The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-07-09
ALMOST A
COWARD
by Minnie Long

q
want man who would go through
: FIRE and water for my sake"
, The big white steamer was forcing
its way swiftly through the waters OF
the lake on its way to South Haven.
A gay throng OF excurslonists was on
board Young men and maidens were
laughing and singing, children were
playing. and band OF music was do
ing its best to make itself heard above
the din OF the merrymaking.
Mildred and her two admirers were
seated in n sheltered nook on the up
per deck when she made the remark
that she would marry none but hero.
Both men loved her-or at least one
had told her so, and she could read
the other mans secret in his eyes.
/ But she could not decide between
! them Harold Boleau was handsome,
a graceful talker, a good dresser, a
man OF the world He was the one
| who had told her he loved her. On
the other hand, John Walters was
silent. rugged and sometimes awk-
ward In speech and manner Yet he
was so sincere, so earnest, so manly,
that Mildred almost imagined that it
was he she loved best.
The steamer neared the mouth OF
the harbor, and the three stood at the
rail- watching fisherman in his boat
almost in the direct line Of the big
ships course AS the steamer neared
Isn a.
through Mildred's mind. What II she
were to fall overheard? Who would
be the first to spring to her rescue?
Harold Boleau or John Walters? Sup
pose she put them to the test. Even
ii both failed there was the fisherman
in his boat, and so there could be no
danger. And, Mildred reasoned, a
wetting would be a small price to pay
for a test upon which all her future
happiness depended. She resolved TO
make the test
Slyly she loosened the long pins
which fastened her hat to her shining
brown hair. Then, with a little ex-
clamation she gave her head q toss
which sent the hat flying from her.
She made quick grasp to reach it,
and then with wild shrek fell over
board Hardly had she struck the wa
ter than the form of Harold Boleau
shot like an arrow from the rail and
plunged in beside her. Mildred could
swim, but her skirts sustained her
and she knew she was in no danger of
rf
inward satisfaction that she realized
that at least one of her lovers had
not hesitated to risk his life for her.
Harold and sprang to her rescue, |
while John had remained safely on
deck.
Three hours later on the return trip |
Mildred unexpectedly found herself |
alone with John Walters. and her
face flushed under the stern gaze of
his steel gray eyes.
Doubtless you are ready to set me !
down as a coward because | did not |
spring to your rescue" he said. stern
ly. DO you think it was fair |
test?"
81 might have been drowned" Mil
bred said coldly.
There was no chance of your |
drowning l know you can swim.
Then, besides, there was a fisherman |
in his boat not three feet from where |
you fell. Besides, your accident was |
too apparent. 1t was easy to see |
that you fell overheard deliberately |
and Intentionally"
"And you were afraid to jump in
after me- Mildred said, as she walked |
haughtily away You were a cow /
ard Yes, did fall in Intentionally !
I'm glad l did. for it enabled me to
find brave man."
The sun went down, and in the twi- I
light the little groups of excursionists /
became quieter. Suddenly there was
a cry. A little crippled girl had fallen 4
overheard, Mildred and Harold, stand
ing near the rail, saw the helpless
form Of the child whirl over and over
in its flight toward the black waters /
Of the lake, and saw the curly head 1
sink from sight Unconsciously Mil
dred turned TO the man at her side
with a questioning look in her eyes.
But he remained leaning against the
rail, gazing almost unconcernedly at
the water. With a queer feeling
about her heart Mildred turned away.
At the same instant there was a
cheer Some one else had leaped head
long into the water and had reached
the drowning child. The steamer
quickly passed from sight, but the en-
gines were reversed, and slowly the
big boat came round TO the spot where
the child and rescuer had disappeared.
Nothing was to be seen but the rest
less black waters of the lake Then
q shout rang out and the ships
searehllght soon located the forms in
the water. Five minutes later the
sailors helped John Walters and his
burden to the deck
II was not until one evening a week
later. in her own home. that Mildred,
with her head on John Walters shout
der and his arm about her waist, sob
bed out plea for forgiveness for
doubling his courage.
Il was foolish, John" she cried.
but now I'm glad. for ! did find out
which one OF you was the real hero"
John kissed away her tears He /