Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1922-01-26

stained glass. He looked priestly, al
mos. noble, indeed-yet his teeth set
hard as he noted Marjorie's illumined
eyes and John Kenton's face openly
adotng. 1t was impossible--they
scarcely knew each others nalnes--yet
actualy-0f that his heart, hot with
jealous haze. left him in doubt. And
all The six months since he came 10 the
parish he had looked upon her as his
10 take or leave NJ will
Until now he had NOT been sure he
loved her She had scented but half
alive, flower bloSSonling away from
sunshine. No wOnder--living as she
did in gray old house, with gray
elders for company, and lacking even
the stimulus of uugratified wishes.
Her money had not tempted hlm-he
was too vital to be mercenary, withal
far from needy Now, lit with loves
fine fire She was wholly adorable,
wholly desirable Have her he must
and would, despite this pestlent out
slider.
A born actor, he masked his anger
under seeming Of jolly fellowship
before the wedding, the going away
and other frivolities had ended he had
scraped remote college acquaintance
with Kenton and all but compelled him
10 come and share the bachelor free
dom Of the rectory. Here the weather
helped him-it had turned suddenly
tOrrid after a single day of freshets
that sent streams out of banks. They
We're small but many. running down
10 the mill pond, which stretched
broad, silent, silvery, for two miles
above the big mill. The rectory
abutted the pond-so did Thornway
Marjories home. Consequently she
swan like mermaid, and loved moth
Ing better than a water race before
sunrise in the heat of summer.
Ruel MADDEN had been her competi-
tor many times but not always victor
Her adroitneSs Offset his greater
strength Commonly they went mid
way the pond in canoe, steadied 1t
with mooring in deep placid water,
leapt oversize and spent blissful min
utes In clear cold water almost ocean
blue at it's deeps.
kenton swan only moderately well.
mainly through lack of practice. stu
he did not love the water Yet be
tween the waters enticement. Had
denis challenging eyes and Mariories
radiant face at mention of a water race
he could not hang back. He would lose
IT, of course-but he could afford 10
lose, She was his betrothed-he
waited only upon such lapse Of time
as would seem to the elders sufficient
TO claim her in face of daylight So
through the ashen rose of a stirless
dawn the canoe shot mid-stream was
anchored and the race was on. Up
current the three swan at frSt-Nen-
ION incautiously shooting ahead in
stead of saving his strength. He was
half blown when the turn down stream
began-then Marjorie led, with Had
den yard behind. 1t was heavenly
to catch breath, going with the current,
now floating for a breuth's space,
now sinking To the chin folded loving
~ In the waters silken embrace But
whirled him half about, sucked him
under for second. then as he came
UP painting bore him resiStlessly away
from the others
He heard MADDEN shout, Back For
your life The mill race has been
opened" but it sounded far off. The
whelming current tossed him. butfeted
him-took its will of him--he fought
ii with set teeth, with laboring breath
TO the end of strength and stay. Then
with blackness about him he felt
clutch upon his shoulder-his head
was above water-Marjorle was beside
him, doing her best TO draw him into
calmer water, with HaddeD crying
hhskily, Marjorie, this way I'll save
you or dlei"
Save both % Marjorie called clear
ly, clinging to Kenton's shoulder. Her
touch brought new strength--somehow
they drew from the widest rush,
though not to safety. Hadden met
them--together the three were swept
toward the bank, where a giant syca-
more dropped huge half-broken
branch within clutching distance. Blue
Tipped, barely conscious, Kento0 could
not clutch 1t. MADDEN had shouted for
help-a skiff was racing toward them
from the upper pond. Butt would
come too late unless-Marjorie looked
up at the branch already parting under
their combined weight. Hold his
head z she said family to Hadden, I'M
clasping her hands as she spoke. Save
yourself the guilt of the murder you
planned. You knew the race was to
be opened"
MADDEN looked into the eyes OF an
accusing angel then YEARLY AT the
boat II seemed TO stand still. despite
frantic rowing He tore the handker-
chief from about his throat-deftly,
swiftly he bound Kentoa's wrist to
the dipping branch--then loosed his
own hold and with one word, For
give Peg the water bear him where
II would.
Mtracuously Il spared him, sweep
ing him In toward Jutting cock, [
whence he was rescued. scnSeless,
bruised and broken He was hope
leSsly Scared and halted badly IN his