Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-06-29
CHAPTER V.
IN UNSUCCESSFUL ERRAND.

padded bravely through the darkness.
She was relieved of the terror and the
uncertainty which had fallen upon her
during the past few hours, and she
was grateful to the brave young fell
low who had delivered her from the
danger OF sailing out upon the sea with
crew of wicked scoundrels who were
about to steal her fathers ship, and
her heart should have beaten high with
gratitude and joy, but it did not. She
was very cold, and she knew not
whittier young Dickory was taking her.
She did not believe that in all that
darkness he could possibly know where
he was going; at any moment that
dreadful ship might loom up before
them, and lights might be flashed down
upon them. But all of sudden the
canoe scraped, grounded and stopped.
What is that" she cried.
1T is our beach" said Dickory, and
almost at that moment there came a
call from the darkness beyond.
''Dickory!" cried a woman's voice,
lis that you?"
1T is my mother" said the boy;
'she has heard the scraping of my
keel"
Then he shouted back: "It is Dick
Dry; please show me light, mother"
Jumping out, Dickory pulled the ca
noe high up the shelving shore, and
then he helped Kate to get out. 1t
was not an easy job, for she could
zee nothing and floundered terribly;
but he seemed to like it, and half led,
half carried her over a considerable
space of uneven ground, until he came
to the door of small house, where
stood an elderly woman with Ian
tern.
"Dickory! Dickory!" shouted the
woman, what is that you are bring
ing home? Is it a great fish,"
1T is young woman" said the boy,
"but she is as wet as fish,"
''WOman!" cried Dame Charter.
what mean you, Dickory, is she
dead?"
mot dead, Mother Charter" said
Kate, who now stood, unassisted, in
the light of the lantern, "but in woe
full case, AID more like to startle you
than were the biggest fish. I am
Mistress Kate Bonnet, just out of the
river between here and the town No,
I will not enter your house, l am not
dt; will stand here and tell my tale"
'Dickory!" shouted Dame Charter,
take the lantern and run to the
kitchen cabin, where yell make a fire
quickly"
Away ran Dickory and, standing in
the darkness, Kate Bonnet told her
tale. 1t was not very satisfactory
tale, for there was a great part Of it
which Kate herself did not understand,
but it sufticed at present for the good
dame, who had known the girl when
she was small, and who was soon
busily engaged in warming her by her
fire, refreshing her with food, and in
fortifying her against the effects Of
her cold bath by a generous glass of
rum, made, the good woman earnestly
asserted, from sugar-cane grown on
Master Bonnet's plantation.
Early the next morning came Dick
Dry from the kitchen, where he had
made fire (before that he had been
catching some fish), and on a rude
bench by the house door he saw Kate
Bonnet. When he perceived her he
laughed; but as she also laughed. it
was plain she was not offended.
This pretty girl was dressed in a
large blue gown, belonging to the
stout Dame Charter, and which was
quite as much Of gown as she had
any possible need for. Her head was
bare, for she had lost her hat, and
she wore neither shoes nor stockings.
those articles of apparel having been
so shrunken by immersion as to make
1t impossible for her to get them on.
''Thy mother is good woman" said
Kate, and am SO glad you did not
take me to the town. I don't wonder
you gaze at me; I must look like a
fright"
Dickory made no answer, but by the
way in which he regarded her she
knew that he saw nothing frightful in
her face.
"You have been very good to me-
said she, rising and making a step
towards him, but suddenly stopping on
account of her bare feet, land wish
could tell you how thankful T am to