Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1910-12-15
FROM THE
RIVER

at the water. Suddenly she gave q
little exclamation Of despair and
sprang far out into the dark, her body
striking the water with q 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 70 weak that she would have
fallen.
why didn't you let me diet" she
asked in reply.
The man began to wiring the water
from his coat. Come, now" he said,
you really didn'texpect me to let you
drown yourself?"
II didn't know you were there" the
girl faltered. II thought I was all
alone"
Where do you live?"
Nowhere"
"Wheer are your friendsi"
IT 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 q quick glance around,
picked her up in his arms and walked
hastily along the street which Dor
dered the river bank. The street was
lined with warehouses and factories.
all dark for the night. On a far cor
ner, however, O light shone from an
open doorway. There the man bore
his half-cOnscIous burden. Yhe light
shone from the rear room Of Q saloon.
used as q restaurant.
Placing the girl in a chair at one Of
the tables, the man called q waiter.
who. at his request, brought q glass
Of whisky. The fiery liquor made the
girl choke and gasp, but 1t brought q
faint glow to her cheek.
You're not used to that" the man
said.
NO." she replied, II never tasted It
before" Then she glanced around
the room.
when did you eat your dinner7"
the man asked.
Yesterday" she replied. with q
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 a 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
q struggle to earn her own living in q
great city, Of failure, and finally Of de-
spair.
What will you do now2" the man
asked.
Il 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 It
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.
"Yes," 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 I live,
finding is keeping"
The girl flushed. IT think I would
prefer to 90 back to the river" she
said.
wait q moment and let me explain.
l am willing to trust you II you are
willing TO trust me. Marry me To-
morrow"
marry your" the girl faltered.
Il mean nothing else" the man
said. earnestly.
The girl looked at him wistfully.
Still she hesltated.
81 will say this much and no more"
the man added. Il can give you q
good home. You will never regret me
o. be ashamed Of me. I will not tell
you where my home Ia, nor who I am,
nor what I am. You must take me
a. am willing to take you"
II viii marry you tomorrow" said
the girl. Then she broke into q tor
rent Of tears.
20, be good to met" she cried. "Just
be good to me. Give me peace. and q
smile. and a kind word once In q
while. That's ell ask. The world
has been so cruel. and I am SO tired
Of Il all"
A year later they were back IN Chi.