Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-04-11
SELECTED STORY.
TIE MAS0N'S CHILD.
CHAPTER [.

Faster and faster spread the flames,
and nov the ship was enveloped in fiery
sheet. Men and women rushed madly
over the Size to meet a quicker but less
painful death. The boats. with one ex
cpion, had been overladen aud capsized
There were has'y prayers,and heart
rending cries of misery and distress. -
Death lowered, vul'ure- like, over hi
victims some chung desperately to the
vessels side. soue supported themselves
in The water by articles snstched hastily
from the burning ship, and with viii h
they bad leaped wildly iuto the sea-
The captain sang through his trumpet,
Take heart and sustain yourself as lung
as possible. A ship is coming to our re-
lief"
James Duant stood upon the almost
deseried deck with his only child. bu,
'''ur years of age. folded closely in his
sfn's. His eyes swept the horizon in
sea cl' Of the ship to which the captain
6'sd al uded. He discovered it at last.
but it wa az | at 'onr miles off Before
the ship could arrive. they NUT be
hutpcd to d a,h or, ii he s;rsug. H.
others hed. down into .hc water, iotl, he
and tie child would he drowned, lur he
IVES no swimmer.
The li,le AIMS were twincd about his
n. ok. the pile check rested nfiaingit
agsins, his own. bu, the brave child did
no, trenbla.
% my God, is there no help - cried
the desrariug father, as the flames swept
uearer. and he felt that his present pos
ton couli be held bu, little longer.
Here, give The child 10 me. and will
save 1t and turning quickly, Mr.. Duran
-tood face to face with stranger who
bad life preserver in his hand
Quick there is no time to be lost.
The child can have my life presc'ver
and it viii foat her easily. Yondcr i
another ship; | have been watching il
for the last five minutes II will reach
us iu half an hour at the most Ther4
that is fastened securely. Now. lit L.
gill, I al" going TO throw you Into the
wafer. You are not afraid I"
"No, TO, but papa I" >.
The father caught her fraaticalIy ia his
arms.
NV dazzling Eva, you may never see
your father again but do not fear God
wall guard you. and somebody Will 6nd
YOU aud take care of you. | You neve,
zee papa again. remember he is in heaven
with mamma
HAS she 20 relatives q asked lie
stranger
None in this country /; I AM lfou,
Eng land and nm travelling for her heal ii.
II IKE that pm l,o,h vour bosom ana
!ssten it 10 her l' ing
"Eeaven help yen Tor the thought "
said The father. and IN a moment the
square and compass was glisicning on
,he bosom O. the child, and the stranger
took Der :roh her fathers arms say ing (:
f. am s,rongc than you she must be
cas-, beyond the reach of those poor
drowning wre,cher, or they viii rob her
of her life pr"server."
The white drapery futtercd through
TIC ait, Lbu sduh' w tuc WdtCiS tuCu
RISING il 1oated lightly on the water.
James Durant turned to the stranger
with fearful eyes.
May God tlsss you and preserve you
les, o. men. But you. as we'll as my
IL, Murt be lost"
No, | am good swimmer. and herr
j. a piece OF board with which you car
us,nn yourself until relief arrives"
The iatbcr cast another glance at thu
VII te spcrk floaring rapidly away, anc
vi h M inward .,Good preserve p sprana
.nlo tie sea followed by the stranger
III the TWO fca,ed indifferent directions
,,fd the. raw each Der no more.
Two hou,> later. James Durant awok'
AS IRON tue sleep Of death, and foun,
INNS, II in, the cabin OF a arrange ship
sul, kind and >ympa'hizing faces IL
around him in ,nu,ncni he realized al
hat had passed and sal eagerly
though eebly, ,ly chll iii'le Eva i
>hessate I" There was no response, an,
! u low moad escaped the fathers lips.