Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26
IN any mans head-she had


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 look! III have to bring him in
the brute!"
Leonard Burns, did you do that?"
Nancy's voice was full of horror.
"Of course did, child. In another
moment he would have murdered you
but nailed him just right"
1--WE are the murderers, Leonard,
you and I. No one will marry a pair
of murderers!" She laughed shrilly.
"Nannie!"
Leonard. never can"
Burns groaned and pulled himself
together. "There, there" he said,
soothingly, "you are not yourself,
dear. I 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.
think, but he has lost lot of blood.
Let me attend him, Mamie. You hur-
ry home and get your father"
mo, you 60. I 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!''
HE only tried to kiss me. You
fred accidentally. See? Go along!"
Leonard Burns ran through the
brush. by jove! she's thorough
Bred" he commented. Half wild as
she is she thought of that. To save
him, to protect me, to make it ap-
pear simple accident. suppose it's
a 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 plucky wife!"
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 SPRAYING so helplessly;
that great chest moving with the
feeble breath. And she had brought
him to this. Away back her thoughts
roved to many little things. She
could not remember when Lick had
not been patient and kind, .lway:
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 Diclz-to take or leave.
That promise! Yes, she had been
happy enough in thinking of it, until
Mr.. Burns came. Dick wouldn't
mind, she guessed; it was such a. fine
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? It ap-
palled, but it thrilled, warmed, made
her lips dry and her tears to start.
If she had been in Dicks place, would
she have felt like doing: that? If Mr..
Burns had not come, and some other
girl" A great wave of tenderness,
a new, overpowering sense of posses.
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-they can't
part us now, darling. How the lights
dance! You - won't - leave - me-
| ever-?"
Down went the girls lips to his.
AOs uCdAs 6uc SODUcus IL never
leave you-oh! Dick"
When the wheels of the wagon
crunched along the wood road, they
had moved a trifle and the man was sit
ting up with the sunset at his back
! one arm enfolding the slight figure,
weeping against his broad shoulder.
"Nan!" shouted the heavy tones of
Gideon Dalton, "whar be ye? Sec
I see-wal! We look comfy for dead
man, Dick. Them blamed guns ez was
tellin' Burns-why-whar' is hep"
But Mr.. Burns had vanished. That
evening the moon saw him walking
with Nancy Dalton. He left her at her
fathers gate, and his face was pale
and serious, but very kind.
"Good-by, little grill" he said, II will
do my best, and believe you are right.
Good-by!"
Then he stepped quickly away into
the shadows, followed by pair of
tear-dimmed eyes.-sunny South, At
lanta.
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