True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-09-03

threw myself down on the wet rocks
in an ecstacy of delight. 1t was all ir
accordance with my own spirit. | re.
joiced that my soul sympalhised with OBJ
jects which strike terror to the heart o
man! In my total isolation from human
sympathy, felt The need of something
out of the world and yet of it-somethng
on which the hand of Divine Power had
rested. ..
| had lain but few moments, when
high above the roar of tile waters, broke
.uron my ears wild, startling scream,
like that Of a human being in the last
struggle for life.
sprang to my feet, and, as burning
glare lit up the water, | saw, with horror,
ii large, dark vessel borne swiftly by the
winds toward the low; sandy reels, which
extended far out beneath tile water Mis-
anlhropic as | was, was not Implying.
My heart went out in sympathy to the
strangeship. and vowed 10 try and save
one, at least, Of her numerous passen.
gers. ......,.
During my residence at Pinewood,
living greater pail of The time on the
Seashore' Ihad become familiar with the
management of Il boat, and could swim
like water fowl.
sprang down the rocks TO the little
cove, where the fishing skiff, in which
had often sailed, 10 the neighboring is.
lands, lay moored. Wit an untrembling
hand, l loosed the fastenings, and, in "a
moment, was abroad upon the ocean.
The water around me boiled like the con-
tents of a forging cauldron, but what car
ed | for that! Il loved danger-my whole
being rejoiced in it.
Every rock and sunken reef for miles
along the coast, were famliarlo me, and
| knew that il ,wonld be death for me 10
attempt to keep inianh0k the strange yes
sci, which was now within quarter of a
mile of the breakers. II required all my
strength to keep the boat right side up,
hut my courage did not fail me. Atlast,
heard the fatal crash, dull and heavy,
followed by deep gurgling cry which
will forever be vivid in my memory and
then the Lightning showed me not hing but
the rolling ocean, and, close on my bow,
a few pieces of broken timber dashing
around the rocks.
And again did that wild stream ring
ont with appalling distinciness, and, res
olved to save or perish with it, I rowed
my frail craft in the direction whence the
cry proceeded. A moment, and the
friendly Lightning threw al ound its lur,l
glare, and revealed to the object of my
search, clinging to a broken fragment of
the bowsprit. An instant more, and
grasped the struggling fellow being in my
strong hands, and drew her into the
boat.
Oh save me save me save me !"
was the wild cry, as the woman grasped
my arms with the vice like strength of
lrenzied terror. | shook her off. Z" Lie
still, or | will throw you overheard" l
cried. sternly, for | knew that the slight
est movement might send us to destruc'
ton. The woman sank senseless in the
bottom of the boat, and | put forth all
my strength to gain the entrance of the
cove
How, | scarcely know-I reached the
shore in safety. My uncle, together with
several ofthe neighborng fishermen, had
gathered on the beach, aroused by the
shrill cries, and they we're horror struck
when they saw my strange situation. |
verify believe that they thought me fresh
from The internal regions. Uncle Ran.
dolph started back in alright at behol.
ding me, for he had thought me in bed
and asleep; and be was, thought, about
to censure me for my inexplcabIe con-
duct, when his eyes fell on the insensi-
BILE burden which had fallen from my
wearied grasp.
A." Good heaven, Zelaine what have
you here 7" Then, pausing moment as
if slowly comprehended the whole, he
said, as he lifted the dripping figure in his
aims, You are brave, noble girl, Ze.
aine ="
l followed uncle and his senseless
charge to Pinewood. Aunt Mildred was
Mortified when she heard the whole &C.
count and scolded me severely for the
"great risk | had rum"
And she whom | had saved-would
that ! could breath out on paper her un-
rivalled loveliness But why attempt it?
She was evidently about my own age
slighier in form than myself-a blonde.
The golden hair, dripping with the cold
brine, curled close and thick around her
her snowy forehead, and the long, silken
eye-lashes lay still on her white cheek.
.'te TooNoy unrr N,ryr ,,,u.,, I