The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1910-08-11
FROM TIE
RIVER

~ an sSAkihS ouS, wv lOOACu uoWu
at the water. Suddenly she gave a
little exclamation Of despair and
sprang far out into the dark, her body
striking the water with a 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 Sc weak that she would have
fallen.
why didn't you let me die?" she
asked in reply.
The mar 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. 81 thought l was ali
alone"
Where do you live?"
Nowhere"
"Wheer are your friends?"
Il 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 Dor.
1ered the river bank. The street was
lined with warehouses and factories,
all dark for the night. On a far cor.
ler, however, a light shone from an
open doorway. There the man bore
his ha~lf-conscious burden. The light
shone from the rear room Of a saloon,
used as a restaurant.
Placing the girl in a chair at one OF
the tables, the man called a waiter,
who, at his request, brought a glass
of whisky. The fiery liquor made the
girl choke and gasp, but it brought q
faint glow to her cheek.
you're not used to that" the mar
said.
NO" she replied, ri never tasted il
before" Then she glanced around
the room.
when did you eat your dinner?'
the man asked.
Yesterday" she replied, with 9
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 2G
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 a white collar re
lieved the m@onotony of her attire
while neat white cuffs encircled her
wrists. But everything she had or
was soiled and bedraggled by the dirty
waters Of the river in which she had
sought to drown herself. When she
had satisfied her hueger she told him
her story-a sordid story enough oil
a struggle to earn her W living in
great city, of failure, and finally of de
spair.
What will you do now?" the mar
asked.
81 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 il
toward him and looked long anG
searchingly into her eyes. She flushed
but net his gaze steadily and fear
lessly.
Gould you look my old mother ir
the eyes like that?" he asked, finally
yes she replied.
D you know" he said, after an
other long pause, g" have a feeling
that you belong to me. l found yor
in the river. Out west, where | live
finding is keeping"
The girl flushed. IT think would
prefer to go back to the river" she
said.
q loIiSli anu lcI HE SXDldl1I
| am willing to trust you if you are
willing to trust me. Marry me to
morrow"
Marry you?" the girl faltered.
II mean nothing else" the mar
said, earnestly.
The girl looked at him wistfullv
Still she hesitated.
II will say this much and no more.
the man added. 81 can give you
good home. You will never regret m,
or be ashamed Of me. l will not tel
you where my home is, nor who / am
nor what | an. You must take m
as | am willing to take YOU"
IT will marry you tomorrow" sal,
the girl. Then she broke into a tor
rent Of tears.
20, be good to mel" she cried. Jus
be good to me. Give me peace, and
smile, and a kind word once in
while. That's all l ask. The worl,
has been so cruel, and l am so tire,
Of it all"