The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-03-22
Then out rushed a dozen people of

linen out rushed dozen people OF
both sexes.
"What are you doing with this lady,
fellow 2" demanded man Of Herculean
proportions, whom Peter recognized rs
the villain Of the dagger.
derOus hand. Advance once step, and
YOU are q dead man. and Peter drew
out, and opened q huge jaclI-lInife with
one hand, while the other held Miss De-
long securely.
"You must be an excellent actress,
Louisa" said one, "since this fellow
took your distress to he real
"Acting? only acting" stammered
Peter, releasing Louisa, and DOcketing
his knife with jerk. "She amt thea
tire woman, hopeY
mot by any means, Mr.. Punch, we
were enacting a tragedy for our own
amusement: VIII you come i'll and wit
ness the last act"
Not much, IrcckOn," muttcred Pc
ter, as he put in his best jumps for
home.
Peter was finally disgusted with him.
self
The next day he mounted his wagon
again for a peddling tour. He was
plainly never intended for hero, or
StlIy tulllS DLlb IL pCuuACI'
He took an UnfrequentCd road, which
| led along near the sea, as he wished to
call at some fishers cabins.
Following bend in the road, he came
| in full view of the sea. A woman was
at some distance in the water, and SEEM
ingly struggling fOT her life.
Peter knew by the hat she wore that
| it was Louisa DelOng.
"Peter Punch, you are in luck at last,
certain sure. Miss Delong is drowning
and you must save her. | hope she'll
! swo0n just as l reach her, and wake up
to find me bending lovingly over her
and chatting her hands, that's the way
the heroes I've read about acted.
AS he talked thus, Peter was plungln9
furiously through the water toward Miss
Delong, who was quite unaware that a
rescuer was at hand.
Peter made several lunges at her be-
fore he succeeded in getting hold OF hel
dress; and thus drawing her toward
him, he bore her in triumph to the
beach, Notwithstanding violent Opposi-
ton, accompanied by hysterical screams
from the young lady:
"Mr. Punch, this is too outrageous
I demand an explanation !" said she in
dignantly.
"Well, if l had known how you was
going to take on, should have let yor
drowned few minutes longer. There's
no credit to be got saving anybody til
they're going down the third time"
At this jnncture two elderly ladie;
emerged from the water, their garment
dripping with brine.
"What is the meaning of this p
asked one Of them, sternly.
"It means,n says Peter, promptly
that I saved this young woman from
watery grave and she insults nj
for it."
"If he supposed you drowning
Louisa, he is pardOnable.'
Supposed her drowning! And was
possible, then, that she was nOt-tha
She was only bathing? 1t seemed s.
indeed, and Peter marched away crest
fallen enough. When he reached til
SPOT where he left his horse, he was no
there, and Peter chased him for nearl
an hour, his garments feeling heavy an
uncomfortable.
He found the beast, at length, stand
, ing quietly before the door of farm
house, and drove him to change hi
clothing.
, The WOuld-be hero was confined t
the house for month with the rheuma
l tism after his last attempt at herOisn
, At the end of that time he cOnsideTe
! ! himself cured both of his ailment an
his love for Louisa DelOng, often say
, ing to himself,
; "'Fine feathers make fine birds
Louisa want any pretdtiier in that gr9a
peOny red of her cheeks was all Washe
in streaks by the waves. Charity don
I paint, and, what's more, she don't cal
: whether I'm hero or not, and | mea
! ! to ask her to have me the first time
4 see herr