Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-03-21


phonograph for words. He must be:
q creature for a crisis, a knight of
proven gallantry and courage, while
Dick-dear, dear! What a brave spec
tacle he presented that day!" Then.
according to. the report, her laughter
had been such as to preclude the posi-
bility of further words.
Mrs. Trowin was furious. So Also
were we all. But we rather enjoyed
it. Poor Dick! the most modest and
unassuming of swells, quivered so de-
ightfully when cut and slashedi He
looked SO reproachfully at Dorothy
when she amused the world with him
that it was positively delicious. His
attitude was one Of weakness. yet
there were those among US who knew
that he was not weak. We knew that
he was strong, otherwise compassion
might have tempered our joy in the
performance. There is strength
which in the eyes of towards seems as
cowardice. And Dorothy Epworth,
who was no coward, whatever else
she may have been, one day saw Dick
as he really was, and gave the world
shock such as it had not enjoyed for
many seasons.
It came in January, when Swellvue
avenue was at it's gayest and giddiest.
Dick received note from Dorothy
asking him to call, to which he re-
sponded with tremendous promptness.
She greeted him as she had never
greeted him before, as he had dreamed
of being greeted-with eyes luminous,
but not glittering. with a voice that
trembled under it's burden Of emotion,
but gave no hint of the spirit which
had made him miserable. She grasped
his hand much as though she had not
seen him for years, and-wonder OF
wonders!-for time her utterance
was choked. But when she did speak
she drove directly to the point.
so, Dick she cried, 81 am so sor-
ry!"
care your" returned Dick, brilliant
ly. Poor chap! The sudden change
had affected him to such an extent that
he was incapable of much beyond mere
staring and gulping. care you? Good
gracious!"
"Yes,' she continued; 'I have mis-
judged you, Dick. How you must hate
mel"
ST DON'T" he affirmed, bluntly.
'Why?"
And she told him as we'll as she could,
while he held her, unresisting, in his
arms.
81 thought you weakling, Dick,'
she said, "and the thought annoyed me
beca'use-because I loved you. L
thought you coward because you
made no effort to save me that day at
the lake when I called for help. hate
a coward, Dick, and I didn't didn't
want to hate you, so gave you an
opportunity. to prove yourself brave.
Oh, wanted you to rescue me so! And,
when you stood, calm as a mute at
prayer meeting, blowing rings of
smoke from your cigar into the air, L
was exasperated. You can't imagine
how exasperating you were, Dick!''
81 suppose I was" said Dick, softly;
''but, you see, my dear, I knew the
water to be only four feet deep in the
place where you seemed to be strug-
Cling with death, and I had seen peo-
pie drown before. They never did it
in shallow water as you were doing it.
1t did not occur to me that I was ex-
pected to take part in the play. Had
you told me-
Dorothy placed her hand over his
mouth. "Sh-s-s-sh!" she said! Don't
make fun of me, Dick, please. want
to tell you how Inundated, how hum
bic, how cheap-ridiculousl cheap
feel. saw you yesterday. See.''
She led him to window and drew
aside the hangings, pointing with her
left hand, which was ringless, to
huge building several blocks distant
''Dick, saw you risk your life there
yesterday. I was sitting here-shame-
full, is it notifying with a pair of
opera glasses to see you at your desk.
know which windows are those of
your Office. I asked. I saw a Door
little white cat creep out on a ledge of
the building after a sparrow, and
saw it try and fail to get back again.
Then was called away, but two hours
later I returned. The cat was still
there, and IN one Of the windows you
were standing. You nodded to some
one in the office and turned away.
PresentlyiI saw you upon the roof,
dangling rope Near the cat. And
then-and then I saw you go down
hand over hand, lift the cat to your
shoulders and GO up again. I did not
breathe until you were safe upon the
roof, and then-Oh, Dicki Why did
you not tie the rope about you and
have yourself lowered? That is such
frightfully high building!"
''There was nobody to lower me but
couple of boys" replied Dick, "and 1
had more confidence in myself than in
them. I offered to let either one of
them down, but they didn't care to do
it, although they thanked me very
prettily for offering them the opnor-