Show I 1 I 1 1 I FROM THE RIVER I 1 the n man I 1 an on the bridge gareia gabed idly adl down at the river that swept so silent ly y beneath pm m near hint him a oung woman fal and slender blender stood leaning on the tie railing she too looked down doan at tho the water suddenly she gave a 0 little exclamation of 0 and sprang far out into the dark her body striking the water with ith a splash quick as aa she ahe had been the man was quicker for she had scarce struck the water than an answering splash told that lie he had sprung to her rescue A few minutes more art and lie had dragged her to the shore chore why did you do that lie he asked rAc aa s he held her lit in his arnis arma nhe was as so BO weak that site she would mould have fallen NN hy dian didn t you let rne me die she asked in reply rhe nian man began to wring ring the water from his coat come no now lie he said iou aou really dian didn t expect me to let you drown ou our relf I 1 dlin t know ou were there the girl faltered I 1 I 1 thought I 1 was all aa alone where do ou lice hie nowhere are your ti lends bends 11 1 I have hane none 1117 hats bad said bald the man musing ly then ho he added come the girl arose and tried to walk but almost fell to the ground again 1 the I he man mail with ith a quick glanco glance around picked her up in his arms and walked hastily along the street which bor derel dere I 1 the river bank the street was waa lined with warehouses and factories all lark dark tor for the night on a tar far cor ner however a light shone from an open doorway there the man bore hla his halt conscious burden the light shone abone front from the rear room of a saloon used as a restaurant placing tho the girl in a chair at one ol 01 the tables the man called a waiter who at hla his request brought a glass of whisky the flery liquor r made the girl choke and gasp but it brought a faint glow to her cheek youre you re not used to that the mao man said bald no she fihe replied I 1 never tasted arsted it before then she glanced around the room when did ou eat your dinner the man asked yesterday she replied with a wan smile and ou are famishing cried the man the waiter speedily brought some food which the gli alil I 1 ate eagerly As she did so the man studied her carefully she was mas not more than 26 and would have been i retty aretty bere w ore not her face marked by the lines of suffer buffer ing she was neatly dressed but h hei 0 clothing bore the marks of poverty about her throat a white collar ie llevad the monotony of her attire while neat white cuffs encircled her wrists hut but everything even thing she ahe had on was soiled polled and bedraggled by the dirty waters aters of the river in which she had sought to drown drogi tersely when elie sh had satisfied her hunger she told him her story a cordil story enough ol of a struggle to earn hex own living in a great city of failure and finally of despair what will you vou do now noa V the man asked I 1 dont don t know the girl replied lor for several minutes the man bent benl his brows broas in thought then he leaned forward took the girls face betA berwein ett the palms of his hands turned it 11 toward him and looked long and searchingly into her pes es she fl hushed ushel but met hla his gaze ste steadily adil and fear less lessly if coull coul I 1 you ou look my old mother in the eyes like that he asked finall yes yea she replied do ou know he be said after an other long pause I 1 have ahme a feeling that ou belong to me I 1 f found ou tit in the river out west where here I 1 live finding la Is keeping the girl flushed 1 I think I 1 would prefer to go back to the river bhe said N alt a moment and let me t I 1 am willing to trust ou it if iou are willing to me marry me tomorrow ni morrow orro marr oiin ou the girl faltered I 1 nuan nothing else the man sit sill I 1 parn eartie estl sti the girl bookel I 1 at him film wistfully fully still she ehe he hesitate tate t 1 I will N ill T sa this much and no more the man added I 1 can gle give iou ou a good hon e I 1 ou x will ill never i iciel et me or be ashamed of nie me I 1 will not tell you where tin nn home la Is nor who ho I 1 am nor what nhat I 1 am I 1 ou oi must take me as I 1 am willing I 1 I 1 ing to take oua ou I 1 1 I will marry vou iou tomorrow wild the girl then she broke into a tor rent of tears 0 be good to me I 1 she cried 3 just urt be rood good to rne me GIN ghe e me peace and a smile and a kind word mord once in a 0 while that a all I 1 ask the m world orld has haa been so BO cruel an I 1 I 1 am so BO tired of it oil all A year later they were nere back in fix chi cage standing in the evening on the same game bridge I 1 it if I 1 should jump over john lou spring in after me she ehe asked with of loe ione shining in her ees my girl I 1 would spring into the botton bottomless iless pit for you be replied fendly 1 I never shall regret the night I 1 found toy girl in the aler and made her marry me on trust the next da dai |