The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-01-09

debt, he, Dick Hackett, owed to this
solitary stranger, but of the fullness of his
heart, he would have liked to 90 forward
and say to this Ned Ashleigh, to whom he
had never spoken, whose name, even, he
did not know: eff they were hard words,
and if they hurt, yet bless you for them,
for they were lever that lifted me out of
the mire and darkness of my youth, and
helped to make whatever of manhood
there is in me to-day"
But Dick Hackett did not speak, and
when Ned Ashleigh went below at last, he
wondered q little in a vague way, what
sort of a man he had left pacing the deck
in the solitary moonlight.
"Man overheard! !"
The dreadful cry swelled above the roar,
and the steady rush Of the waves against
the side Of the vessel and every heart
seemed to stand still at the sound. There
was rush of the crew and passengers to
the forward part OF the vessel, where the
accident had taken place.
To this day Ned Ashleigh cannot tell
how it happened He was leaning far
over the guards when it transpired; q
kind of numb taintness must have seized
hm-at very rare intervals he had been
accustomed to these from his childhood
he lost his footing. everything about
seemed suddenly whirling into a black
dance OF DEATH the steamer lnnged on
one side, and the next thing Ned Ashleigh
knew, cold and salt and hungry, the
waves were gulping him down.
He battled with them a few moments;
then as his strength gave way, and he
felt the strong, live monsters Of pillows
raise him and drag him down with shout
that drowned his last cry to God, some
thing grasped him and called to him to
hold on and take care, and atterward
everything was blank.
They lowered boat-they threw out
ropes in moment more they would
have been too late, and both the exhausted
swimmers would have been sucked down
by the white lips of the sea- but with
last effort, the one who had sprung over
board seized the ropc--he held on, and
the sailors were strong and swift; he was
dragged into the lite-bOat, and with him
the man whom he had gone to save, and
q wild shout from the great, breathless
crowd on the steamer rolled out in the
face of the storm, and the winds seemed
to stand still a moment and listen.
~ tIIS tiN I'lCh liittktll CstllIOJ Ucll
you clearly how it happened He only
knows that he caught a glimpse of the
face in the waves and knew it. and the
next moment he was amongst them. He
was strong swimmer, or he never would
have lived in those waves and dragged
that other life ont Of it.
All that day, and for two that followed
it, the steamer was caught in the midst of
one Of the heaviest storms of the year
Ned Ashleigh lay in his berth too much
exhausted to move, but not to think; and
he thought to more purpose, too, than he
had ever done in his life before How
small and barren, and shrivelled it seemed
to him, since he had faced death there
under the waves. What was his indolent,
graceful lettering through existence worth?
His fine culture, his passion for art. his
taste in nthetic directions, what had they
done for the world, what even to himself,
when it came to any broad, solid, helpful
manhood, such rs God wanted in the
vineyard of his laborcrs?
How mean, and false, and selfish his
whole conduct toward Bessie Drew looked
to the man now. He almost wished he
could die. to be rid of the terrible re-
morse and self loathing which pursued
him, rs he lay in his BERTH listening TO
the storm outside, that, in its wrath, tossed
the waves into mountains, and shook the
massive ribs Of the great steamer.
AT last, Ned Ashlcigh came ont of the
bitter remorse and despair Of his mood
into something humber and better than
he had ever been in his lite before. God
had given this back TO him at the last
moment and with His help it should not
copy fair his past
The old lounging. the self indulgence,
the dillettanteism should he gone forever
Then there was Bessie Drew-God bless
her. What was he to deserve such sweet
ness, and nobleness, and faith But he
would atone for all at last, if u life's love
and devotion could do it.
One day the man who saved Ned Ash
leighs lite came to The atter's berth. Dick
llackett had been confined to his state
room, also, from the exhaustion of body
and soul which followed the strain of that
awful moment The two men, savior
and saved, grasped each others hands,
and for q long time neither could speak
''Ah, my friend, what shall | say for
that debt which owe you ?" at last stam-
mrrcd Ned Ashleigh.
''Say that owe YOU another !" answered
Dick IIackett.
Ned Ashleigh stared up in vague be-
Wilderment at the face of his friend, who
felt the time had come to speak
1t was 4 long while before Ned Ash
leigh remembered, but at last, the sile,
and the old horse trough. and the ragged
boy with his mop of red-brick hair. and
the purplish vapors of sunset, all drifted
back into his memory.
He gaZed in dumb amaZement at the
strong, manly face and figure before him.
What q transformation greater than any
magic OF classic, or eastern fable, those
fifteen years had wrought in the boy who
laid by the horse trough in the summer
sunset.
And again the years rose up with their
solemn, reproaehful faces, and rebuked
the soul Of Ned Ashleigh.
cit was all Bessie's doings! What will
she say when | come to tell her?' mur-
INJURED Ned Ashleigh.
eyes, it was her doings, and the good
salt sting IN your words" answered Dick
Hackett.
Then Ned Ashleigh seized the hands of
his friend-the preserver of his lite ''Ah,
my friend" he said, Sin my mad pride
and blindness that day, | pronounced
verdict on your life; and now, fifteen
years later, that life brought face to face
with my own, shows yours the true,
worthy, honorable one. You have lived
the heroism, while !, weak, and vain, and
paltry-God forgive me-have been Just
talking it" From Woods Household
Magazine.
The tactics of the Modoc Indians, who
are now spreading terror over the newly
settled portions of California, are different
from those usually adhered to in savage
warfare. About a year ago they had
grand feast and series of dances, and i'm
proved this opportunity to get all the
small bands together and hold conven-
tion to revise their laws and usages of
warfare. They resolved, after several
days debate, to abolish scalping and mu-
tlaton Of the bodies of their victims also,
to abstain from making war on women
and children, and to this latter regulation
is dine the fact that in varv fau in of.poac