The Cairo bulletin., 1908-02-12


by. Emerging with 15.foot ladder,
he made hasty preparation for lower
Ing It into the dark abyss.
Peering over the ragged edge, he
saw To his intense relief that the wa
ter reached only to her shoulders. and
that she was In no immediate danger
OF drowning, at least not so long "a
she retained her hold upon the slip.
perry black pump stock and did not
lose her balance and presence Of
mind
lei, eli. eff! Maria! Holt on tight
till | leave down the ladder
Her only response was shiver and
a look that was pitiful In the extreme.
He knew that there was danger Of her
fainting or being cramped by the Icy
water, so he cautioned her to holt
on" with all her might until the ladder
descended.
Clasping her in his brawny arms,
he climbed the slippery ladder with
his dripping burden and bore her ten
derby to her mothers kitchen, where
he deposited her limp form in a huge
wooden rocking chair, and then re-
tired to call his Nom over
A sweet little old woman with
snowy hair presently appeared and led
the unfortunate young woman to her
room; then she briskly entered the
kitchen to set the table and made the
dinner ready for Maria's mother was
too upset to do anything.
Just before serving the dinner, Mrs
Becker was called upstairs. when
after a whispered consultatpn with
Maria. she went across the WAY, and
she and George reappeared a few mo
ments later, the mother carrying a
small bundle under her arm
II guess the dinners ready, vonce,"
announced Mrs. Rudisil amelia, You
and Cheorche will stay and eat with
us. amt? This accident makes us
have the dinner so late. guess things
will be all cold when we set down at
the table vonce."
Wen, being as we are both alone
to-day, Cheorche and me, we might
as well>stay."
The trio seated themselves about
the festive board, and George while
experimenting the carving Of the tur-
key. suddenly looked up as the door
onened. and there in the doorway stood
Maria.
He was almost startled as by an
apparition, for he knew that during
all the years of his courtship he had
never seen her appear more beautiful
than she did then.
What was that new light which
shown in her eyes? feeling Of awe,
mingled with deep sense of resig
ration fell upon him. What did 1t
all mean?
"Maria" he gasped Am | awake
or do | dream"
"Ach, no. Cheorche. but | have had
now such Il troubled conscience this
while past already. and when | had
this fall to-day and you saved me
from drowning, 1t semed like as
though II was the hand of Provi-
dence. Besides" she continued, fall
4 found out that it amt
right for Nom and me to live alone
By ourselves this here way. +"
Marital" interrupted George. &c.
statically, her meaning just dawning
upon him with such radiance as
never before had come to his monot-
ouous, slow-moving mental life.
Eyes, Cheorche. I've give in at
last" she softly said. as she laid her
head upon his shoulders with a long
drawn sigh of relief lie pressed his
lips to her cheeks and led her to her
chair at the table.
Thanksgiving day had to their two
happy lives a far different meaning
than ever before as they partook OF
their meal with silent blessing,
when will we get married. stole
ally asked George after the meal was
Her answer was evidently
too good to realize.
"Pll try" said Maria, not without
coloring deeply, ito make it suit for
some time next month"
"All right" briskly responded her
lover; try to make IT suit for Sun
day. three weeks after next. Amt
you will?'