Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-02-28
WHAT GAME OF A
PASSION FOR BOOKS
fOriginal.1


occupied almost exclusively by 1um--
bering people, while on both sides OF
the harbor are scattered houses. Ont
morning from one of these houses came
a girl whose complexion was darkene6
by the sun and winds and whose hani1R
showed plainly that she was used tt
toll. She wore pair of mans boots
her dress was of calico, and on heE
head was an unadorned felt hat. Shat
hurried to the rockbound shore and,
shading her eyes from the sun, which
at the moment burst out betweeR
stormclouds, stood looking across tia,
bay at a catboat coming under double
reef. There was something in the girPas
appearance and attitude that would
have struck the fancy of an artist-&
supple figure. fluttering skirts, paiEe
of honest eyes and a firm mouth. Be-
sides, there was on the face an fnteE
lectual cast in strange contrast with
her attire. The boat came on, and q
man at the tiller, lufting up to the wind.
brought it's nose quietly against a rock,
then stepped out, holding the painteE-
eyer late, SAM" said the girl. Il
thought ye wasn't comm"
'Beatin' against this winds slow
work, Alice. fear We'll have a hard
time maxim land on the other side.
The winds fresher thar than here"
II must go. The schoolmaster tola
me he'd have the book for me, an I
must return it in two days. II don't
go now, may miss the chance"
She stepped into the boat, and tina
man, leaning against the mast, showed
it off, stepping aboard at the same
time. He took the tiller, while Alice
sat amidships, facing him.
Eyer cross today. SAM" she said.
"Waal, thars somepin to make ma
cross. don't like this craze ye got fur.
rarnin'. Ye know I've sot my heart
on to ye, an We got yer heart sot on to
books
"Better git yer heart sot on to some
one else, SAM she replied. not un-
kindly. Il own I've got passion fut
books. Lors mercy, that was big
one!" as a wave beat against the boats
quarter and nearly turned it over.
THE winds been freshenin' ever
sence started. but l don't fear moth
in except maxim the inlet on the other
side. It's full of logs"
When they neared the shore. thes
breakers We're rolling over the bar.
furiously. \ number of people were.
standing on a beach thanking the inlet,
! watching the boat.
ut wasn't like that when started"
said Sam. scanning the landing place
with dismay.
Guess Well have to go about ag'1n
the wind,'' said Alice.
WED be swamped. No." resolutely,
| 'we'rein fur it. I fear We'll be knock
ed out ag'in the logs. I'll do the best I
kin fur We. Alice. an if We come out
alive l hope yen have all the books
We want an be happier with 'em thar
ye would with me-"
The girl stared at him with blanched
check
Don't talk that away, SAM" She
said ''Y' got the same chance fur life
I have"
"No. l haven't. I'm agoin' to look
out fur you. l can't do that an look
out fur MYSELF
Steering for the mouth Of the inlet
Sam approached the bar. The first
breaker flung the boat into the air. and
as it slid down the opposite side the
lee gunwale shipped barrel Of water.
The second wave tossed it slantwiSe
on it's crest. and when it reached the
trough it was nearly full. The third
| NJ
its weight, then threw it downward
without pause till it reached the
sand.
Meanwhile Sam had grasped Alice
and when they were in the water chung
to her, at the same time buffeting to
keep her afloat The tide, driven by
the wind set inward, and they were
borne along till they reached the scat
tered logs bobbing up and down in the
more subdued pillows Of the inlet.
Beaten against one of these logs. Sam
put himself between it and Alice and
saved her, though three of his ribs
were broken. Still he struggled On.
The next log was passed, with another
blow that stunned Sam, and both sanlr
They came to the surface and by this
time had reached a eomparatiye!!y; e1eu;
space in the center. while the shora
was thickly packed with logs. Drift
ing against one of these, q boat hooA
was caught in Sans clothing, and the
two were dragged up on the logs. Sam
was laid on plank binding the tim
bers together, the blood from cash on
his head forming pool beside him.
Sam just passed the death line with
out stepping over it. Alice did not ra
ceive a single blow and suffered only
from exhaustion. By the time Sam
was out of danger she was ready t.
nurse him and never left his bedside
till he recovered. One day she said Il
him.. =. - ~
"Sam. I guess If have to choose be
tween you an books I'll take you
mo; T. won't do that, Alice. Mayh,
I kin trot alongside of y an ye
books" o. - - Is
- | ooh Som xpnufdn,t fho% no n;oo9ps r.