Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1910-10-25

I
paddle around in shallow water, so
swimming seemed the most sensible
thing to attack.
She took her resolve suddenly ono
day when everybody was down on
the pier in swimming attire. Fanstock
had paused besides her.
DO you diver he inquired cas-
ually.
Now, if he had inquired of Jessa-
mine If she was in the habit of en-
tering the cages of tigers and eating
her luncheon there it would have
seemed just as sensible to he. To
plunge deliberately headforemost into
the unseen terrors beneath the lakes
surface. where she was morally GER
tain that she would sink to the bot
tom and strangle to death, had never
appealed to her as an alluring diver.
sion. Yet as in a fash she recalled
how Fanshaw had cheered Helen the
day before when she dived from the
high post at the end of the pier
"Oh, yes" Jessamine to her horror
heard herself saying. carelessly.
Fanstock looked surprised. Il never
had noticed you diving, so didn't
know"
Well" Jessamine fastened to say,
Il haven't diyed much lately. | don't
seem TO care about it any more!"
NONSENSE" Fanstock said. IT'S
great exercise! You should keep it
tn h. nj Of no v,fn
and go in with mel"
1t was IL feet deep at the end of
the pier. Jessamine in a cold agony
trotted along beside him, conscious
that the other girls were watching her
obviously 1t was a great thing to
have Fanstock notice one. Now that
she had his attention should she win
nothing but his contempt and disgust
for her lack of nerve?
In that instant Jessamine resolved
TO risk it. Other girls dived and still
lived, so there was a fighting chance
for her
Come along!" Fanstock shouted as
he took a run and flying leap. Jessa-
mine watched him come up a few
yards out and swim back with power
full strokes while she stood shuddering
on the pier.
Aren't you coming off?" he asked.
"Oh, yes she said.
She shut her eyes, threw out her
hands and felt herself shooting into
space. She struck the water like an
arrow and then the bottom of the
world fell out and she fell after it.
She went like a shot to the bottom
and stopped there. She had sat on
the lakes coy bottom for years when
something grabbed her shoulder, ele-
waited her TO the surface and yanked
her up to the pier. There she be-
came aware of Fanstock, who survey
ed her with look of annoyance.
Don't you do that again! he com
manded. You may be able to turn
that trick of holding your breath and
swimming up to the surface when
you choose, but you don't do it when
I'm around! You've got 10 dive shall
lower-it isn't so hard on my nerves."
Jessamine sat in a little shivering
heap and regarded him with what
looked like the calm unconcern of a
Chinese idol. In reality she was par
alyzed with fright and establishment
at being still alive. Suddenly 1t
dawned on her that Fanstock thought
she had acted that way because she
was exceptionally bold and skillful!
How did one dive shallower? She
| thought 1t over slowly.
Turn your hands up the minute
you hit the water!" tanstock or
| dered.
"Jessamine burst into tears. I'm
not going to hit the water any more!"
she quavered I'll hate IT, I'm
scared half to death! never dived
before in my life, and just did it be-
cause | was afraid you'd laugh at me
II ! d-d-didnt."
"~reat guns!" Fanstock gasped as
the truth dawned on him.
Even in a bedraggled bathing suit
and weeping heartbrokenly, Jessa-
mine was very attractive. It's easy
10 feel sympathetic and protecting
when a girl is both appealing and
pretty.
"See here" said Fanstock, when he
got his breath, you and I'll get up
early mornings and I'll give you les
sons in diying-how'd that be? I'D
ike to ever so much!"
| AS Jessamine glanced up at him
through her tears life suddenly looked
roster She heaved sigh Of re
lief.
THAT would be splendid" she said