The Montgomery tribune., 1910-11-11
FROM THE
RIVER

little exclamation Of despair and
sprang far out into the dark, her body
striking the water with splash.
Quick as she had been, the man
was quicker, for she had scarce struck
the water than an answering splash
told that he had sprung to her rescue.
A few minutes more and he had
| dragged her to the shore.
why did you do that?" he asked
sternly, as he held her in his arms
she was so weak that she would have
fallen.
"why didn't you let me die?" she
asked in reply.
The man began to wiring the water
| from his coat. Come, now," he said,
'you really didn't expect me to let you
| drown yourself?"
81 didn't know you were there" the
girl faltered. Il thought l was all
alone"
where do you 'live?"
Nowhere"
"Wheer are your friends?"
"T have none"
That's bad" said the man, musing-
ly. Then he added:
Come"
| The girl arose and tried to walk, but
almost fell to the ground again. The
man, with a quick glance around,
picked her up in his arms and walked
hastily along the street which bor-
| Il fhn ri hon ofr
lined with warehouses and factories,
all dark for the night. On far cor
ner, however, a light shone' from an
open doorway. There the man bore
his half-conscious burden. The light
shone from the rear room of saloon,
used as restaurant
Placing the girl in chair at one Of
the tables, the man called waiter,
who, at his request, brought a glass
of whisky. The fiery liquor made the
girl choke and gasp, but it brought a
faint glow to her cheek.
You're not used to that" the man
said
NO" she replied "I never tasted it
before" Then she glanced around
the room.
when did you eat your dinner?"
the man asked.
Yesterday" she replied, with a
wan smile.
And you are famishing" cried the
man. The waiter speedily brought
some food, which the girl ate eagerly.
AS she did so the man studied her
carefully. She was not more than 26,
and would have been pretty were not
her face marked by the lines of suffer
ing. She was neatly dressed, but her
clothing bore the marks of poverty.
About her throat white collar re-
lieved the monotony of her attire,
while neat white cuffs encircled her
wrists. But everything she had on
was soiled and bedraggled by the dirty
waters of the river in which she had
sought to drown herself. When she
had satisfied her hunger she told him
her story-a sordid story enough of
a struggle to earn her own living in a
great city, of failure, and finally of de-
spair.
What will you do now?" the man
asked
II don't know" the girl replied.
For several minutes the man bent
his brows in thought. Then he leaned
forward, took the girls face between
the palms of his hands, turned II
toward him and looked long and
searchingly into her eyes. She flushed,
but met his gaze steadily and fear.
lessly
Gould you look my old mother In
the eyes like that?" he asked, finally
EYES," she replied.
do you know" he said, after an.
other long pause, II have a feeling
that you belong to me. found you
In the river Out west, where live,
finding is keeping"
The girl flushed. II think I would
prefer to go back to the river" she
said.
wait moment and let me explain
I am willing to trust you If you are
willing to trust me. Marry me to
morrow"
Marry you?" the girl faltered.
81 mean nothing else" the man
said earnestly.
The girl looked at him wistfully
Still she hesitated
Il will say this much and no more,
the man added. II can give you 9
good home. You will never regret me
or be ashamed of me. will not tell
you where my home is, nor who am
nor what I am. You must take me
as am willing to take you"
Il will marry you tomorrow" said
the girl Then she broke into tor
rent of tears.
| 20, be good to mel" she cried. "Jus,
be good to me. Give me peace, and q
smile. and kind word once in 9
while. That's all l ask. The world
has been so cruel, and am so tired
\ of ~ all - l.5sa