The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-10-22

ernabl passion of Ralph. I became a
Vlc5lm 70 all these terrible agencies for
eyll, without being able to think of a
plan lor ameliorating them.
suddenly, and without any previous
warning, the knot in the tangle bf came
unraveled. There was only one vgav
out OF this whirlpool, and Ralph pro-
posed it himself.
he came to me one night, pale as
spectre, and said, in a hoarse whisper
That we must go at daybreak.
io ?" said. $50 where-to the
8 To the city-the devil-the fartbest
ends of the earth !" he cried. raising
his hands IN spasm of agony.
said no more, but hacked our port
manteaus and got to bed, while poor
Ralph walked the floor till morning.
With the first beam of the sun came
the cry of the baby in the adjoining room.
and Ralph came over to the bed.
If 1t hadn't been for the child
he said, and paused.
Well, thank God, then, for the child.
Itaiph, L said: You'll say so your
self some day"
We were aboard a steamer the next
week, bound for the Spanish Main.
From thence we set sail for Egypt and
Heaven knows where the restless soul of
my eomrade had not drawn me.
At last he came to me himself.
'I'm homesick, Hal, - he said. ''Let's
get back to America"
Useless to descant upon nv rapture
was the most disgusted and worn oat
pilgrim that the world had ever seen.
There were no periIs for us bv land
or sea till we reached the Kill Won KuIl.
10 get to the dear old mansion where
abode the dearest old Quaker lady that
ever was moved by the spirit to have
such son as Ralph we had to take the
river boat. And now the sun was set.
ting over the familiar hills, the waters
of the bay all aglow. I had reason to
hope that in an hour more we would be
safe.
But just then Ralph started to his
| feet. l had hoped he was asleep but
there was a slumbering light in his eve
| that told of brooding and discomfort.
"Come," he said ''before the light
dies quite away I must have one look
at the shore.
Ralph" cried, "don't I ask it
of you p
But he was halfway up the stairs
not the stairs he had des cended, the
| others, the ones that led to May and
the child. It was destiny. They stood
by the pillar in almost the same atti-
| tude as when last saw them.
Ralph in mounting the last step tum.
| bled forward.
''I beg pardon, he said and then
remained, with mouth agape and staring
| eyes, looking at the woman and the
| child.
She said not a word. It will be re.
membered that she had seen him be-
fore.
He staggered forward. "May," he
/ said" why, May 20 then put his hand
/ to his head in bewilderment. She still
remained speechless; but her lips trem-
| bled, her hands left the shoulders OF
] her child and uncOnsciously extended
! themselves to him.
eyes. yes," he cried, "oh, come tc
me 1" He drew her to his side, devour.
! ing her with his eyes, while her owI
| fell-fell, filed with tears, under his
/ burning gaze.
/ At that moment there was a cry Oi
/ terror, rush forward-too late. The
child, who had climbed unnOticed upOI
the taffral of the boat, fell overheard
into the darkening water.
May struggled from the arms Oi
/ Ralph, and would have thrown herself
after th. child, but 1 caught her and
held her tight, while Ralph plunged
after the boy.
Hundreds of people rushed to see
the train stopped on the bridge; a sort
of paralysis fell upon all, except one
| little fishing boat that one, impelled
by powerful strokes, went after swim
mer and the child.
Once, when the little head-Oh, how
little it looked upon the big surginG
wave went under, the hands of tho
boatman seemed stiff with terror {
breathless second of despair followed
but Ralph was famous at swimming
and now his soul was in it. On he
went, cheered by he multitude. Now
the little head was seen again, the long
curIs of yellow hair drifting upon the
cold green wave. The tide swept the
light weight of the child to the bridge
and Just as it was sinking again, Ralph
grasped the little waif, and went under
with it himself. Painting and exhaust
ed, battling, all clothed as he was, will
the choking waves, he gave way at last
and huge groan burst from the peo
pie. But the boatman was now close a
hand, and dropping his oars, sprang into
this gulf of blackness that seemed
ready to devour them all.
But I saw the boatman's face as j
went down, and took heart of grace.
wasn't a bit surprised when he came NJ
with them both, and foated them will
one arm to the boat, while with th'
other he cleared the waters that seemed
not to hinder, even to aid, their oll
comrade. AS the little boat with II
dripping cargo came straight to on
steamer. some of the women sobbed anC
others laughed with hysteric JOY, whil
many a strong man could scarcely keel
back the tear One emotional telloy
near by proposed as a vent to his feel
inps that purse should be raised 70
the bOatman.
eff it hadn't been for him the fathe
and child wolld both have gone under,
he said, carrying his hat around.
When they came TO me for a contrIbu
tion I refused. In the first place, tn
way to my pocket was Obstructed b.
the faintine form of May, and, besides
it was ridiculous.
"You'd better give the money bacl
again, now that you feel calmer, sal.
to the emotional chap. cit don
look we'll to pay a man for saving hi
own child. Besides, he don't want an.
money he's rich"
But we mean the bOatman.
$50 doJ"
"Who in thunder is the other fellow
then, that jumped of the boat here p
d" A passenger, that's all. Why, 1t
nothing. You, or ], or any DO y Woul'
have done the same thing il we'd hav
thought of II quick enough"
A." Hum :" was the skeptical remar
Of this chap, walking off with a hatfu
of money.
Half an hour afterward the little la
was cuddled close to his mothers heart
Ralph was lying back among the cush
ions IN the cabin; Captain Jack was clos
ct hand, bul sting all the buttons OF a
overcoat that the emotional fellow ha
insisted his accepting rs mark Of hl
esteem, and looking at May and til
child with ali his honest soul IN his eyes
Gracious God - he said, goinR owe
to Ralph, suppose you hadn't bee
aboard :"
"And suppose yOu hadn't been ou
. with the boat q said Ralph.
"Suppose We look above for solutio
to these things ?" I said.