. 1t wore no smile tonight; the
Lent check was caved in, and there was
a CHASTITY look on its face.
At last | gave up all hope of Mar
garet's keeping her appointment.
must swim across the river and pro-
coed on my journey. | dare not wait
longer, for the morning would come,
and it would be sure capture either to
light.
Making bundle of my coat, waist
coat and shoes, | tied it between my
shoulders with a withe of willow, then
stood a moment calculating the dis
lance to the island. | was not u good
swimmer and dislilled the prospect; in
deed, had not the distance been broken
by the island, | would not have dared
to make the attempt. However, death
by drowning was preferable to death
by hanging, so | walked into the
water.
Lord how cold!
| struck out Justify, but the cur
rent was so rapid that by the time
had gone two-thirds of the distance it
had taken me pretty near the south end
of the island and there was II prospect
of my being carried beyond it. If so,
j would have to swim the whole width
of the river without rest. But kept
''G AN'N'f hllN ''ANlAS Il AlhllbNi VI lOllks
slow strokes soon found myself in shall
low water, and walked up on to dry
land. Going to the extreme south end
of the island looked down the stream
for Margaret. At that moment cloud
passed over the face of the moon, dark
ening everything
| resolved to swim the remaining
part of the river, but stood appalled, at
the water, which looked so black, so
merciless. | went in, feeling that
was not equal to the task. My strokes
did not seem to pull me forward, but
! kept on till | could swim no longer.
CholSed by water, / sank with pierre.
ing cry,
The next thing / knew felt hand
grasp my collar, then another pass I'M
der my arms. After little my head
was drawn out of the water, and my
two arms rested on the gunwale of a
boat. | looked up and saw Margaret.
"Can you hold on?" she asked.
No"
81 can't get you into the boat with
out upsetting it,"
Holding me with one hand, she
reached the painter in the bow of the
boat. This she passed under my arms
and fastened the end, holding my head
out of water. Seeing me thus support
ed, she took up the oars, seated herself,
and began to pull quick stroke. 1t
seemed but minute before we had
reached the shore and she was drag
ging me up on to the bank. | tried to
rise, but failed.
Margaret" gasped, chow did you
find me?"
81 heard you cry"
"Why were you not at the creek?"
"They were watching the ferry.
waited long while for chance to get
by. If it had not been for that cloud
over the moon | would not have sue
ceeded"
THAT cloud was blessing in dis
guse."
| made another effort to rise, Mar
garet giving me hand, and stood on
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