The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1872-06-27
The Lost child.
CHAPTER j

NL11AL LEN l.
Faster and faster spread the flames,
and now the ship was enveloped in a
fiery sheet. Men and women rushed
madlY over the side, to meet a quick
er but less painful death.
The boats, with one exception, had
been Over-laden and capsized. There
were hasty prayers, and heart-rend-
| ing cries of misery and distress. Death
| hovered, vulture-like, over the vic
Tins. Some clung desperately to the
vessels side, some supported them
selves in the water by articles
snatched hastily from the burning
ship, and with which they had leaped
wildly into the sea.
''Take heart and sustain yourself as
long as possible. A ship is coming to
our relief' C-tEs
James Durant stood upon the al
most deserted deck, with his only
child, but four years of age, folded
closely in his arms. His eyes swept
the horizon in search of the ship to
which the captain had alluded. He
discovered it at last, but twas at least
four miles off. Before the ship could
arrive they must be burned to death;
or, if he sprang, as Others had, both
he and the child would be drowned,
for he was no swimmer.
The little arms were twined about
his neck, the pale cheek rested confid-
ingly against his own, but the brave
child did not tremble.,
80 my God, is there no help?" cried
the despairing father, as the flames
swept nearer, and he felt that his
rarauaraf r.nufFfara norn1A ho hold hrnN n
little longer.
''Here, give the child to me, and 1
will save her." and turning quickly,
Mr.. Durant stood face to face with
stranger who had life-preserver in
his hand.
''Quick! there is no time to be lost !
The child can have my life-preserver,
and it will float her easily. Yonder is
another ship; 1 have been watching
it for the last five minutes. 1t will
reach US in half an hour at most.
There, that is fastened securely. Now
little girl, am going to throw you
into the water. You are not afraid ?i
'NO, no; but papa?n
The father caught her frantically in
his arms.
"My darling Eva, you may never
see your father again; but do not fear
God will guard you, and somebody
will find you and take care of you. If
you never see papa again, remember
he is in heaven with mamma"
"Has she no relatives ?" asked the
stranger.
"NOne in this country; 1 am from
England, and am travelling for her
health"
Take that pin from your bosom
and fasten it to her clothing"
''Heaven help you for the thought"
said the father; and in another mo-
ment the square and compass was
glistening on the bosom of the child,
and the stranger took her from her
fathers arms, saying:
al am stronger than you; she must
be cast beyond the reach Of those poor
drowning wreCches, or they will rob
her of her life-preserver.h
The white drapery fiuttered through
the air, and sank below the waves;
then rising, it fioated lightly away.
James Durant turned to the stran-
ger with fearful eyes.
MAY God bless you and preserve
you, nOblest of men. But you, as
well as myself, must be lost"
mo, 1 am a good swimmer, and
here is a piece of board with which
you can sustain yourself until relief
arrives.U
The father cast another glance at
the white speck floating rapidly away,
and with an inward "GOd preserve
her ~ sprang into the sea, followed by
the stranger; but the two fioated in
different directions, and they saw
each other no more.
Two hours later, James Durant
awoke, as from the sleep of death, ,and
found himself in the cabin of a strange
ship, with kind and sympathizing
faces al around; in a moment he had
realized all that had passed, and said,
eagerly, though feehly;
"My child, little Eva; is she safe?
There was no response, and q low
moan escaped the fathers lips.
Courage, sir" said a lady, with
fearful eyes, "sOme of the passengers
were saved by another ship"
The fathers cOuntenalee lighted.
fGod grant that she may be safe"
Mr.. Durant recovered his usual
strength in few hours, and sought
among the saved for the stranger who
had proved himself so true a Masonic
Brother, but he was not to be found.
"He must be on the other ship"
said Mr.. Durant, and he will care for
Eva"
Both ships were at port the follow
ing day, but although Mr.. Durant
found the stranger who had befriend-
ed him, and who proved to be = Mr..
WadswOrth, from a southern city,
Eva was seen by no one, and given
up as lost.