Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-10-30

At the end of a week she felt that she
had no more power over this great fell
low than when he had first come into
her ken. She knew that she loved him,
and in some subtle way it was conveyed
to her that he must love her; yet all her
arts were in vain. They had walked the
beach; they had plunged into the surf
together; they had sat on the piazza for
hours. And after each one of these tete-
a-tetes funston found himself alone,
| disconnected, uncertain.
Hang it, old chap!" he said to him
self. 81 wish could keep away from that
girl. I'm gone on her, sure, and the
worst of it is she doesn't care hang for
me; know 1t. If told her loved her
she'd guy the life out of me-"
One morning, after one of these in,
| terviews, when the wind blew fresh
from the southwest, Miss Merlin ap-
preached him on the bathing beach. :
Don't you want to go for sail?" she
| said. ''The boat Is at the end Of the
wharf now"
funston submitted. In few moments
! they were sitting in boat.
|. Make fast those halliards," ordered
Miss Merlin, as she grasped the tiller.
Now cast off,
The breeze caught the sail, and they
were away.
1t was a strange sensation for Tun.
ston. For the first time in his life he felt
| thoroughly cowed. This frail cookie
shell that almost with a movement OF
his body he could overturn, was not to
his liking.
81 wouldn't go too far out" he said.
! mo, I'm not" smiled Miss Merlin, as
she eased off the sheet. I'm going to
run along the shore. Sit more in the
middle, please
] Running before the wind, the boat
righted itself, and they bowled along
merrily.
How 90 You like it?" asked Miss
t Merlin. "Tll be the captain and you'll
be the first mate
Pretty good" said funston. ''But
1 suppose l ought to be the captain and
you the first mate. I don't like to have
anyone else do the work"
In the distance was steam launch
that had grown nearer and nearer
| Miss Merlin, with her eye upon it, now
suddenly hauled in the main sheet and
brought the boat up into the wind. The
effect was apparent, for the wind, which
had been increasing, was now quite
| strong.
And then something happened-so
suddenly, to funston, that it was all
over before he had chance to move. A
puff came over the water, the boat went
lower and lower and in an instant she
capSiZed, leaving them both fiOundering
in the ocean.
funston dove, and, coming up on the
other side, put one arm around the cap
tain, while with his other he reached
out and grabbed the centerboard.
In another moment he had worked his
way toward the bow. The steam launch
seemed miles away.
"tAre you all Eight?" he said, as they
recovered their breath.
She chung to him desperately.
Don't let me go!" she cried.
Don't be afraid" he replied.
He kept his t.rm around her, with the
roar of water il. his ears and, conscious
of his superb strength, he felt a sense
of exultation
Somehow, as he saw her look Into his
eyes, he realized the truth.
Il love you," he said eff we get out
OF this all right, will you-will you-?'
yes" she replied. and chung to him
closer than ever.
And then the steam launch rescued
them
The next light they sat together or
the piazza. Her head was on his shout.
der. Her hand was in his. He hooked
OF into the dark. distant waters.
I'm glad that thing happened" he
said why, if1it hadn't happened J
might have gone away without know.
ling. I never should have had the eour.
age to ask you. because, somehow
while you said nice things to me,
thought you were only playing with me
1t was only when I saw that look in
your eyes that felt, after all, you might
love me. Dearest little one, what g
lucky accident that was!"
She looked up suddenly.
Peter. dear" she replied, will yo,
forgive me?" = !.
Forgive you!" he repeated ..Fo.
what?''
She smiled
Didn't you know" she said, z"tha
wasn't an accident? Icapsized5t the boa
on purpose. Town Topics
Targets Like Men in Battle.
; An extensive system of targets tina
fire with blank cartridges upon firm,
line using real cartridges was tested til.
| other day on the drill grounds in Der
, lin of the Queen Elizabeth regiment
} Grenadier guards. The targets, which
are shaped like the bodies and headI
of men armed with rifles. machine guns