The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1875-11-11

The wild mass of water swept over and
past him; there he was, hanging by the
end of the rope, about ten yards from the
ships side.
Bertha, who had come on deck just as her
lover was swept over the rail, now ran
amidships, with pale cheeks and wild eyes:
calling on the ships officers to save the
young man.
No boat could be lowered in such a gale.
The officers ran to the rail, however, and
commenced hauling on the rope, to which
the imperiled one, half hidden by the rag
ing, foaming waters and the flying spray,
was still clinging.
As they continued to haul, an ominous,
swapping sound was heard. The strands of
the rotten rope We're giving away
"He must go" cried the captain, de-
spairingly. NO earthly power can save
him now! The rope viii part ere we get
him alongsidep' p
Nearer-nearer to the ship was the young
officer drawn. When he was within five
yards of it, the rope held him by only one
of its strands!
This, going round and round, must part
in few seconds.
With clasped hands, and eyes cleaning
large and bright, Bertha watched Herbert,
her lips tightly compressed, us if by the
power of her will alone she would prevent
the rope from giving way.
The strain upon that one strand was
tremendous. 1t cracked and snapped, but
still held.
The first mate stood, reaching far out
over the rail to be ready to seize Herbert
the moment he should be drawn within his
reach. The captain had taken bowline-
hitch on the end Of the main topsail hal
lizards, thus forming moose, which ne
stood ready to throw if the strand should
part ere Herbert was pulled to the ship.
To throw it now would probably be at.
tended with fatal results. The moose
would strike the other rope, and not slip
down over the young man further than his
neck, thus strlnglin.s him.
Nearer-stiil nearer
Bertha could now see her lover looking
up from the white, foaming vortex. his
eyes bright with tn 'Spe g 'en4 saved
He was only two yards tro4- 1se vessel's
side. The first mate, leaning far over from
the outside of the ship, to which he hat
lashed himself, could almost reach him.
."rhank God he is savedr' cried the
man, hoarsely, as he made a clutch at Her
berts hair.
He had just seized few threads of those
bright lock-he was endeavoring to obtain
a firmer hold, when a loud, swapping SOUND
was heard, as the rope parted
The man with the moose threw it, but i
fell short, dashed aside by a heavy sea
from Herbert, as the ship rushed past him
With a gurgling cry of despair. the youns
man drifted to leeward
But not he alone for Bertha, who, th'
moment she saw that the strand must par
had quickly fastened the end of the main
topgallant halliarls about he waist, hae
sprang bravely into the wild sea, and
striking bravely into the mad waves, as tn,
turns of the rope which she had thrown of
the pin slackened, she fast approached hel
lover.
Reaching him, when he was about twen
ty wards astern, she threw her white arms
about him, and held him firmly, while the
men ON deck now hauled on the rope.
Although half sufocated by the raging
waters-although her beautiful waist wa
compressed blythe strain OF the rope upon it
so that she could hardly breathe-yet, will
her white teeth firmly set, her large will
eyes cleaning like stlrs through the foam
her long wet hair sweeping the young man
face, her warm bosom beating against hi
own, the brave girl still held firmly to he
lover, determined TO save his life
At last the two were drawn to the ship
side and helped aboard, amid the ringing
cheers of sailors and officers.
Herbert then bore into the cabin tn
noble girl, who, exhausted by her exer
tions, had nearly tainted when she reaches
the deck.
As he hung over her applying restora
tives and kissing her again and again, sh
smiled and said, gently:
"Have l not done something at last t.
prove how much love you?'
"You are noble grip he answered
"and l now understand you. Anothe
woman might have been want to expires
her feelings to me in passionate lnguag
and with burning cheeks; but she woN'
have stood helplessly by and seen m
perish. You are one of those glorious crea
lures who are demonstrative in action rathe
, than in speech y
: And SO he still found her, when, fey
months later he made her his wife.
An Akron physician tells us OF lttl
:. Akron boy who comersto him and said