The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-28

year.
Five minutes later the little tender,
with it's two souls aboard, was dancing
over the choppy water. Barley pulled
a fair oar, but in spite of his efforts
the frail craft took on water at both
bow and stern and Virginia steadily
bailed.
"Can you swim, Virsinia? he
asked.
Eyes," said she, without looking up.
She had need of her accomplish
ment. Three successive waves came
conbing over the stern drenching her
| thru and thru, and then they found
| themselves In water to their waists.
| threw herself over the side, and for
a moment. they supported themselves
by a hand on the gunwale. +'They
can never hear us call in this wind,''
gasped BARLEY, and we may chill to
| death before they find us. The shore
| can't be very far now. Can you swim
| for it?''
She bravely answered yes, and they
struck off side by side. He soon saw,
tho, that her skirts wer proving ia
| tai drag to her. Swimming little
closer, he commanded her to put her
arms around him; and she, too weary
| to think for herself, blindly obeyed.
| LIZ oWdlIl olO"ly, uSpSlulIS IA part
upon the wind and waves for propul-
sion, and reserving his strength for
any emergency. With every stroke
Of his left hand, which was made over
| her shoulder, as he swan on his side,
Virginia's long, wet hair wrapped it.
self round his hand in clinging strands
But he made no effort o put it out Of
| the way.
| At last he felt the tops of rushes.
| With a good bottom, he could have
waded thence, but he felt too tired to
| '1et down" to ascertain whether mud
or sand was under them. The
| chances We're It was mud. SO he swan
| on. When dry land was finally
reacIed--tLo it was far from dry--he
self out and an intense desire to sleep
came over him, but he resolutsly
! shook it off.
"Virginia!" said he, for she too.
seemed stricken with the unnatural
stupor.
"Yes," she murmured sleepily.
| Wake up, Virginia, wake up!" he
called.
She quickly opened her eyes at this.
and stared up into his face, startled
and bewildered. Then seeming partly
to comprehend their situation she
asked plaintively: Where are we.
Bartley?"
"safe and sound on shore ha
| answered, blithely.
"And the Aphrodite' is gone!" she
nurmured, with tears in her eyes.
| "Not q bit of it! Once she Is
pumped out and raised she'll be as
good as ever
.tHow wicked of me to think Of
boat when we are safe! she eA-
claimed, penitently. BARLEY. you are
a noble boy!" she added, fervently.
/ x1oH mo -
what less could cousin do, Vir-
ginia?' he asked smiling, but with
/ glistening eyes.
And being my cousin. / love you
| for it, and want to show my graft
4 tude" And she showed it by wrap
ping her round arms about his neck.
and softly kissing him. I forgive
! you everything"
Twenty minutes later they were
steaming before a blazing fire IN the
. little cabin of negro truck gardener,
while the worthy black himself and
4 his two boys were traversing the
i sedgy shore with lanterns, to find the
1 other boat loads. In less than an
hour they were all in, wet and cold,
but happy.
side in the comfortable seat of sleep
ing car the next day, flying north as
i fast as steam could carry them, she
said: BARLEY Hutchinson, lie you were
| to receive another invitation to come
I and visit your cousin. do you think
lyou would succeed in seeing her 2"
i yves, I think should seeing that
her yacht Is lying in the mud off Snap
j ping Turtle Roost,'' he answered,
4 laughing. TRY me"
4 TN afraid you wouldn't feel free
to leave me now, in case YOU didn't
i like me-
i s'No, I'm afraid I shan't feel free
to leave you, Virginia dear
Virginia was very, very quiet for
i several minutes, ard then she said
softly: i"At school I used to write In
my copy books, Never trouble trouble
& till trouble troubles YOU"