The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-04-08

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"Mr. Wilmot, you are coming near to
forgetting yourself" she interrupted,
freezingly.
Mrs. O'Toole, you are tempting me
sorely to do so and
He paused suddenly, as, a cry reaching
his ears above the dull roaring of the
waters, he turned and glanced across the
Shannon.
A smOthered cry of horror from his
elbow proved that his companion had
recognized, conformity with him, the
identity of the white-gowned girl in the
boat, which, caught in the swiftly-run-
ming current, was slowly being drifted
IN the direction of the weir.
It's Kathleen!" she cried, hoarsely.
Yes remarked Wilmot, calmly,
steering his float clear of a rock in the
turbulent backwater.
And she has lost control over the
boat" A hand trembling with an ILL.,
concealed emotion was laid on his arm.
so | observe" he replied, blandly,
glancing out over the river from the tail
of his eye
What are you going to do?"
Il IdlStu HIS eyebrows III an
affectation of polite surprise.
Yes. you!" cried Mrs. O'Toole. trem-
bling in an odd mixture of rage and fear,
as a second cry for help reached her
ears. Dc you not realize that the boat
will be carried over the weir and that
Kathleen cannot swim a stroke?"
That will be awkward for her" re-
piled WilmOt, calmly, noting with a Sc
cret satisfaction that his companions
voice rose nearly to a scream under the
impetus Of her fear. Mrs. O'TooIe. do
you mind not hanging on to my arm. It
lnterferes with my fishing"
Are you mad, Mr.. Wilmot?' cried
Mrs. OToole, angrily. Drop your rod,
and for PHYS sake do something to
save Kathleen"
Il should advise yOu to run and fetch
Denis Moore to save your daughter"
he replied, sardonical1y, smiling at her
frenzied tones, as calmly taking a pipe
from his pocket he placed it between
his lips. 'She is getting very near the
weir now, Mrs. O'Toole. I should waste
no time in starting off if I were you, for
she will SOC be over"
DO you mean that you refuse to try
to say her? Coward!" cried his COM
panion, wringing her hands in agony as
a third appeal for help rang out clearly
above the roar of the waters.
well, it is a ticklish Job he said.
%grinning. And I'm hanged if l am 60
ing to risk my life or broken bones in
order to save Kathleen for Denis
Moore"
What do you mean"
This! If you will withdraw your IN
sane objection to my marrying your
daughter, I'll save her" said Wilmot.
gripping her by the wrist. IF not, she
may drown for all l care. Now, then,
which is it to be-"
"Brute!"
IF you will. am, however, also her
lover cried Wilmot, feverishIy. Now,
then, do you agree TO my terms, or do
o nOt?"
81 agree'' almost shrieked the terri
fed m I'll agree to anything;
only save herr"
IN an instant Wilmot had dropped
his rod. and, flinging off his coat as he
ran, sped along the top of the weir till
he reached the spot toward which,
borne on the turgid surface of the foam
fecked water, the boat was now swiftly
speeding.
Kathleen. pale but possessed, stood
up in the boa to grasp Wilmot's out
stretched arms as the boat sped under
the w~ater-soaked, moss-grown wood of
the f~oot-bridge.
He had gagged the exact spot where
b would pass to a nicely. Their hands
%gripped, held for a moment, then with
a wOman's Shrek of agony ringing
loudly in his ears, Wilmot was jerked
from his hold by the suddenness of the
impact, to plunge head foremost into
the swirling, seething food of the back
water.
A second later he came to the surface.
still holding his precious burden, and,
with long, steady strokes. slowly but
surely fought his way through the swift
current to the bank.
Kathleen" remarked Wilmot, gayly.
as he daringly kissed her bedraggled
hair under the very eyes of Mrs. O'Toole
as she arrived or the scene. I'VE have
only now to select the day for our
triumphant wedding, your MOTHER
he glanced IN amused satire at his late
enemy as he spoke-'having kindly
given her consent to our becoming en-
gagged"
Mrs. O'Toole smiled maIiciously.
My dear" she remarked. 1T was the
condition which this bright specimen
of manhood made to repay hin for the
trouble of putting down his rod in order
to rescue you"
Mother, dearie," laughed Kathleen.
bewitching even in her disorder, 81
think you are misjudging George. for
you see. we had arranged this little
comedy to bring o round to our way
of thinking quite two days ago."
"Kathleen!'
I'm afraid that it is quite true" she
replied. contritely. You are not angry.