The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-06-19

The girl on the bank caught her
breath, but said nothing. Must they
swim across? Was there no other
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.
She was white with excitement, but
her lips were set and her eyes were
bright with the intention Of doing his
bidding. s~e<ess
u 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.
ooh, please, I al 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. .ar .tss.E
She obeyed instantly, in trust and
shy wonder, and the warer 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 Is IL 1t were
a common thing which he had done
and he enjoyed it. She looked down
at herself. Not q 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 your" 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 I be when I'm
treated like a baby? 1t seems to ne
you didn't quite keep to the terms OF
our partnership" asl,st
This was one of the big things"
he said, 'only I didn't want you to
know it. To tell you tie truth, / didn't
know whether that stream vas ford
able or not; and, besides, l knew that
If you got your clothes wet again 1t
would hinder you in walking. Come,
! we must make that house before dark.
I'm hungry, aren't you? And we're
| pretty sure to find bacon and corn
! 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.
II Dull luO way was lOhbCK tudh IhCy
thought, and Holt had not been able
| to calculate on the slow steps Of the
girl who vas 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 near the little house.
Once Jean stumbled and almost fell,
and a sound like a half sob came from
| her-throat as she clutched at his arm
to save herself. 1t was then he picked
her up like a tired child and carried
her over the rough ground, until she
protested so vigorously that he was
forced to set her down and both
! stopped to rest. For, indeed, Hollis
own strength was somewhat spent by
this time, though he showed no out
ward sign Of fatigue, having beer
trained in a 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 a common peril and
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 beer
absolutely forgetful OF self, each fell
for the other a most extraordinary at
traction and reverence.
AS they sat silently under the stars
resting, it came to their minds hav
far from strangers they now seemed
and yet how little they knew abou
each others lives; and they felt the!
needed not to know because of wha
each had been to the other during thu
night and the day that were passed.
sWhen they started or their wa.
again, arm in arm, they walked silent
ly for q time, marvelllng at what tn,
day had brought them in knowledg'
Of the others fineness.
81 cannot be mistaken" though
Jean. "He Ia fine and noble-all tina
q man ought to be. He looks as If
had never done anything wrong, yet
strong enough to kill the devil IL b.
would"
But this time the little house In tn
distance had put aiight IN It's window
and guided them twinklingly to 1t
ioor, where three great dogs greete
hem from afar and disputed their eI