The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-03-14

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doubted her own ability to help him,
and refused to stand in the way Of
his future Then to elinch the mat
ter she wrote the short note to JO-
siah which Hal had just read
'YEher' be We goiR'?' asked his IA
Their, as Hal started for the door.
"Oh, just to tell Mandy what I
just told you" and he went out.
BY dunn, that boys got me beat
sure" unused the old man IL
amt never asked no mans advice
before in all my life, but 1 reckon III
heE ter git some light threw onto
this sittOOwatiOn- In go daOwn
and git ParsOn Marvin ter wrastle
an hour with it this evenin'''
Mandy" said Hal, a few minutes
later. Last night you refused to
marry me, because you would not
stand In the way Of my future; and
after had gone home you wrote my
father to the same effect Now, I
have not come to ask you to recon
slider your decision believe to-day
IL was a wise one But have come
to tell you that 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
a salary. 1 have written, accepting
their offer, and / shall leave for the
city tomorrow morning. When I
am In a position to marry you, I
shall ask you again.
'sHal, Hail. she protested.
But he would not let her 60 on ''NO,
sweetheart; If this must be a contest
between wills, you VIII find that have
one as well as you and father. And
now, kiss me goodbye, little playmate,
for / 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.
1t was nearly ten o'clock before she
could break away from II all and be by
herself and think.
Her mood was restless and troubled
and drew her, as if by some uncon-
scious attraction, TO the river. She
walked out on the wooden foot bridge
that spanned the rapids above the
MILL and leaning against the hand
rail 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 well have tried to calm the bub-
bling, roaring stream beneath. Like
one in a 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 its hard
ships and narrOwness- Hal was the
one bright spot in IT. Sadly she turned
from the past to look into the future
and cOntrasted what it might have
been with Hal-what 1t would be with
out him She looked into the river
running tUmultuousIy, darby. dis
tractedly through its contracted, rock
walled channel TO its ceaseless task at
the mill In one smooth, eddy-like
spot in all its turbulent course. she
saw the reflection of a single star:
but IL was only the reflection. and the
star itself was shining far above. She
felt the likeness of the stream to her
own life and strangely attracted to it
by a sort OF hypnotic fascination
Then she remembered how beyond the
mill the stream broadened out and
flowed placidly through a fair mead
Owland. And the thought came to her
with a fierce bitterness. how through
the stream another. feebler woman
in her case might find peace. while she
must struggle blindly, hopeleSsly on.
A strange dizziness came over her,
she swayed and elutched at the rail-
ing With a sickening feeling she felt
the fraiI support give way The
weary respondent soul said to itself:
81 did not seek this-then let me. too,
| find peace" But the active. healthy,
] human woman screamed
What's that, brother2'' Josiah and
Mr.. Marvin had been .-wrastlin' over
Hal all the evening; and the parson
was returning with the older man to
I light him through the glen.
Some gals fell inif shouted JO-
siah; and with unsupported agility he
bounded down the steep bank in the
direction Of the splash that closely
I 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.
3 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 Twin;
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