Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-14
cR!.AllrrzsR XVII
1ovulataon.

I'd
= = n1E1IAt W So
~ 6~evolataon.
John Brooke. stated IN 1859
ch.ir on ~. ~, v.-na. !. .s.s..
y !ela-fash'onsa frame house. looked
So : sS.s q s laS 's trses, ,i 3 v n.aa ~ :
white road stretched away toward the
railroad station, : mile di,tant Thers
was a. pillow Il his book and his isft
foot rested on q cushioned stool.
Constance, Colby. sitting on q bench
1t his side, teamed her sunny head
AGAINST the white-paineds clapboards
Of the antique structure, and Nk>Wise
bent her case toward the glaring
highway.
All about them were the peace and
beauty OF . rural sunday In SPRING
time. From ovsr the fields came the
notes Of = church bell calling thA vii.
lakers to morning service; and more
family, from . greater distance, the
murmur Of the sea upon q sandy
beach.
Presently Brooke twisted little
unee.tly. gripping tho chair arms ana
drawing himself . BIT higher in. his
% OF pain, crossed his face. and the
girl leaned forward alphabetically,
with extended hand.
You're not comfortable" she said.
soltcttously. "Is 1t the pillow, do you
think? Let me place It differently"
He smiled. happily, turning his
face to her.
You're 30 GOOD" he returned ap-
preciatively: "and I'm such q nui-
that's all. Isn't It hearty time they
were here?"
Nearly" she told him, with in
dulxence for his anxiety. 1.-THE train
Is due ut eleven.L~e, and those
church bells mean it's now half.past
ten. In three-quarters Of an hour
more they will bc with us"
After q little moment OF silence, he
said:
am I not? NO." as he raw her about
to speak. don't deny 1t. I know,
myself, that I'm simply unbearable.
, Here I should be the most blissfully
contented man in the world, having
you beside ME; and yet I'm fidgeting
for those who will spoil our tete-a-
tete. -
"%Truthfully speaking, though,
dear, it's the fact tnat they're com
ing that makes me this q I wish
they wouldn't, tcome-not Just yet,
that tB--for I should much prefer this
peace and quiet aloneshere with you
and Just your father, but since they
must conse and bring o lot Of news
with them. I cannot but admit I'm
anxious to have them get here and SO
learn all that's to be learned.
She patted his hand softly. where
II lay on the chair arm beside her.
II understand, John" she said, her
voice vibrant with O maternal tender
ness. which was a new charm re-
vealed in the last twenty-four hours.
"I'm really feeling 1ruch better to-
day." Brooke vent on with sudden
cheeriness. II have only very occa-
sional twinges In my back now, and
my kneecap doesn't begin to be so
painful"
"Oh, how fortunate you are!" the
girl exclaimed. "Wher I think how
you not only risked your life to save
Us. but very nearly lost it, it terri
fies me. You and I shall never for
get Mr., Smith. shall we; dear?"
For If it had not been for Smith,
John Brooke's career would have end
ed two nights before, when he sprang
from the. balloon into the broad,
river. The plunge had looked inno-
cent enough.
It was not nMch of q drop from
the low-swinging wicker basket to, the
white-capped water, and Brooke had
learned SWIMMING in the native
Hawaiian school, where to- breast
high seas is almost second nature,
But it had CHANGED that a half-sub-
merged tree trunk, with one sturdy
branch still attached, lay floating di-
rectly beneath him, and. as he
dropped, the branch catching his
k~neecap, had wrenched it, while the
tree trunk had come in scarcely less
damaging contact with his spine.
The agony which ensued was of q
nature to totally unfit him for effort,
and though for q little he had weak
ly chung to the fotsaul which had un.
done hin4 he must soon have sunk
beneath the surface had not his
plight been instantly seer and appre.
ciated by his mysterious fellow o
ager, who lost no time in diving from
the then rising balloon and swim.
ming to his rescue.
A minute or SO later Paddock had
dexterously descended upon the fai,
green Of a golf course on the rivers
far side. and his remaining two pas.
sengers had been landed without sc
much as a jar. Then, a rosvboat hav.
ing been discovered on the shore, he
and Smith safely to land.
The quaint old farmhouse, setting
back from the river, and hidden away
been a subsequent discovery. There