The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-04-27

and would 60 to the bottom. Oh, 70,
good old soul you dear SOUL how eye
did you get to me in that water-logget
craft2"
alt has seen Its best days, certain" sale
the widow, Juggling at the oars.
'"You don't look able for much work,
said the girl, 3
al, II have seen better days." was the
quiet answer.
And then-eh, sufficient reward Of al
her effortsl-this real lady, tins fair young
girl with the soft hands and the pretty
bathing dress, actually replied, 81
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 tined. 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 her wet garments for some
of her own.
1f my Tom would only come, I'd send
him for your things"
"Oh, no matter! I'll wrap your shawl
about me and walk down myself after I
have rested a bit. I'm not hurt, you
know. only scared. Dear me, how I was
scared! My old nurse used to teach me
not to scream; where should l be now, l
wonder"
"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 lady now
Her companion laughed, a pretty,
mischievious laugh. She read the weak
ness of her rescuer, and treated it ten
derby.
"Whatever a lady has worn is fit for
lady to wear" she said, and forth with
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,
He stopped when he saw the guest
standing upon the hearth stone, bright
fire behind her, and the kettle boiling
cheerily. She nodded to him familiarly.
Tom thought he must he dreaming.
atom and are acquainted" said she.
care your" responded the astonished
widow.
ayes" said the girl. ave watched
Tom many a time walking along shore
with his red shirt, and once he took me
and father out rowing. Tom, your
mother saved my life."
Save your life!' echoed Tom, who
never in all his life had heard of his
mothers doing anything before.
Tom, stupid and staring, was hurried
off in search of the missing garments.
And meanwhile his mother betook her.
self to making cup of tea for her pro-
tege. 1t was wonderful how little
warmth of human feeling had reused this
woman to life and activity again.
When Tom returned, ladened with
various articles of apparel, the two were
quietly slipping their tea together at the
old round table.
He did not return alone, however
Following him came tall gray-headed
gentleman.
"Heres fatherI' cried the girl. spring
ing forward. "Ob, father, this good lady
has saved my life!"
Lady! The widow Mintoa wanted to
kiss the beautiful rosy lips that pro-
nounced the words.
"Well, my DEAR" said the old gentle
man, good humoredy pinching the
plump cheek, "she has done it very
You certainly don't look
very near death just now"
Whereat the story, with due enlarge
ment and variation, was told to him
with pretty pout.
The father smiled, but also he furtively
wiped away tear.
"Well, madame" said he courteously,
accept my cordial thanks for looking
after my Ittle madcap Belle. She's my
only child, you see; and as full of pranks
as any DOZEN"
Belle playfully put her hand over his
mouth. 81 won't have my character
traduced where they've been so good to
me-" she cried. "And oh, father, isn't
this beautiful place-such view of
the water! l mean to come down here
every day and do my sketching."
tim afraid" said the sire, shaking his
head, "that this good lady will have cause
to wish that she had thrown you over
board"
"Oh no, father, she likes me and l like
her, and I've fallen in love with Tom
long ago, you know"
Tom blushed painfully. Something
strange and new stirred in his mind.
Compliments did not sweeten his
thought as they did his mothers for
Tom bad never seen better days, and
felt as if he were being made jest of.
A week passed during which the
Young girl strolled almost daily to the
CABIN. When she was there Tom seldom
entered the house. He had grown shy
and sulky; he sat on the shore darkly
brooding, or went of silently to his fish.
ing.
One morning Belle and her father de-
DarteQ. Dcllc hisscu suo "isuSASo SASSN
of her friend, and that was all. For
when mention had been made of helping
her substantially, the widow had drawn
herself sharply up, all the lady was shin
ing in her eye.
II NAV have seen my best days." she
said. "but l haven't come down to that
vet And if l needed any reward, I've
had it now,n she added, rs she felt the
soft blood msntling in the cheek that
Belle had kissed.
Long after the two had lett, Tom went
abou, with cloud on his face, and in his
ears were those mocking words, / am in
love with Tom A disgust for his fish
inc life and for himself and for all their
miserable surroundings Of poverty filled
the lads heart with an unwonted bitter
ness.
ANOTHER" said he one day, as he sat
dsrkly broodlng over the hearth, "you
said YOU were a born lady; why didn't
YOU make gentleman OF mef'
a hadn't any money let when you
came said the widow. briefly.
4Tben it's money that makes people
Il