Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-10-14

why uiu we hot tnihh VI tu~t Anc oo'I
Harry. quick" !"
But, Miss Chaloncr, pleaded thought.
ful Bessie, "if We were to run-the water
is surely not higher than Our waists"
"My dear. the neck of land is halt
mile away. and the tide is rising at a fear
ful rate it would only be useless risk
of our lives TO make the attempt. Get
into the boat, Mrs. Elton"
Mamma! mammal walled the chill.
dren in chorus, while Mrs. Elton, pale.
trembling, and incapable Of effort, sat on
the rock.
II cannot move. she stammcred Il
think | am going TO faint"
Blu, even while the words were on her
lips Juliet's arm cncirccd her waist, and
Julie,s strength guided her to the little
boat that lay rocking on the wave, with
Harry at the oars. 1t was very small,
containing but two seats. and when Mrs.
Elton and her five children were cnsconced
/ therein. every nook, even to the stem and
helm, was occupied.
There is no room for Miss Chaloncr,"
calculated Harry, in blank dismay.
Mamma. Miss Chaoncr is not in the
/ boat"
Mrs. Elton looked fccbly around.
/ n IL
my lap" she faltcrel, scarcely knowing
what she said.
But Juliet unloosed the loop of the rope
that fastened the boat 10 n projecting point
of rock, and flung it out upon the waves.
The boat is overloaded already" she
said. in a strangely calm voice. Push
off, Harry, and row as fast as YOU can; it
grows late, aud YOU are long distance
from home"
The generous heart of the boy rose up
with great choking throb.
Miss Chaloner aud leave you here 10
perish? Ncver'
Listen to me. Harry" she said, hurr.
cdy. Row home. rs fast as you can.
Two hours will take YOU there, and theu-
then YOU can scpd the boat back to me-"
And rs the words ircmbled on her
tongue, Juliet Chaloner glanced over her
shoulder at tho white crested iringes of
foam slowly creeping up the sands, and
knew that in two hours from that time it
would be one wild tossing,
Yet she smiled. and futtercd her white
pocket handkerchief To them, as the heayi
IL lreigh,cd boat glided slowly away, and
spoke checiing words To the brave little
oarsran. even though the chill OF death
Law at her heart. Slowly the black outline
of tho boat faded into indi>tinctness,
growing less and less and when il was
hid from view by tho projecting of the
coast, the bitter loneliness OF her position
came 10 Juliet Chaloner in all its over
whclming force.
Like great golden orb. the sun hung
above the sea, while the blue, cloudlcss
sy smiled overhead. Nature was full Of
soft, serene repose. and yet Juliet Chalon
er stood with clasped han'ls and silent
endurance. waiting for the death which
WAS momentarily drawing nearer-thc
stern, relentless death whose horrors had
never seemed rs ghastly as now,
She thought how the blue tides would
/ sparkle over her gravc--she thought how
perchance her dead corpse would float
on the waves, the golden hair all wet and
dark-and cold shi,er came over her
whole frame.
and he will be at home tonight, 'Shc
murmurcl my God. my God. surely
this is the bitterness of death ~
The thunder of the cruel waves were in
her cars-tho moaning of the smf-and
Juliet Chaloner knew no more.
Send boat back to Blydcn's Point?'
echoed the old boatman. BLESS your
heart, sir, Blydcn's Point is seven feet
under water 10y this time"
And Miss Chaloncrm shriekcd Mrs.
Elton,
The Lord have mercy on her soul y
solemnly uttered the old man. taking of
his cap. There is no use in hurrying,
ma'am; but I'll get up my boat. We may
perhaps bring off her body, if it hasn't
dritled too far out"
"Oh, Juliet! Juliet" gasped Mrs Elton.
wringng her hands, "what shall say
to my brother when he asks for you?
You gave up your life TO save ours! And
| dared TO say you were coward!'
The solt light of shaded lamp fell
across Juliet Chaloner's eyes, rs she open
ed them with 4 vague sense OF having
passed through wild troubled dream,
and dim remembrance OF laundering
tides, and the dizzy rise and fall of waves.
"Whcre am II" she murmured "You
here, Clarence Have we crossed the
River of Death, and is this Heaven ?"
My own love, tenderly responded the
deep, well-known tones, "take courage
there are years of hope and happiness be-
fore us yet. Yon would have given your
life to save others. but God would not ac
cept the sacrifice"
. But how came | here?" sho asked
: shuddering. rs she remembered the slip
perry sands and the sounds Of many waters
And then Clarence Seville told her how
coming from the nearest railway station
by boat, instead of the stereotyped stage