Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-04-01


waited for him to rise the third time,
then her small hand grasped the hair
Of the drowning child, drew him out
into the open and held HIS head above
wafer till help came in response to her
shI ieks.
'You saved my life once, and have
sometimes questioned whether its
value to me OF to anybody else war
ranted the effort"
The tone was as bitter as the
words. and the clear-cut, handsome
face was overcast
You have the ability to make 1t
valuable or worthless, as you elect
Your destiny is in your own hands"
"It is mott" he contradicted hotly.
Its In your hands. You can make
me or mar me by Just one world You
saved my life and the responsibility
is yours, not minel"
She knew him too well to try to
reason with him in this mood, and
silence fell between them. She stood
erect in the shadow Of the great pine.
her sweet, pure face, pale and deter
mined, turned toward the cold sea. His
yearning eyes filled with boyish, an
CRY tears as the helplessness Of con-
tending against her will swept over
him. In shame he dashed away the
drops that hung on his lashes.
Then impetuously he took both her
hands. She resisted gently, but he
held them in a strong grasp.
when will you marry me?" lie de-
manded, searching her face with his
dark eyes. Unable to withstanding
his look, the honest gray eyes fell and
the rich color flooded her face.
you love mel" he urged, quick to
seize upon her weakness. when will
you marry me?"
She raised her clear eyes to his and
he released her impauently.
when you have proved yourself a
man." she replied firmly. when you
have used your splendid energies for
something besides play" Without
needing the derisiol Of his glances
she continued. IL could not marry an
idler who is content to live on his
fathers bounty"
Marry me, and I'll do everything
you ask me tot"
you haven't yet done anything
have asked you to. How can l hope
for anything better after we-are
married. You would not at my ask
ing go to college. nor enter business.
995e Don TaSfh ThaSSfhinnHH bat SSfaass s6oF fR yof
fathers yacht and otherwise amuse
yourself"
She saw the storm gathering, but
bravely she finished: prove your
self is all ask"
He was smarting under the rebuke
of her words, and his anger hared;
'Iu prove that you had better have
left me under the old float dozen
years ago." And with that he left
her.
A fair-haired girl sat alone on the
trunk of fallen tree with her face
in her hands.
1t was springtime. The pine tree
showed rich and dark against the
young green of the birches and ma
ples. The tense figure Of a woman
stood on the bluh gazing with unsee'
ing eyes at the tints OF the afterglow.
Five years had passed since he hac
left her in anger, and till now she hac
hoped for his return. He had never
written, but she had known that his
EFFORTS we're for her, and she had beer
happy In waiting. For days past she
had felt that he would soon come back
to her. a man, and her heart had cried
ont for him. But now-now-atter al
his toll. his self-denial, his achieve
meut-after all her courage and pau'
enee and faith, they would never see
each other again in this world! lie
had at last gone down to those waters
from which she had drawn him when
a child; and he would never come
back.
The cracking OF dry twig caused
her TO turn with a confusion. The
man standing there saw white face
full Of dumb agony; then he saw !
suddenly transformed into such
radiance Of Joy that he dared not be
lieye Il was for him! But she hell
ont her arms toward him, and mur
muring endearing words he clasps
her to his heart.
u thought you we're drowned"
81 probably would have been. deal
est, II had carried out my plans. bu
al the last moment such longing I
see you and claim you came over m
that / threw everything over and cam
here as fast as trains could bring MI
Everyone except those on the ill-fate
facht thought that l had gone on tn
rip"
II seemed as II the moments wei
too precious for mere words, but pre-
entity he said:
Again you have saved my III
ear lovey. and it is you, alone, thi
ave made II worth the saving!
fARY b. LEONARD.