Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-01-17


Then he looked up at the starstrewn
night, and the great moon slipping
by, and walked into the current
From where he stood to the other
shore was full mile, but the
strength Of the current was such that
he had wisely calculated on swimming
diagonally across the river and land
ing some distance from the shore at
Newton. He was swimming sailor
fashion, with the strong, easy stroke
and taking his time. Overhead the
stars twinkled, and the golden globe
| OF the moon sent a wake of yellow
light along the water. The river
FLASHED closely and lovingly against
him and rolled oily from his back
as he swan steadily on. Once or
twice the current seemed to grasp
at him, but he threw It Off with a
strong stroke, and at one particular
point several sturdy overland
strokes seemed necessary to bring
him out of a swirl he found himself
in.
He was swimming in a dream. He
hOOhC0 dnCuQ anu saw lhG CnI lOaCh
the platform and the girl looking out
Of the car window for him. He had
reached the middle Of the river and
the full volume of the current
reached out and clasped him with the
grip of a wrestler. He eased in his
stroke and let the current take him
downstream, working his way gradu-
ally towards the Illinois shore. 1t
semed to him that the strength Of
the water was abating, and that he
had passed the worst of it. He was
commencing to tire a little. It was a
long swim.
Finally the eastern bank stood up
boldly and closely at hand, and Wads-
worth, with renewed speed, swung in
and reached land Good boy, Lee
ander," was all he said as he began
to dry himself of by sweeping the,
water from his body with his open
hands. After drying himself, he
Before the train got to Newton Miss
Draper had been talking to the con-
ductor.
I'VE stop at Newton for ten min
utes, don't we?' she queried.
Yes, ma'am," said the conductor.
There's a ferry there, l believer"
was Miss Diapers next question.
ut isn't running now" said the
conductor.
Are there any boats there?" said
Miss Draper.
Some at Newton" was the conduc-
tors response.
Are there none on the Missouri
shore?" queried Miss Draper, anx-
lously.
Il don't think so" was his answer.
Were you expecting any one over?"
he inquired.
why, yes" said Miss Draper, that
ls-if the ferry was running"
We'll. the only way to cross to-
night would be to swim across, and 1t
isn't likely that anybody would try
that" was the conductors reply, as
he went forward.
At Newton she leaned from the car
In a state of morbid fear. Yes, there
was Wadsworth. He had seen her,
too, and came rapidly up to the car.
She came out on the platform, and
the first thing she said was: How
did you get across the river? The
ferry is broken, they told me-did
you swim the river to meet me, Bob?"
1t was the first time she had called
him by any other name than Mr..
Wadsworth. 1t was a good sign, he
thought She put her hand up to the
back of his neck. 1t was still wet
with the grip of the Father of
Waters.
well, Mary, to be perfectly square
with you, did take little swim to
keep the date" he said.
She looked at him lovingly. Have
you got any money with you, Bob?"
she asked.
"Why?" was Wadsworth's answer.
Because want you to take this
train with me to Chicago. l will be
your wife the minute We can find a
minister. was going to tell you to
wait a year when you came here to-
night, but you can have me now any
time you want me. oh, Bob, why did
you run such a dreadful risk as
that?"
They passed into the car still talk
ing. The train drew out from the
little station, and the platform, de-
serted and bare, lay black in the
shadows. Further down the sand of
the river the bank shone white under
the moonlight, with catlike smooth
ness, and arching its tawny food to
the night, down rolled the Mississippi
TO the sea.