Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-08
Evening Story
THE FISHER MAIDEN.
fBy ANNE H1NRICHsEN)
Copyright. 1918, by the Mcclure News
,,a NAN Syndicate


river, AS he approached the boat he
saw that the woman who mad sum
moned him was young and decidedly
pretty.
"Are YOU in trouble?' he asked, as
the boats came together.
~ am in dire distress" answered the
SirI 81 have been drifting without oars
since morning. am lost and starved.
II had pulled my boat into the shade
of some willows" she went on as
Creighton fastened the boats together
and helped her to Il seat In ms. i ieli
asleep, and when I woke ! was floating
down the stream and my oars were
gone. Not a boat has passed TO-DAY l
have had nothing to eat since morning,
and it must be at least 6 o'clock. 1--we
at Doshe."
"Doshe? thought no one lived there
except the fishermen and their taml-
lies
II live with fisherman's family, ;,
He looked at her curiously. He had
supposed she came from one OF the
summer colonies on the river.
II am camping near Doshe,' ne salo'
n am on my way there now. We can
reach the town in an hour"
IAN hour" she sighed. shall die or
starvation before then"
$50 shall 1 unless get something to
eat" announced Creighton. But we
have a chance for life. There is nice
sandy beach covered with driftwood.
Here is string Of fish have just
caught. Can you cook ;,
Halt an hour later they were on the
beach. Before them were the fish she
had cooked and bread and milk which
he had bought from q nearby farm
house.
'eWfii you think me impairment" he
ventured, "if ask if Doshe is your
home or merely a temporary abiding
place? You do not dress nor speak as
these fisher folk do"
She interrupted him impatiently. II
do belong here. l am more Interested
in Doshe and its people than in any
thing else. Why are you staying near
Doshe? You are stranger.
II All here for rest and an outdoor
life"
His long figure was stretched at full
length on the sand. Under his thin silk
shirt the splendid muscles of his arms
and broad chest were distinctly out
lined. His eyes were keen and there
was a trace Of hardness in them. His
chin was square. His lips were full and
straight When he smiled sudden
kindness banished the touch of hard
ness from his eyes.
ed back to Doshe.
do you know the man who owns
that campo" Mildred asked.
Creighton scowled. He is Jacob
Walton, a member of the state legisla-
ture."
''For the fishing, suppose. You
ought to know all about him. I have
seen you talking to him several times
A few days later it occurred to
do
liberately avoiding him. When he went
to the fsherman's cabin where she
lived she was always out. When he
saw her on the river she was rowing
her boat in an opposite direction.
One day he hailed her on the water.
She was rowing down the stream to-
ward him, but at his call she turned
her boat around and rowed rapidly up
the river. In few minutes Creighton
overlook her.
mildred L want an explanation"
ooh What?" she asked coolly.
"Why did you row away from me! ~
She did not answer.
Mildred, for days you have not al
lowed me to come near you. l am mis-
erably unhappy. love you, Mildred. |
love you beyond everything else i'll the
world
"Do you really love me?' she asked.
"You come from a world far different
from this fishing village. Do you love
me as you would woman Of your own
class, or am . just an amusing summer
incidentT'
What nonsense are you talking
about a woman of my own class ?" he
stormed. II love you. What do l know
or care about class ~
Let go of my boat" she said icily.
IT do not wish to talk to you"
She pushed her boat away from his
and rowed toward the village.
That night was sleepless one for
Mildred. Early next morning she rowed
to Creighton's camp. His tent and all
his belongings had disappeared.
The committee for the Investigation
OF legislative bribery scandals was in
session. There had been circulated so
many stories of bribery in the legisla
ture that the speaker of the house of
representatives had been forced by
public opinion to appoint committee
for the investigation Of all bribery
sea ndals. Any person who chose to do
this committee to present proof Of
graft practiced in the legislature.
Miss Mildred Norris announced
the chairman.
Mildred entered the room. Allan
Creighton stood near the door. For a
moment they stared amazedly at each
other.
'Mr Chairman" said Mildred, II own
several hundred acres of land along the
Green river. My tenants are fishermen.
They told me that every year Jacob
Walton, prominent member of the
legislature, brings them copy of a bill
when he intends to introduce. This bill,
II passed, would restrict the fishing
rights to such an extent that the fish
ermen would be unable to make liv-
Ing Each fisherman gives Mr.. Walton
a small sum Of money. The total he re-
ceives is very large. He either does not
introduce the bill or manages to have
it defeated The fishermen are quiet
people, living a primitive, isolated ex-
1stence. They have paid this toll to the
pirates SO long that they have come to
regard it as an annual tax which the
legislature demands. They are my ten
ants and feel a responsibility for their
welfare. This summer l went to Doshe,
remained there several weeks and Sc
cured affdavits from all the fishermen
OF whom Mr.. Walton had demanded
."Mr. Chairman Allan Creighton
broke in "T too went to DoShe to Sc