Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-01-31

ness, but he had saved her.
He let his boat drift as he boarded
the other boat and seized the oars.
Don't try to talk, Mamie" he said,
sharply, as the frightened eyes gazed
blankly at him. You're faint. I'll
get you ashore in a half minute.
Thank God happened TO be on hand"
Strong strokes, streak of foam in
the wake, a crunching on the sand.
Burns waded in to his knees. lifted her
out, and away from the thing still
resting against the white dress. Kiss
ing her tenderly he splashed back.
"Sit there, under that tree, dear.
Don't looki I'll have to bring him in
the brute,'
Leonard Burns, did you do that?"
Nancy's voice was full of horror.
"Of course l did, child. In another
moment he would have murdered you
but ! nailed him Just right
1--WE are the murderers, Leonard,
you and L. No one will marry a pair
of murderersi" She laughed shrilly.
"Nannie!"
81 never will! l couldn't now. No,
Leonard, / never cam
together. There, there" he said,
soothingly, ''you are not yourself,
| dear. L told you not to talk. Keep
quiet"
Presently they were on their knees
by the limp form on the moss. The
girl seemed suddenly inspired with
strength and action.
He is breathing!" she cried. "Oh,
run for help! I'll stay!"
Leonard was carefully examining.
'Only a scalp wound. Merely stunned.
L think, but he has lost lot of blood.
Let me attend him, Mamie. You hur-
| ry home and get your father"
! No, you go. l won't leave him.
| Poor, poor old Dick!"
| She was recklessly tearing strips
from her clothing, wetting them in
the lake, trying to stanch the wound,
her face TRANSPORTED.
Burns stared. aren't you afraid
TO remain? ?" he began. THAT man"
| Hurry! Afraid? No! OF course,
not"
But he tried to kill you'll
| He only tried to kiss me. You
| fired accidentally. See? Go along!'
Leonard Burns ran through the
brush. ''By jove! she's a thorough
bred" he commented. Half wild as
she is she thought of that. To save
! him, to protect me, to make il APP
pear simple accident. / suppose it's
woman's way. No man would ever
do it. How she did brace up when
she found he was alive. One thing
is certain, I'll have a plucl<y wifel"
He laughed and went on.
The wavelets whispered in sedge
and every sandbar, cooling the breeze
springing from the west. All nature
smiled serenely.
Nancy Dalton sat very still, gazing
upon the bandaged head resting upon
her lap. Could that be Dick? Those
strong limbs sprawling so helplessly:
that great chest moving with the
feeble breath. And she had brought
him TO this. Away beck her thoughts
roVed to many little things She
could not remember when Dick had
not been patient and kind, always
waiting in the background to help
her in every possible way.
Hurt her? WHY, he had plunged
into that very pond to save her kit
ten. his best clothes on, too. She had
sort of owned Dick-to take or leave.
That promise! Yes, she had been
happy enough in thinking of it. until
Mr. Burns came. Dick wouldn {
mind, she guessed; it was such a fin.
thing for her--for them all. What
was the love of this quiet man to
drag her down to death beside him
rather than give her up? 1t an,
palled, but it thrilled, warmed, made
her lips dry and her tears to start
IT she had been in Dicks place, would
she have felt like doing that? If Mr.
Burns had not come, and some other
girl great wave of tenderness.
new, overpowering sense of possess
sion and longing swept over her.
Caney sighed, opened a pair of be-
wildered gray eyes, closed them hap.
PLY and nestled the poor head closer.
You are here, after all" he
breathed. "And. Nannie-thev can't
part us now, darling. How the lights
dance! You 49, won't - leave - me-
ever"
Down went the girls lips to his.
mo, dear" she sobbed "I'n never
leave you-oh! Dick"
| When the wheels of the wagon
crunched along the wood road. they
had moved triie and the man was sit
ting up with the sunset at his back.
one arm enfolding the slight figure.
weeping against his broad shoulder.
Mani" shouted the heavy tones of
Gideon Dalton, ''whar be We? / see
see-wai! We look comfy for a dead
man, Dick Them blamed guns ez was
tellin' Burns-why-whar' is hep"
But Mr.. Burns had vanished. Thai
evening the moon saw him walking
WIN Nancy Dalton. He left her at her
tathers gate, and his face was pale
and serious, but very kind.
"Good-by, little girl" he said. "I will
do my best, and / believe you are right
Good-by!"
| Then he cfannad o,,;ol-Ixx