The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-26

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for us had seen Julia fall and had
rescued her. When I saw him running
along the planks it was to his boat
chained at the end.
Ten years passed, during which I
was constantly haunted by one idea;
that was to go back and find Julia and
implore her forgiveness. The years that
I must be a boy and dependent seemed
interminable. At last 1 came of age.
and received a small fortune that had
fallen to me, and as soon as the papers
in the case were duly signed and sealed
I started
the year and the same hour Of the aft
ernoon as when I first saw Julia that 1
walked into the old school grounds.
was standing at the school entrance
with my hand on the bell when heard
a door in the next house open and then
that Julia was near me.
She came out of the house, a slender,
graceful girl of nineteen. and picking
up a tennis bat. commenced to knock
the balls about.
7 beg your pardon I said, raising
my hat 'can you tell me If the school
is still e?'-pointing to the house:
1T was moved some years ago. she
replied, regarding me with the old
Nv Il was some one of the scholars"
indeed" She spoke without any
further encouragement for me to go on.
Il see the wood has not been cut
away I added, glancing towards 1t
mo, it does not seem to be-
Were you ever there?"
''Oh, yes, often"
river?'
She looked at me curiously. went on
a TpTlW.
Would you mind showing me the
way to it? It is a long while since
was there"
She drew herself up with a slight
hauteur. Then thinking that, perhaps
I was unaccustomed to the convention
al ways of civilized life, she said pleas
you have only to walk through the
wood straight, at the back of the house,
and you will come to it.
THANK you" I replied; but l hoped
you would show me the way"
She looked puzzled.
4 once met you when I was a boy
here at school"
said. more interested; whom may you
y I dreaded to tell her. IF you will
pilot me to the DAM" I said, Il will in
form you"
and looked out at the wood With the
quick motion with which she had made
the same move as a child she started
We walked side by side to the wood,
through it out on the river bank. There
was the water and the dam; everything
as it had been.
I asked.
"Once. when I was a child, I came
here with a boy. and we walked to
where the water pours over. met
with an accident. fell in"
"The boy overpersuaded you, sup
pose ?"
certain trepidation at the mention of
~ NO ls5' I went of my own accord.
HE certainly must have been to
blame. He was older and stronger
ION the contrary" she said. with
slight rising irritation, "he jumped
after me like the noble little fellow
that he was"
I turned away on pretence Of exam
ming a boat down the river.
s'At any rate, he must have begged
your forgiveness on his Bonded knees
for permitting you to go into such
danger"
fancied-at least. I hoped
could detect a tinge of sadness in his
Il have often wished" she went on.
that he would come back. as the
other scholars sometimes do. as you
are now, and let me tell him much I
thank him for his noble effort"
Julia" I said, suddenly turning
and facing her. "Thfs is too much I
am that boy. led you into the wood.
I forced you to go out on the dam with
me. I permitted you to fall in
And more than atoned for all by
rislxing your life to save met
All. that look of surprised delight
which accompanied her words. It was
worth all my past years Of suffering. Of