ls. Never was such a brave spirit, so determined in goodness, so
upright in purity, and I blessed her for her unfaltering words. "May
such sentiments as yours," I prayed, "be ever mine. In doubt, despair,
defeat, oh Life, take not away from me my faith in the pure heart of
woman!"

Often I watched her thoughtfully, her slim, well-poised figure, her grey
eyes that were fuller of soul than any eyes I have ever seen, her brown
hair wherein the sunshine loved to pick out threads of gold, her
delicate features with their fine patrician quality. We were dreamers
twain, but while my outlook was gay with hope, hers was dark with
despair. Since the episode of the scow I had never ventured to kiss her,
but had treated her with a curious reserve, respect and courtesy.

Indeed, I was diagnosing my case, wondering if I loved her, affirming,
doubting on a very see-saw of indetermination. When with her I felt for
her an intense fondness and at times an almost irresponsible tenderness.
My eyes rested longingly on her, noting with tremulous joy the curves
and shading of her face, and finding in its very defects, beauties.

When I was away from her--oh, the easeless longing that was almost pain,
the fanciful elaboration of our last talk, the hint of her graces in
bird and flower and tree! I wanted her wildly, and the thought of a
world empty of her was monstrous. I wondered how in the past we had both
existed and how I had lived, carelessly, happy and serenely indifferent.
I tried to think of a time when she should no longer have power to make
my heart quicken with joy or contract with fear--and the thought of such
a state was insufferable pain. Was I in love? Poor, fatuous fool! I
wanted her more than everything else in all the world, yet I hesitated
and asked myself the question.

Hundreds of boats and scows were running the rapids, and we watched them
with an untiring fascination. That was the most exciting spectacle in
the whole world. The issue was life or death, ruin or salvation, and
from dawn till dark, and with every few minutes of the day, was the
breathless climax repeated. The faces of the actors were sick with
dread and anxiety. It was curious to study the various expressions of
the human countenance unmasked and confronted with gibbering fear. Yes,
it was a vivid drama, a drama of cheers and tears, always thrilling and
often tragic. Every day were bodies dragged ashore. The rapids demanded
their tribute. The men of the t