The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-09-06
MISCELLANY.
From the Phila. Saturday Evening Post
LEONIE GRANT.
ny MARY J. ALLEN.

ny MARY j. ALLEN.

there was not one TO whom Leone Grant
could look for help-no one to tell her
what she must do. Friends and at tquain-
tances she had on board, but they had
the safety of their own dear ones to pro.
vide for; they could take no thought for
her. SO, in this most desperate strait OF
her life, she was left alone. The flame,
grew fiercer, the smoke denser. Death
by fire, or death ly drowning 1t was a
terrible alternative. but she chose the lat
ter. With prayer in her heart an | on
her lips, for Gods mercy, she had poised
herself for the leap, when mans firm
step sounded beside her, and mans re-
straining hand held her back.
"Can YOU SWIM madam ~
"No."
"You must not 90 overheard then,
without something to buoy YOU up in the
water. Take ths," and even before he
ceased speaking, l,c had taken off his own
liie-prcserver and adjusted it about her
"But you, s.r; what will you do |!
| Life is as sweet to you as to me :" hesita-
ting even in that moment Of mortal peril
about accepting the aid whch was just
so much taken from anothers chance of
life. His answer came cool and prompt
81 can swim, and you cannot. Trust
me 10 take care OF myself. And will YOU
trust ne to do what can for you %
One glance Into the resolute face bend
ing over her, and she put out her hands
to him with the trusting confidence OF u
little child in its mother.
lie understood both the look and the
gesture.
"God helping me, will save you"
He helped her up on to the guards, and
passed hi, arm about her waist. keep
your hand on my shoulder after we strike
the water, and You will float easily
Trust To me, and don't be afraid"
There was a plunge, shock that took
her breath away as the water closed over
them both for "A second. then they rose TO
the surface. The stranger was a power
l'ul swimmer. Again and again lie tried
to land, only to b., borne back each time
hv the reeisllcss force Of the cross current
which overbure even his strong arm an |
sh ongcr will. Down the stream they
drittcd, away, away ont of sight of the
burning steamboat, into the darkness.
On and on till the river made sudden
.bend around a rocky point, and the cur
rent set in,hore. 1t was not difficult to
land here, and they reached the bank
lrcnched to the skin. chilled 10 the heart
and almost exhausted.
1t was IA lonely place, dark forest
stretching down nearly to the waters edge
hot II sound to break the stiffness save
the low wash of the water. \ lonely
place, and n lonely hour They stool |
there together in the darkness and silence
OF night-thcse two who knew not each
Others names, who had never looked upon
each Others faces until great peril
brought him, a stranger TO her side 10
cheer, and help, and save. They could
never be strangers again. Even though
they should part at daylight never to meet
again, the events of this night would be
a bond between them always Bv. and
by they found house, guided to il by
the barking of a dog. The inmates were
all asleep, unconscious of the tragedy that
was being enacted only three miles away
The excitement was intense when it
became known; and while the women
mnistered, with willing hands, to the com
fort OF these two survivors of the wreck,
the men hurriedly prepared to render
what assistance they could to the remain
der.
Leonie's preserver decided TO 90 with
them. He came TO her for an instant be-
fore he went, and bent down TO speak to
her as she lay on a rude settle, a crimson
shawl wrapped about her.
''Im going back to the boat now. Had
you any friends on board p
"No-only acquaintanccs have no
friend in the world so true as you have
been," she said gratefully, the color com
ing and going ON her cheek, her eyes lu-
minous with feeling. II shall never for
get that owe my life this night to you"
lie clasped the hand he held still closer
looking down at her with that grave pro-
tecting tenderness that gave her such
sense OF rest and security with him. She
lreaded to have him go-he saw that,
but duty could not be set aside.
I'm sorry to leave you alone in this
strange place, but the people will take
good care of you, think, You are ex-
hausted, and must try to 60 to sleep"
Lifting her head on his arm while he ar
ranged her pillows more comfortably.
II shall see you again III the morning
Till then goodbye" lie touched his lips
to the fingers he held, then he turned
away, and she closed her eyes, TO recall
in dreams all his kind care of her.
lie did not come next day; hat her
friends did-and they told how a dark
| eyed man, stranger, had assured them
of her safety, and directed them where to
lind her. And that was the last she had
ever seen or heard of him ill this day.
-Four years They had changed her
rom girl of nineteen TO self.poised
woman of twenty-three, uncontrolled mis-.
lress of herself and her fortune. But il
heart and in feature, in all essential res
'rcts, the Lconie Grant whose hand irem
b ed as she looked on this pictured fac,
WIS the same who had said goodbye tt
e original in that little house on tn,
anks OF the Mississippi.
| She closed the case softly and bondad /