Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-06-17

ach, she wound one arm firmly about
an upright Of the slight railing. and
thrust the other into the green water
as far under the float as she WAS able.
Again she heard the terrifying bump
against the tirnbers, and she grabbed
franticaily underneath the float in the
direction OF the sound. but with no re-
suits. In an agony of suspense she
waited for him to rise the third time,
then her small hand grasped the hair
Of the drowning child. drew him olt
into the open and held his head above
water till help came in response 10 ker
shrieks.
you saved my life once, and have
sometimes questioned whether It's
value to me or to anybody else war
rented the effort"
The tone was as bitter as the
words. and the clear-cut, handsome
face was overcast
You have the ability 10 make II
valuable or worthless. a. you elect
Your destiny is in your own hands"
ut is not!' he eoutradioted ho ly.
"Its in your hands. You can ma {
me or mar ne by Just one word! o'
saved my life and the responsibility
ls yours. not minel"
She knew MIN too well to try
reason with him in this mood. aud
silence fell between them. She sloc
erect in the shadow OF the great pin
her sweet, pure face pale ami de
mined, turned toward the cold sea.
yearning eyes filed with boyish. -
cry tears as the he'ples ness of c,f
tending against her Will sN ell oS'
him. In shame he dashed away 'h
drops that hung on his lasbes.
Then impetnOusly he TOOK Doth te
hands. She resisted gently. bu!
held them in strong grasp.
when will you merry rDs?' he IL
manded. searching her face with ~
dark eyes. Unable 70 withstaDdin
his look. the honest gray eyes fell nut
the rich color flooded her face.
''You love mel" ne urged. quick to
seize upon her weakness. When will
you marry me?"
She raised her clear eyes TO his and
he released her impatiently.
'When you have proved yourself e
man" she replied firmly. when you
have used your splendid energies for
something besides play" Without
heeaing the derislon of his glances
she continued. 81 could not marry an
idler who Is content to live On his
father's bognty."
Marry roe. and I'll do everything
yoa ask me to!"
You haven't yet done anything
have asked you to. How can hope
FOR anything better after we-are
married. You would not at my ask
ins 80 To college, nor enter business,
nor give up friends who encourage
iazincss. For five years you have
done nothing but cruise about In your
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 fiered:
! an prove that you had better have
left me under the old float dozen
years agol" And with that he let
her.
a falr-haired girl sat alone on the
trunk of fallen tree with her face
In her hands.
1t was springtlme The pine tree
showed rich and dark against the
young green of the birches and ma.
pies. The tense figure of a woman
stood on the blum gazing with unsee-
ing eyes at the tints OF the after glow,
Five years had passed since he had
left her in anger. and TIL now she had
| hoped for his return. lie had never
written, but she had known that his
efforts were for her. and she had been
happy In waiting. For days past she
had felt that he would soon come bRch
to her, man, and her heart had cried
out for him. But now--now-efter all
his toll, his self-denial, his achieve
| ment-after all her courage and pa.i.
eace aud 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 tWlg caused
her to turn with a confusion. The
man standing there saw white face
full OF dumb agony; then he saw II
suddenly transformed into znlch q
radiance of Joy that he dared not he
leve It was for him! Bnt she held
ont her arms toward him, and mur
muring endearing words he elasped
her to his heart.
u thought you were drowned"
Il probably would have been dear
est, II + had carried out my plans but
at the last moment such longing Il
see you and claim you came over me
that threw everything over and came
here as fast as trains could bring me
Everyone except those on the ill-fated
yacht thought that l had gone on tbs
trip"
Il seemed as II the moments wers
too precious for mere words, but pres
emily he said:
Again you have saved my life
dear lovey, and 1t is you. alone. thai
have made It worth the sAyingl
NARY B. LEONARD.
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