Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-13
MisfellaneoMs.
A MIRACULOUS CURE.
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY. I


Suddenly. and without any previous
warning, the knot in this tangle became
unraveiled. There was only one way out
of this whirlpool, and Ralph proposed it
himself.
He came to me one night. pale as a
spectre, and said in hoarse whisper, that
we must 60 at daybre
"Go?" said. go where-to the city ?"
ITO the city-the devil-to the farthest
ends of the earth" he cried, raising his
hands in spasm of agony.
l said no more, but packed our port
manteaus and got to bed, while poor Ralph
came over to the bed.
''If it hadn't been tor the child he
said. and paused.
"Well. thank God. then, for the child,
Ralph" l said. You'll say so yourself
some day"
We were aboard 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 COM
rade had not drawn me.
At last he came to me himself.
I'm homesick, Hail." he said Lets
90 back to America"
Useless to descant upon my rapture. l
was the most disgusted and WORKOUT pill
grim that the world had ever seen.
There were no Derils for US by land or
sea till we reached the Kin Won Kull To
get to the dear old mansion where abode
the dearest old Quaker lady that ever was
moved by the spirit to have such a son as
Ralph. we had 10 take the river-boat. And
now the sun was setting over the familiar
hills. the waters of the bay all aglow. |
had reason to hope that in an hour we
would be safe.
But just then Ralph started to his feet
had hoped he was asleep; but there was a
slumberng light in his eye that told of
hrooding and discomfort. "Come," he
said. ''before the light dies quite away l
must have one look at the shore"
Ralph" | cried, don't! l ask it of
you!"
But he was half way up the stairs-not
the stairs we had descended the others,
the ones that led to May and the child. 1t
was destiny. They stood by the pillar in
almost the same attitude as when last
saw them.
Ralph in mounting the last step, tumbled
forward.
Il beg pardon" he said; and then re-
mained, with mouth agape and staring
u.
She said not word. 1t will be remem-
bered that she had seen him before.
He staggered forward. May" he
said-"why May" then put his hand to
his head in bewilderment She still re-
NAMED speechless but her lips trembled,
her hands left the shoulders Of her child,
and unconsciously extended themselves to
him.
"Yes. yes" he cried, "oh. come TO me ~
He drew her to his side, devouring her
filled with tears, under his burning gaze.
At that moment there was cry OF ter
ror, a rush forward--too late. The child
who had climbed unnoticed upon the taf-
frai of the boat, fell overheard into the
darkening water.
MAY struggled from the arms of Ralph.
and would have thrown herself after the
child, but caught her and held her tight,
while Ralph plunged after the boy
Hundreds of people rushed to see the
train stopped on the bridge sort OF pa
raysis tell upon all, except one little fish.
ingboat; that one, impelled by powerful
strokes, went after the swimmer and the
child.
Once. when the little head--oh. how lit
tie ii looked upon the big surging wave
went under. the hands OF the boatman
seemed stiff with terror; breathless sec.
ond of despair followedi but Ralph was
famous at swimming and now his soul was
In it, On he went, cheered by the multi
tude. Now the little head was seen again
the long curls OF yellow hair drifting up
on the cold green wave. The tide swept
the light weight OF the child to the bridge.
and just as ii was sinking again, Ralph
lcoNCLUDEp ON FOURTH PAeE.I