Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-03-24

"Oh, how frightened I was!" she
cried. 81 felt sure was losing all
my strength, and would go to the
bottom. Oh, you good soul! you
dear soul! how ever did you get to
me in this water-logged craft?"
1t has seen it's best days, certain, D
said the widow, tuggipg at the oars,
"You don't look able for such
work." said the girl.
81 have seen better days." was the
quiet answer.
And then-O, sufficient reward OF
all her efforts!-this real lady, this
fair young girl with the soft hands
and the pretty bathing dress, actually
replied, I thought So"
"Here, give me an oar" she added,
still pal,ting. "But, my dear soul,
We'll never be able to row down to
that point where l left my clothes,
and l can't walk to the hotel; I'm
awful 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 lns-
ter as the widow sheltered her young
charge, and changed wet garments
for some of her own.
eff my Tom would only come, I'd
send him tor your things
"Oh, no matter! Pll wrap your
shawl about me and walk down my.
self after I've rested bit. I'm not
hurt, you know, only scared. Dear
me, how l was scared! My old nurse
used to teach me not to scream; but
if l hadn't screamed, where should |
have been now, l wonder?"
Mrs. Minton would gladly have
parted with the last shred she pos
sessed, and gone shivering the res,
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 are not fit for a
lady now"
Her companion laughed, a pretty,
mischievous 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 string of fish on his should
er, stood in the doorway.
He stopped when he saw the guest
standing upon the hearthstone, a
bright fire behind her, and the kettle
boiling cheerily. She nodded to him
familiarly. Tom thought he must be
dreaming.
"Tom and I are acquainted" she
said.
sire you?" responded the aston.
ished widow.
EYES," said the girl. "1've watch.
ed 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 lite.'
=" Saved your life!" echoed Tom,
who never in all his life heard of his
mothers doing anything before.
Tom, stupid and staring, was hur.
ried off in search of the missing gar
ments. And meanwhile his mother
betook herself to making cup of tea
for her protege. 1t was wonderful
how little warmth of human feel.
ing had reused this woman to life
and activity again.
When Tom returned, laden with
various articles of apparel, the two
were quietly slipping their tea togeth
er at the old round table.
He did not return alone, however
Following him came tall, gray
haired gentleman.
"Here's father" cried the girl
springing forward. "Oh, father, this
good lady has saved my life!"
Lady! The widow Minton wanted
to kiss the beautiful rosy lips that
pronounced the words.
"Well, my DEAR" said the old gen
tleman, good-humoredly, pinching the
plump cheek, "she has done it very
thoroughly. You certainly don't
look very near death just now"
Whereat the story, with due en-
largement and variations, was told
him with pretty pout.
The father smiled, but also he fur
lively wiped away tear.
"Well, madam" said he, court
eously, "accept my cordial thanks
for looking after my little 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 charac:
ter traduced where they have been
so good to me-" she cried. "And
oh, father, isn't this a beautiful place
such a view of the water! I mean
to come down here every day and do
my sketching."
"I'm afraid" said the sire, shaking
his head, "that this good lady will
have cause to wish she had thrown
you overheard"
"Oh, no, father, she likes me, and
like her. And I've fallen in love
with Tom long ago, you know"
Tom blushed painfully. Some
thing strange and new stirred in his
mind. Compliments did not sweeten
his thoughts as they did his mothers,
for Tom had never seen better days,
and felt as if he were being made a
jest of.
A week passed, during which the
young girl strollcd almost daily to
the cabin. When she was there Tom
seldom entered the house. He had
grown sly and sulky; he sat on the
shore darkly brooding, or went Oft
silently to his fishing.
One morning Belle and her father
departed. Belle kissed the withered
cheek of her friend, and that was all.