The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-01-26
FREMONT SANDUSKY COUNTY OHIO FRIDAY JANUARY 26 1872

love Flora Grant. Assure me 0
her love for you,-and l am gon
| tomorrow"
! "It's too late," said Jethro, fierce
| ly. Haven't 1 seen it? Didn't
watch her a while ago, drinking il
your words with all her soul? Shi
might have thought of me once; bu
that is all over now"
"You may deceive yourself" )" said
Arthur. "You are not certain thai
she does not love you still?"
81 am" he replied. 81 dom
know much about such things, but ]
am beginning to believe in destiny
He raised his arm, and pointed
away over thepulsing sea.
."Look therep' he continued, cts
ebb tide. All my life has been one
great ebb-tide-everything going out
nothing coming in. 1t was ebb-tidC
when l was born. It was ebb-tidC
when you was thrown on shore to
take away what was dearer than life,
Eve watched every hope and am
bition l ever had to drift out to sea
beyond my reach. Nothing has ev-
er been brought to me, and nothing
ever will, except a aood-tide may
come IN, and bring me in some day"
He said this in a tone of such ut
ter desolation, like man whose life
fate had rendered one long, sad fail
ure, that Rolleston's heart was
touched in pity,
81 would help you if 1 could,
Jethro. Can 1 say anything to her
that would turn the scale for your"
"No! Ishould hate you worse than
l do now, if 1 did. I've begun to
feel better towards you since I've
sat here. Don't make it worse"
"This," thought Rolleston, sis one
of the problems that try mems souls.
Flora is dearer than all the world to
me; yet, here is a man who has
loved her all his life. His claim to
her had grown old before mine was
born"
A wild crash from the cliff above
startled him, and both men leaped
aside for their lives. A great rock,
loosened by the washing Of the rains
around it, came tearing down upon
them like q mass Of solid iron.
Ruick as they had been, they had
miscalculated its direction. Striking
upon smaller stone upon the beach
below, it suddenly altered its course,
and hurting It's victims into the sand
beneath it, stopped and lay with all
its crushing weight upon them.
"Jethro," said Arthur, as soon as
he could collect his stunned and
scattered senses, "are you killedP'
He could not see him, but he
heard his voice rising family from
the other side.
"No, not killed. But, oh, my legs!
They're gone, 1 think"
"GoneP"
Eyes, mashed. Are you hurt2"
"No, but 1 am fast"
"What will become of US? Have
we got to die hereP'
"God knows"
But there was help at hand. Old
Silas, at work at his nets far down
the beach, had heard the crash and
seen the two figures disappear. He
came running towards them now,
and in few minutes was on the spot.
care ye both aliveF' he shouted.
''Answer, somebody"
"Yes, yes, alive, both of us" came
from the captives, cheerfully.
"Thank God! I'll have We out of
there in a minnit. Keep up your
courage, men,"
He started away for help as fast
as his legs could carry him, and in
half an hour came back with five
others, who had left their nets to as
sist him.
"Get him out first" said Jethro,
'don't begin with me-"
'sNo, no." said Arthur. "Com-
mence on the other side. There's
time enough for me afterwards"
II tell you I won't be dug out
first" retorted Jethro. "I'm of no
use for my legs are gone. 1t would
not make much difference if they
weren't"
'By the Lord Harry~ said old
Silas, "Ye'l have to have to begin
somewhere mighty quick, for the
tide has turned, and it's coming US
fast"
'Let it be him, then" replied
Jethro. ave got my reasons for
it, and he knows what they are.
There amt more than time enough
to get one of us out, and if he dies,
it will break somebody's heart. No
body cares for me-"
A slender form, with golden hair
floating wildly in the vino, came has
tening down the path, and dropping
upon her knees at Arthur's side,
wrung her hands. The argument
was too potent for the men to hesi-
tate longer, and striking their spades
into the sand, they began their work.
The young girl uttered not a word,
but knelt there watching them with
anxious brow, and with her red lips
pressed hard together.
Now work, men, for the remorse-
less sea is coming, and though it
comes by inches, yet it will surely
cover the place where this rock lies.
For an hour they dig steadily, un-
til the water is nearly at their feet;
but as the sand was removed from
the stone, the great mass settled
down upon the prisoners yet more
FIRMLY.
"We must get TIMBER" shouted
Silas, in desperation. at must be
propped.'
And so broken spars were thrust
lnder it,and the work resumed. And
,till the sea came steadily on. Their
eet were covered now, and Flora
yrung her hands until the nails were
,urried in the flesh.
"I knew it," murmered Jethro.
1t has ebbed away at last, and the
ide has come. 1t has brought me
nv death, as l said it would. You
7ill save him, but you can't save me,
7lora."
She left her place by Arthur, and
oming round to the other side, ,knelt :
,oUo bv- tba sufferer and took b;s