The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-06-19

way? She watched Holt standing
strong and manly, in the middle Of
the stream, the water above his waist
Presently, when he had gone more
than half way across he turned and
came back to her. E
She was white with excitement, but
her lips were set and her eyes were
bright with the intention Of doing his
bidding.
Il am sorry. There is no other way
and we must hurry. for the sun is
getting low We should reach that
house before dark"
He stopped and gathered her in his
strong arms, lifting her shoulder high,
and stalked out into the stream be.
fore she knew what he was doing.
"Oh, please, / can walk as well as
YOU" she deprecated.
Put your arms around my neck,
please" he commanded, and waded in,
holding her high and dry above the
water. !
She obeyed instantly, in trust and
shy wonder, and the WAFER rose about
them, but did not touch her.
Once, when they were in the middle
of the stream, Hollis foot slipped and
for an instant it seemed as though
he would lose his balance, but he
lifted her the higher and almost in
stantly recovered himself. In a mo-
ment more they had crossed the
stream, and he had set her down
upon the bank and was shaking the
water from his garments as if it were
a common thing which he had done
and he enjoyed it. She looked down
at herself. Not a shred of her gar
ments was wet, while he was drenched
almost to the arm pits.
"You are all wet!" she exclaimed,
conscience stricken.
you wouldn't expect me to keep
dry in all that, would you?" he asked,
with his eyes dancing.
Then they laughed like two children,
and a frightened chipmunk ran chat
tering away in the trees.
Are you all right?" he asked solicit
ously. Are you perfectly dry?" His
voice was husky with emotion and his
eyes tender.
"Of course I'm dry she answered
obviously, as II half ashamed of the
fact. Why wouldn't l be when I'm
treated like a baby? It seems to me
you didn't quite keep-to the terms of
our partnership"
"This was one of the big things
he said, .only I didn't want You to-
know it. To tell you tie truth, I didn't
know whether that stream was ford
able or not; and, besides, 1 knew that
If you got your clothes wet again it
would hinder you in walking. Come,
must make that house before dark.
I'm hungry. aren't YOU? And we're
pretty m to find bacon and curn
bread at least. How does that sound?"
.Good!" she cried, laughing, and
took the hand that was held out to her.
Together they ran on over the. rough
ground toward supper and rest.
But the way was longer than they
thought; and Holt, had not been able
to calculate on the slow steps Of the
girl who was unused to such long
tramps, nor to going without adequate
food. The sun went down and the
darkness was upon them before they
were anywhere tea the little house.
Once Jean stumbled and almost fen,
and a sound like a halfssob came from
her throat as she sclutched at his arm
save herself. It was then he picked
her up like a tired child and carried
her v 9 the rough ground, until she
protested 30 vigorously that he was
forced to set her down and both
stopped to rest. For, indeed, Hollis
own strength vas somewhat spent by
this time, though he showed no out
ward sign OF fatigue, having been
trained in q school that endures until
It drops.
BY this time they felt as II they had
known each other for years, for there
is nothing like q common peril and a
common need to make souls know one
another, and to bring out the true self
ishness or unselfishness OF each char
acter. Because these two had been
forgetful Of self, each felt
for the other a most extraordinary at
traction and reverence.
AS they Eat silently under the stars,
resting. 1t came to their minds haw
far from strangers they now seemed,
and yet how little they knew about
each others lives: and they felt they
needed not to know because OF what
each had been to the other during the
night and the day that were passed.
When they stastAd on their way
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