The Tupelo journal., 1903-01-30

| n curly halr! Hail crazy over Nan,
and she had encouraged him? Some
thing of the sort. That was Caney's
lookout, though. The girl was enough
to turn any mans head-she had
turned his.
Then the screams-that scene-the
that he must act quickly. Bad bust
ness, but he had saved her.
He let his boat drift as he boarded
the other boat and seized the oars.
Don't try 10 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, a 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! I'll have to bring him in
the brute!"
Leonard Burns, did you do that?"
Nancy's voice was full of horror.
"Of course 1 did, child. In another
moment he would have murdered you
but l nailed him just right"
"We are the murderers, Leonard,
of murderers!" She laughed shrilly.
"Nannie!"
81 never will! i couldn't now. No,
Leonard, I never can"
Burns groaned and pulled himself
together. "There, there" he said,
soothingly, you are not yourself,
dear. l told you not to talk. Keep
quiet"
Presently they We're on their knees
by the limp form on the moss. The
girl seemed suddenly inspired with
strength and action.
> He is breathing!" she cried. ooh,
run for help! I'll stay!"
Leonard was carefully examining.
"Only a scalp wound. Merely stunned.
l think, but he has lost a lot of blood.
Let me attend him, Mamie. You hur-
ry home and get your father"
mo, you go. [ 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 it ap-
pear a simple accident. l suppose it's
a woman's way. No nan would ever
she found he was alive. One thing
| is certain, I'll have a 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 hat be Dick? Those
strong limbs sprawling 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 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't
mind, she guessed; it was such a fine
thing for her-for them all. What
was the love of this quiet nan to
drag her down to death beside him
rather than give her up? 1t 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 owe 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.
"No, DEAR" she sobbed. 9Th never
leave you-oh! Dick"
When the wheels of the wagon
crunched along the wood road, they
had moved a trifie 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 We? / see
I see-wal! We look comfy for a dead
man, Dick. Them blamed guns ez 1 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 hel
fathers gate, and his face was pale
and serious, but very kind.
"Good-by, little grill" he said, ST will
do my best, and l believe you are right