Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-05-07
IN A CANOE.
pY JOHN BARTON OXFORD.

4 anu tHeH 10 keep the course IN ml0-
/ stream.
Many times that afternoon Traitor
had felt sudden, wild temptation to
say the words which. when he was with
| her, seemed eternally on the end of his
tongue; but never had the temptation
been more potent than at that moment,
as he noted her regular profile-the
beautifully modelled forehead. the deli
cate curves Of the throat, the bewitch-
ing poise OF the head, and the mass Of
copper-colored hair, which seemed to
CLEAN in one Of those rare glints Of sun
shine that momentarify illumined It.
He put the temptation sturdily from
him, and by way Of relieving his pent-
up feelings, he sent the canoe Swimming
ahead with long, powerful strokes.
For between me and thee there is a
great gulf fixed he quoted mentally
as he dug the paddle viciously into the
water. AT the acceleration of speed the
girl turned her eyes to his.
You interrupted my dream" she
said, chidingly.
81 interrupted one Of my own" he re-
turned, bitterly.
"You tell yours and I'll tell mine" she
laughed.
I'm never tell mine till the judgment
day." he said.
She regarded him quizzically in ST.
lence Then she glanced at the banks
slipping rapidly past.
You'd better turn back" she coun-
seled Were getting dangerously near
the falls. I believe the eddy is just
around the bend"
1t all came so suddenly that Trafton
could scarcely realize their predica-
ment. He was turning the canoe up
stream when he saw the girl rise from
the cushions.
| He tried to shout a. warning, but be-
fore he could articulate the words the
canoe was overturned and they were
struggling in the water He grasped her
shoulder with one hand and with the
other he managed to get hold on the
canoe.
Slowly, painfully he drew her up un-
til with her arms she could support her
self Then he took like position on the
other side. They were gasping from the
shock of immersion, but the girl was
strangely calm.
"As soon as we get breath" he pant
ed, '1'll take you to the shore"
tits useless to try that" she said,
evenly. ''The lily pads and brush run
out many yards from either bank. You
would never make it,"
The canoe was suddenly jerked ahead,
and their speed downstream was mate
rally increased.
Were in the current that goes over
the falls" she said.
Good Lord!" he cried.
He strove with all his might to work
the canoe out of the current into the
still waters nearer the bank, but in its
inverted position and loaded down as 1t
was 1t was unwieldy. The current held
them fast.
you can tell your dream soon, after
ALL" she said quietly.
He looked at the girl opposite him,
and in that moment the temptation mas
tered him. He forgot their peril; he for
got the dull boom of water, which now
sounded continuously with growing
volume; he forgot everything save that
calm, smiling face, and the clear eyes
| which seemed to him as stars
1.-THE dream" he said, softly, has
been going on for years and years, ever
since first knew you, | think. I've been
tempted many times to tell you of It,,
out there has been an impossible gulf
between us. I have always been poor
devil of journalist and you-well,
there was your money, and was proud
Then, too, there came the Hon. Arthur
Stanton, and your mother backed his
claims He had the money and the posi-
ton to make you what you should be.
So the dream I've kept in secret"
The banks were sliding past at an
alarming rate. The boom of the falls
came with terrible distinctness. In the
girls eyes was a strange light as he
raised his voice to continue:
THE dream was of life with you;
somewhat but always and
forever with you.p he said
One of her hands closed convulsively
over his Her eyes were shining as If
between mirth and tears, She looked
toward the falls.
81 was down here once before with
Indian joe" she said. "1f we keep to
the right Of that rock back current
will save us"
With might and main he strove to push
the canoe inshore. He struggled and
painted until the veins on his forehead
stood out like whipcords.
Then he felt the nose Of the canoe
whipped sharply to the right. The rock
shot past them and foggy spray closed
in on them. Presently he felt the pebbly
shore beneath his feet. With a great
cry of Joy he seized the girl and fought
his way through the foaming water to
the pine-covered bank.
Late that evening on the piazza of the
hotel, he sat before her, his face tense,
and every word he uttered coming with