Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-05-17

later Last night YOU refused to
marry me, because YOU would not
stand in the way of my future; and
after l had gone home YOU wrote my
father to the same effect. Now.
have not come to ask you to recon.
slider your decision | believe TO-DAY
1t was a wise one But L have come
to tell you that I absolutely refuse
to take advantage of it. The people
who took over the wreck of my bust
ness offered TO take me with it on
salary. | have written, accepting
their offer, and | shall leave for the
city tomorrow morning. When 1
am in a position to marry you, I
shall ask you again.
Hal, Hall" she protested.
But he would not let her go on. "No,
sweetheart; if this must be a contest
between wills, you win find that have
one as well as you and father. And
now, kiss me goodbye, little playmate,
for l am going away in the morning,
and may not see you again for a long
time"
Mandy never quite knew how she got
through the rest of the day. There was
supper TO get; and boarders going and
boarders coming. Her duties seemed
endless
IL was nearly ten o'clock before she
could break away from it all and be by
herself and think.
Her mood was restless and troubled
and drew her. as il by some uncon-
sclous attraction, TO the river. She
walked out on the wooden foot bridge
that spanned the rapids above the
mill, and leaning against the hand
ran gazed into the turgid current
which ran swiftly far below. She
tried TO set in order the thoughts that
surged through her brain. She might
as wei have tried to calm the bulb
bling, roaring stream beneath. Like
one in dream, she seemed to see the
events of her short life pass in review
before her in weird and impish pro-
cession. She saw little to attract her.
Few compensations for all it's hard
ships and narrowness. Hal was the
one bright spot in it. Sadly she turned
from the past 90 look into the future
and contrasted what il might have
been with Hal-what 1t would be with
out him. She looked into the river
running unanimously, darklv, dis
tractediy through its contracted, rock
walled channel TO its ceaseless task at
the mill. In one smooth, eddy-like
spot in all it's turbulent course. she
saw the reflection Of single star;
but it was only the reflection, and the
star itself was shining far above. She
10 A %
own life and strangely attracted to It
by sort of hypnotic fascination.
Then she remembered how beyond the
mill the stream broadened out and
flowed placidly through n fair mead
owland. And the thought came to her
with fierce bitterness, how through
the stream another, feebler woman
In her case might find peace, while she
must struggle blindly, hopelessly on.
strange dizziness came over her,
she swayed and clutched at the rail-
ing. With a sickening feeling she felt
the frail support give way. The
weary, Respondent soul said to itself:
Il did not seek this-then let me, too.
find peace" But the active, healthy,
human woman screamed.
What's that, brother?" Josiah and
Mr.. Marvin had been "wrastlin' " over
Hal all the evening; and the parson
was returning with the older man to
light him through the glen.
Some gals fell inl" shouted Jo-
siah; and with unsupported agility he
bounded down the steep bank in the
direction of the splash that closely
followed that night-rending, heart
rending cry.
Hold the light" he commanded,
as he stood an instant on the brink
peering into the darkness, before
plunging in TO where a small, dark
object momentarily appeared above
the surface.
The river was deep and swift, but it
was narrow, and though long out of
practice, Josiah had been a famous
swimmer, and his strength had not
left him. With the aid of the minister,
who rushed in waist deep to help,
Josiah soon had the limp form of the
girl stretched on the single.
''Fetch the lantern, parson," he said,
as he chafed her hands, and bent to
listen if she breathed. "She's liVin';
let's see who we got"
Mr.. Marvin obeyed.
Josiah gazed guiltily into the up
turned, unconscious face. He felt as
If his heart were in the grip of a
tourniquet.
"Parson," he faltered, do ye s'pose
she done it a-puppose~
Mr.. Marvin looked up at the bridge.
"No," he added, pointing to the broken
hand-rail.
THANK God fer thetl"
"Amen," echoed the minister.
Snow, brother, what Is best to be
done?"
There amt on'y one thing tew be
done-fetch her hum"
isn't that rather far, neighbour
"'Tis, ter her hum, faint ter mine.
, Thet's wher' she b1ongs naow; that's
wher' Hal is. Their, lift her easy.
Does seems eff we o'u'dn't git on 'thout
uOnr haln altar III rare1~N