Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-08-01

uOu want 10 go DaCK, 90 you, Dora ("
"Oh, no." she answered, and lay
back in the stern of the boat. I
rowed up the loch for some distance
and she sat looking at the big blue
mountains, her hands trailing through
the water. The moon in the deep blue
sky grew palmer and palmer, and
everything was peaceful.
When had rowed her for some
time laid in my oars and took UP the
banjo. don't think "Suwanee River"
had ever been played amid such sur
roundings before. Dora began to sing
her soft, sweet voice, and as sat
there idly plucking at the strings and
with her voice in my ears I was al
most happy. I would have been per-
fectly happy if-if-the thought
brought me to myself and I laid down
the banjo.
Dora" said I, looking at her,
cant you, don't you think you could
break your word this once? I want
you so very badly, DEAR"
She flushed slightly and raised her
eyes to mine with a strange smile on
her face.
Il thought we were not to say any
more about that" she said won't
you row a bit?''
l pressed my teeth into my lip and
bent to the oars again. Now and then
stopped rowing and the boat lay
almost motionless on the water, and
there was no sound to break In upon
our strange silence. How long this
went on I do not know, but when at
last looked at my watch I found
that my promise to her mother would
never be kept. The two hours had
passed. I turned the boats head
homeward and pulled steadily, but my
arms were growing tired.
won't you let me row a little?"
asked the girl.
"We must hurry" said. Perhaps
I'd better keep on myself"
"Oh, do let me row just little Bit"
she pleaded. "You must be tired. I'll
let you take the oars again in
minute"
laid them In and we changed seats.
I leant back in the stern and watched
the ease and strength with which she
moved the boat. 1t was getting darker
now, but did not care for that. The
world had grown very dark to me.
shut my eyes and lay thinking,
thinking. Suddenly and without mo-
ment's warning there came a rending
crash and the next instant we were
In the water. When I came to the
surface 1 saw her face not a yard
away from me. A single stroke
brought me to her, and l caught her
in my arms. She struggled freely for
a moment.
For Gods sake, don't struggle" I
cried. Keep still and we'll be all
right"
was no great swimmer. but cried
to God to give me strength, and He
heard me. I turned on my back and
began to swim, holding her under the
arms, but I was already tired, and
my strength was giving out. My
breath came in great gasps, and
thought how easy 1t would be to say
"Good-by" to the world and sink
slowly. 1 had another to think of,
however, and struggled doggedly to-
ward the island. A few fierce strokes,
and again was near despairing, when
1 heard the voice Of the girl who lay
so quietly in my grasp.
Jack" she said in a low, calm
voice, you can't hold me up. Let me
go, Jack! l only want to tell you one
thing first love you! l love you.
Now let me go! AIR
The blood rushed to my head, and
l felt as though l would faint, but l
swan slowly on. Would I never reach
land? AS this thought ran through
my brain my foot touched bottom and
in second was wading ashore with
her in my arms. 1 tottered a few
steps up the single, then laid my bur-
den down and fell by it's side.
Dora" l whispered. Dora, my
sweetheart, speak to me. Wake up,
darling. We are safe-we are safe"
think l wept when I saw her lying
there so still-my new-found love.
A CULVER ran through her body, and
she slowly opened her eyes.
rs that you, Jaek?"~ she said. Are
we safer
I caught her wet hand to my lips
and covered 1t with kisses.
why, Of course, we are safe, dear
est" / said. She looked up at me and