Smyrna times., 1875-12-15

hind the rocks. The widow turned away.
Rugged her thin shawl over her shoulders,
and thought that the sea wind was chilly.
Hark! What was that? Surely she heard
a cry. No merry shout or ringing laugh
this; it might be the cry of a wild bird ON
its way to its mate.
She couldn't have got beyond her dentb.
that young creature, surely! But, la ! what
OF 1t it she had? Dying young, body gets
quit OF deal of trouble. And Yes.
surely, that was scream. The widow
looked sharply out. Would Tom never
come? The tide was rising, and-and
something certainly was the matter. She
called, she beckoned frantically to the
bathers beyond; they seemed both blind
and deaf.
No one, not one soul, at hand, and that
young thing in peril of life A minute she
stood still, listening--a feeble old woman
with haggard, scared face, to whom no
one would have dreamed of looking for
help.
/ can't stand this" she said. "Seems
might pull out that old scow myself
lom!' she screamed with yell that held
the concentrated energy of ten wears. But
no Tom appeared. And it was the widow
herself, with those withered old hands that
disdalned the minister's kitchen-work-it
was the widow herself, who, straining.
tugging, and with her gray hair lutterinr
in the wind, unloosed the old dug-out from
its moorings, and trembling unskillful.
armed with rude paddle, went spinning
out dizzily over the water 1t leaked. the
Old scow; it scOrned the broken paddle
and heavy oars, but finally it came drifting
out blindly and dizzily to the object of her
search. plump hand with glittering
ring upon it clutched the edge of the boat,
nearly oversetting it. A young, eager face.
with streaming hair, looked up from the
water, and gasping, shuddering, half
drowned, and wholly scared, the young
water-nymph was presently aboard the old
craft.
"Oh, how frightened | was y she cried.
" felt sure | was losing my strength. and
would 60 to the bottom. Oh, you good
soul! you dear soul! how ever did YOU get
to me in this waterloggcd craft p
" 1t has seen its best days, certain" said
the widow, tugging at the oars.
"You don't look able for such work"
said the girl
" / harc seen better days. was the quiet
answer.
And then-oh, sufficient reward of all
her efforts this real lady, this fair young
girl with the soft hands and the pretty
bathing dress, actually replied, " / thought
so.'
Here, give me an oar" she added, still
painting. But, my dear soul we'll never
be able to row down to that point where |
left my clothes, and can't walk to the
hotel; I'm awfully tired. Can't you put
me ashore at your place, and send word for
me down yonder?'
The little dark cabin on the shore
frightened up with an unwonted lustre as
the widow sheltered her young charge, and
changed he wet garments for some of her
own. 4
" If my Tom would only come, I'd send
him for your things"
"Oh, no matteri III wrap your shawl
about me and walk down myself after Eve
rested bit. I'm not hurt, you know, only
scared. Dear me, how | ,cas scaredi Nv
old nurse used to teach me not to scream
but if ] hadn't screamed, where should |
have been now, wonder?''
Mrs. Minton would gladly have parted
with the last shred she possessed, and gone
shivering the rest of her days, to see her
worn-out gown donned so handsomely by
the bright lassie.
They have seen better days, the clothes.
miss, and I'll not deny that they've been
in good company in their time but they're
not fit for a lady now"
Her companion laughed, pretty. mis-
chievous laugh. She read the weakness of
her rescuer, and treated it tenderly.
Whatever lady has worn is fit for a
lady to wear," she said, and forthwith
wrapped herself, smiling, in the old gray
shawl.
And at that moment Tom, with his red
shirt cleaning in the setting sun, and a
string of fish on his shoulder, stood in the
doorway.
lie stopped when he saw the guest stand
ing upon the hearth-stone, bright fire be.
hind her, and the kettle boiling cheerily.
She nodded to him familiarly. Tom thought
he must be dreaming.
" Tom and are acquainted" said she.
"Are youT responded the astonished
widow.
eyes," said the girl ave watched
Tom many time walking along shore in
his red shirt, and once he took me and
father out rowing. Tom, your mothers
saved my life.''
" Saved your lifer echoed Tom; who
never in all his life had heard of his mothers
doing any thing before.
Tom, stupid and staring, was hurried off
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