The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-06-07
IN A CANOE.
BY JOHN BARTON OXFORD.


and then to keep the course in mid
stream.
Many times that afternoon Trafton
had felt a 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 momentarily illumined 1t.
He put the temptation sturdily from
him. and by way OF relieving his pent-
up feelings. he sent the canoe skimming
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-
You tell yours and I'll tell mine" she
laughed.
I'll 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. believe the eddy is just
! around the bend"
II 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 a hold on the
, canoe.
Slowly. painfully he drew her up un-
I'll 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. 'Ill take you to the shore"
IT'S 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.
We're 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 II
was II 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.
"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 1t
but there has been an impossible gull
between US. have always been poor
devil OF a 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-.
tien. to make you what you should be
So the dream I've kept in secret"
The banks were sliding past at ar
alarming rate. The boom OF the falls
came with terrible distinctness. In the
girls eyes was a strange light as ht
raised his voice to continue:
"The dream was of life with you;
somewhat-any where. but always ant
forever with you" he said.
One OF her hands closed convulsively
over his. Her eyes were shining as 4
between mirth and tears. She looked
toward the falls.
81 was down here once before will
Indian joe" she said. IF We keep t.
the right OF that rock a back curren
will save us"
With might and main he strove to pusl
the canoe inshore. He struggled ant
painted until the veins on his forehea,
stood out like whipcords.
Then he felt the nose OF the cano,
whipped sharply to the right. The rocl
shot past them and a foggy spray close,
in on them. Presently he felt the pebbl,
shore beneath his feet. With a grea
cry Of Joy he seized the girl and tough
his way through the foaming water I,
the pine-covered bank.
Late that evening on the piazza Of tn
hotel. he sat before her, his face tense
and every word he uttered coming wit
struggle. He knew In a feS moment
Hon. Arthur Stanton would come 4
claim his dance with her II must b
over before that.
81 was made when told you what
did this afternoon" he said. 81 neye
should have done so had not though
in truth that the judgment day was neal
Ill lost my head. You see, though
. nothing was going to matter long ther
. Pray. forget my foolishness."
: You think. then, I'D better forget,
she asked. softly.
, by all means" he said. sadly.
"For your sake?" she persisted.
! No" he said. almost fiercely. 80
yours"
Now. what in the world do you SUP
r pose | upset that canoe for?" sh
! laughed as she smoothed his hair
Boston Globe.