The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-05

CHAPTER L

now the snip was oHV6iOpeu III uciy oN
Men and women rushed madly over tnt
side to meet quicker but less palhh, nd
death. The boats, with one exception, nav
been overladen and capsized. There wel :
hasty prayers, and heart-rending Cries y
misery and distress. Death lowered, WI
tnre-like over the victims; some chung
desrerateIy 70 the vessels SIDE, some sup
rorted them selves in the water by articles
sS~.tched hastily from the burning ship
snd with which they had leaped wildly in
to the sea, The captain sang through hi.
trumpet, Take heart and sustain yourself
as long as possible. A ship is coming IL
our relief"
James Durant stood upon the almost de-
serted deck with his only child. but tour
years of age, folded closely in his arms.
His ewes swept the horizon in search OF the
shin TO which the captain had alluded, he
discovered it at last, but it was at least
four miles of. Before the ship could ar.
rive, they must be burned to death; or, II
he sprang, as others had, down into the
water. both he and the child would be
drowned, for he was no swimmer. =,
The little arms were twined about his
neck, the pale cheek rested conhdlngiy
against his own, but the brave child did
no. tremble. =,
10 my God, is there no help?' cried
the despairing father, as the flames swept
nearer, and he felt that his present position
could be held but little longer.
Here, give the Child to me, and will
save her" and turning quickly, Mr.. Durant
stood face to face With a stranger who had
a life.preserver in his hand. al
"Ouick! there is no time to be lost
The child can have my life preserver, and
II will float her easily. Yonder is another
ship; / have been watching it for the last
five minutes. 1t will reach us in half an
hour at the most. There, that is fastened
securely Now, little girl, ] am going to
throw you into the water. You are not
afraid ?"
mo, no, but papa?"
The father caught her frantically in his
arms.
"My darling Eva, you may never see
your father again; but do not tear,dod
will guard you, and somebody will lind you
and take care Of you. If you never see
papa again, remember he is in heaven with
mamma" .-...
Has she no relatives ?" asked the stran-
" None in this county; / am from Eug-
land, and am travelling for her health.
Take that pin from your bosom and tas
ten it to her clothing"
Heaven help you for the thought,
said the father and in moment TIT
square aud compass was glistening on tn,
bosom Of the child, and the stranger tool
her from her fathers arms, saying: y
am stronger than you; she must be cas-
beyond the reach of these poor drownin
wretches, or they will rob her Of her life
preserver.
The white drapery futtered through tn
air, and sank below the waves then risin
it tloated lightly on the water.
James turned to the stranger with tear
full eyes.
May God bless you aud preserve you
noblest of men. But, you. as well as my
self, must be lost
No am good swimmer, and here is
piece of board with which you can sus-
tain yourself until relief arrives"
The father cast another glance at the
white speck floating rapidly away. and with
an inward God preserve herp sprane
into the sea, followed by the stranger but
the two floated in different directions, and
Two hours later. James Durant awoke,
as from the sleep of death, and found him
self in the cabin of strange ship, with
kind and sympathizing faces all around in
a moment he realized all that had passed,
and said, eagerly. though feebly; My
child, little Eva; is she safe?" There
was no response, and low moan escaped
the fathers lips.
Courage, sir, said lady with fearful
eyes, some of the passengers were saved
by another ship"
The fathers countenauce lighted. God
grant that she may be safe,
Mr.. Durant recovered his usual strength
in few hours, and sought among the
saved for the stranger who had proved
himself so true Masonic Brother, but he
was not to be found.
He must be found on the other ship, -
said MIR. Durant, and he will care for
Eva"
Both ships were at port the following
day, but although Mr. Durant found the
STANCE. who had befriended him, and who
proved to be Mr.. Wordsworth, from a
southern city, Eva was seen by no one aud
give up rs lost,
CHAPTER II.
Here, wife, q child that has just beer
washed upon the beach She is cold and
stiff, but think she is not dead. Let us
have some warm hannels Immediately, an
tell Thomas to run for DR.. Hunt"
1t was long before the quivering lashes
and feeble futtering Of the heart gave to-
ken that success would crown the efforts of
Eyas rescuers: but, by land by, the lids
parted, and revealed two large, liquid. sky
blue eyes, that wandered from face to face
in bewildered way, and then closed
YEARLY.
i tear she will not recover rapidly"
said the doctor. She has a delicate
constitution, and will require the best of
care"
Poor childr' said Mrs. Turner, II do
not wonder she is nearly dead but who
can she be? Some terrible accident
must have occurred st sea.
You had better examine her clothing"
said the doctor; perhaps you may find
some clue to her relations"
Mrs. Turner lifted the gossamer white
dress, and turned it over and over. The
square and compass placed there by Mr..
Durant flashed upon the eyes of all at
once. The doctor and Mr. Turner looked
at each other. but neither spoke, and Mrs.
Turner did not notice the tear that glis-
tened her husbands eye.
The doctors fears that Eva would not
recover rapidly proved to be well formed
days and weeks Of fever succeeded in
awakening her to life, during which she
talked incnherently Of papa" and poor
mamma, aud OF the burning shin. and
of hunger" She finally awoke to con.
seriousness, and asked many questions as
to where she was aud how she came in