Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-03-03
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Passion for Books.
lOriginaI.l


overlooking n small bay, is little town
occupied almost exclusively by lum-
bering people. while on both sides OF
the harbOr are scattered houses. One
morning from one of these houses came
a girl whose complexion was darkened
by the sun and winds and whose hands
showed plainly that she was used to
toll. she wore a pair of mans boots,
her dress was of calico, and on her
head was an unadorned felt hat. She
hurried TO the rockbound shore and,
shading her eyes from the sun, which
at the moment burst out between
stOrmclouds, stood looking across the
bay at catbOat coming under double
reef. There was something in the girls
appearance and attitude that would
have struck the fancy of an artist-a
supple figure, futtering skirts, pair
of honest eyes and firm mouth. Be
sides, there was on the face an intel
lectual cast in strange contrast with
her attire. The boat came on, and a
man Mt the tiller, Iuffing up to the wind
brought its nose quietly against rock,
then stepped out. holding the painter
Yer late, SAM" said the girl. 81
thought We wasn't comm"
"Beatin' against this winds slow
work, Alice. l fear We'll have a hard
time maxim land on the other side.
The winds fresher thar than here"
Il must go. The schoolmaster tOle
me he'd have the book for me. an
must return it in two days. If 1 don't
go now, may miss the chance"
She stepped into the boat, and the
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, thar's somepin to make me
cross. don't like this craze We got fur
Parnin'. Ye know I've sot my heart
on to We, an ye got yer heart sOt on to
books"
Better git yer heart sot on to some
one else, SAM" she replied, not I'M
kindly 81 own I've got a passion fur
books. Lor's mercy, that was a big
one!' as a wave beat against the boats
quarter and nearly turned it over.
THE winds been freshenin' ever
sence l started, but I don't fear moth
In except maxim the inlet on the other
side. It's full of logs"
When they neared the shore, the
breakers were rolling over the bar
furiously. \ number of people were
standing on n beach thanking the inlet
watching the boat
at wasn't like that when / started
said Sam, scanning the landing place
with dismay.
Guess well have to go about agin
the wind" said Alice.
WED be swamped. No. resolutely
"we're in fur it. 1 fear Wei be knock
ed out ag'in the logs. I'll do the best
kin fur ye, Alice. an if We come out
alive 1 hope ye'll have all the books
We want an be happier with 'em than
We would with me-"
The girl stared at him with blanched
cheek.
Don't talk that away, Sam" she
said. "Y' got the same chance fur life
1 have"
'NO, 1 haven't. I'm agoin' to look
out fur you. 1 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
Oh its crest, and when 1t reached the
trough it was nearly full. The third
sent it up heavily, as though tired of
its weight, then threw it downward
without q pause till it reached the
sand.
Co
and when they were in the water chung
to her, at the same time buffeting to
keep her afoat 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 sank.
They came to the surface and by this
time had reached a comparatively clear
space in the center, while the shore
was thickly packed with logs. Drift
ing against one of these, a boat hook
was caught in Sans clothing, and the
two were dragged up on the logs. Sam
was laid on a plank binding the tim
bers together, the blood from cash on
his head forming a pool beside him.
Sam just passed the death line with
out stepping over it. Alice did not re-
ceive a single blow and suffered only
from exhaustion. BY the time Sam
was out of danger she was ready to
nurse him and never left his bedside
till he recovered. One day she said to
him:
"Sam, 1 guess If have to choose be-
tween you an books I'll take you.'
"No; y won't do that, Alice. Maybe
kin trot alongside of v an yer
books"
ooh, Sam, wouldn't that be nice?'
That winter the two spent the even