The Van Buren press., 1875-11-02

1
be such coward2" said Mr.. Steele, i'm
petnously "You shall go down with
me this very day.
All the way to the sea shore Joan's
face wore the look Of one who had re
solved to storm deadly breach, but who
did not hope to survive the attempt.
| Even the ocean, when it confronted
them, wore threatening look. Upon
the horizon pile of clouds formed q
background wan and gloomy, a great
black mist lay in the zenith, n dense vapor
almost touched the water.
A very nasty sea said Mr.. Steele.
John snutfed it in, his eyes dilating,
his broad shoulders expanding. h S head
| high in the sea scented air.
A tramp on the hares1et sand and
asaapssrin. .i.s @slsa' 4 : l.GyffRansas. ;. :
the memory Of charming head cf5wped
with blonde curling hair, two kind eyes
bent upon his own, white. waving hand
extended in sauta,ion
John, said Mr. Steele, 4" did you
see the face of that man7 count upon
you saving Laura Did you see his thin,
cruel lips, his treacherous eyes Z"
q only saw Laura, sir, . said John,
simply.
Later on, Mr. Archibald Steele and his
plump, pretty wife were alone together
in their private parlor. Her dimpled
hand lay lovingly in his, her shapely
head. fresh from the hands OF the eoiileur,
rested reckessly on his shoulder
Suddenly the door opened, and there
was heard the rustic OF silNen drapcry
A still shapelier little head, and Iresher
from the hands of the coiifeur, all un
rumpled by the audacious touch of a
mortal, peeped in at the door Laura
was pale; her little white hands were
clasped together; her musical voice trem-
bled
"Oh, papa, mamma, come directly !.
Mr.. Stuvvesant ventured out too ia and
and"
WAS drowned ?" said Mr. Steele,
with peculiar combination in his voice
of pity and relief
No, no; how can you suppose so
dreadful a thing7 He vas rescued, but
he is very weak and i'll He has asked
for me---and may go2 Will You come
with me, mammal Oh do, beg Of you .
Can't she papa?'
Her blue eyes filed with tears her lit
tie feet seemed painting to fly through the
corridor.
Certainly not" said Mr.. Steele
" Let him wait till he is able TO come to
you or to me. Either man is drowned
or be isn't. Because he was imbecile
enough to risk his life. that is no reason
for your being the talk of the hotel.
Laura raised her head proudly.
No danger Of that, papa and, be-
sides. every one is occupied now with
the one that rescued him.
"And what, madam, was that ?" said
poor Mr Steele, who could not reconcile
himselfto the present condition of affairs.
~ don't know--a stranger, | believe !;
| was so interested in Mr. Stuyvesant |
forgot to ask.
"Pah Y said Mr. Steele, getting upon
his feet, and walking to the door, g" III
go and find out all about it. Do you
stay here till return
Before he had gone far Mr. Steele heard
from the excited guests several different
versions of the affair; but one and all
agreed that the rescuer could be nothing
less than champion swimmer
"A regular water-dog!' - said one gen
tleman to Mr.. Steele and as the merchant
had heard this epithet used but once be
fore in his life, and that on an occasion
OF vital interest to himself he sought out
In bor # tho Il r. !.
unbounded astonshmeht. it was John
Waters himself! He was quite enveloped
in the founces and turhelows OF pretty
and sympathetic women, who insisted
upon knowing every halt second if he was
sure he felt strong and we'll. and how 10
the world could he buffet tn sc dreadful
waves in that grand. heroic way. and how
did he manage to drag poer dear Mr..
Stnsvesant in to the shore?
John. like any other hero of the hour,
enjoyed this womanly adulation, but
looked anxiously at Mr. Steele when he
approached.
Hum " growled that worthy mcr
chant, "a pretty fellow vou to interfere
with other peoples plans How do you
know he wanted to bc rescued p
I" He appeared anxious tnat way. sir, =
said John. He wrapped himself about
me like devil fish thonght one time
we'd both go down together There
ought to be a school for teaching people
how to let themselves be saved It's the
easiest thing In the world; the water it
sell is an accessory, il you manage it
right ,
OH do tell us how, Mr Waters,
| please!' chornsed the pretty and sympa-
thetie women, and as John began bis
lesson, Mr. Steele slipped away.
"Oh. papa,' began Laura, how is
Mr. Stuyvesant y
Il don't know didn ask, y he re
piled, &" / was so interested in the fellow
that dragged him ashore. He's AN old
friend of ours. The way We made his ac
qnaintance was on just such an occasion !;
he saved a lady from drowsing."
"Why, papa. said Laura, she must
be a splendid fellow"
Magnificent" said Mr.. Steele. "You
see, we had travelled over considerable of
the world together, your mother and l.,
while you were yet baby. And we
found it rather odd one morning to dis
cover that having crossed the ocean and
the Alps, lotered in the Hudson High.
lands, travelled thence through the Mis-
sssippi Valley, across the American des-