The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-12-05

thousand dollars, Smon," and he seiz.
ed one Of the spectators by the button
Of his shaggy jacket, soh! 60, and the
blessings OF broken hearted man will
go with YOU" ]a
81 can't think it, for I'd never re.
turn to enjoy your money. No, old
man, he said. in more feeling tone
than the others had used, your daught-
er must die" ...
"Must die! Oh! no--she shan't die.
Take all am worth, good sirs," he said,
lifting up his hands impIoringly, but re-
store my daughter, only, only hope
you'll spare little for us to live on, if
it's no more than beggar enjoys"
''It's no use, old man." said the last
speaker, the whole world would not
tempt US to put out to sea in storm
like this. It's hard lot you've got to
bear, and ! pity your daughter, for she
was swee: angel. But the packet
will 60 to pieces in halfan hour, and so
you see there's no more hope"
The father heard the speaker IN sto-
ny silence:-Then he turned and look
ed out at sea, where few minutes be-
fore, the outline of the stranded pack
ct, might have been seen through the
approaching twilight. almost buried in
the whlrling foam that howled over
the bar on which she lay; but now
darkness shut her in from view. and the
only knowledge other position was de-
rived from the sounding of her minute
guns booming solemnly across the sea.
The old man groaned and sinking down
upon a board, buried his face in his
hands and rocked his body to and fro,
occasionally pausIng TO listen to the
guns or to gaze seaward; and then, re-
suming his position, moaning continu-
ally. Five minutes might have thus
passed when young man burst through
the crowd, and shaking the old man by
the shoulder, said, "Mr. Steling, they
say your daughter is on board the pack
et-is it so?"
"Yes, good youth, and youhave come
to rescue her," he exclaimed, starting
up with eager joy; but when he recog-
nized the speaker, he SAID in tone OF
disappointment, Sits Harry Martin.
Oh! surely, young man you have not
come 10 triumph over my Distress
"God Forbid" was the fervent reply,
81 come to aid you. if indeed mortal
man can in an extremity like this. Let
hygones be bygones. Only answer
me one question, for no time is to be
lost-wIll you give me your daughter,
If ! succeed in rescuIng her?"
There was momentary pause and
the muscles Of his face worked convul-
sively. All pressed forward to hear
his answer, for the fury with which the
old miser had pursued his daughters
lover, and the declaration that he would
rather see her dead, than married, to
the young man, were known to every
listener.
Atlength he grasped: "Yes, yes, but
60 at once. Only save her and she
shall be yours"
The youth paused no longer but dash
ed through the crowd. In minute his
boat was aAoat, and accompanied by a
solitary individual-for but one fisher
man, and he under great obligations to
the young man, could be persuaded to
risk his life with her lover, he set forth.
The boat rose gallantly on the waves,
shaking like duck the spray from her
sides, and for few minutes was seen
monentIy cutting the outline of the
gloomy sky as she attained the summit
Of the billow: then she gradually pas
sed into the darkness and was seen no
more.
For more than an hour the crowd re-
manned on the beach, almost incredu-
lous Of the lovers success, and yet ling
ering in the faint hope, that he might
return with his precious freight. That
he had the good wishes of all was evil
dent from the eagerness with which
they strained their eyes in to the gloom
to see if he was returning, and the au-
dible prayers for his success which
were brea,hed by more than one OF the
Apart from the general
crowd stood the fisherman whom the
miser had last appealed TO, surrounded
by few kindred spirits who were dis
cussing with him the chances of the
young mans return.
sit was madness to attempt it," said
the fisherman, shut when found he
would 60, insisted that he should
make his conditions with the old man,
before he venlured; for you see, if his
laughter was once restored TO the usur-
sr's arms, mighty little gratitude would
we have for her preserver, and Harry
would stand as bad chance as ever. |
Between US, ] think she thought as
much Of the young man as he did Of
her, and If her father sent her away,