Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-01-12

air was soft and soothing, and the wild
ow's heart so full of bitterness, felt It
self sweeten and soften in the stiffness.
This part of the shore, sheltered by its
overhanging rock, was seldom disturbed
by intruders, but presently the watch.
er's ey e caught sight Of @ young girl
splashing aud frulicklng in the water
just beyond the rocks. It was pretty
sight, the rounded arms, the curving
shoulders, the swaying, floating fgure.
And perhaps the old woman recalled
with a sigh the time When she was
Young and blithe too, and had as CHEEKY
voice as that with which the fair
swimmer hailed her companions in the
distance.
Gazing absently on the smiling scene.
reverie fell upon her, and when she
looked again, the young water-nymph
had disappeared. She had probably
swan ashore behind the rocks. The
| widow turned away, Rugged her thin
shawl over her shoulders, and
thought that the sea-wind was chilly.
Hank What was that? Surely she
heard cry. No merry shout or ring
ing laugh this; it might be the Cry of a
wild bird on it's way to it's mate.
She couldn't have got beyond her
depth, that young creature, surely |
But, lie what of it if she had? Dying
young, body gets quit of deal of
trouble. And-Yes, surely, that was a
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, Fand
| that young thing in peril of life A
minute she stood still, listening a
feeble old woman with haggard, scared
face, to which no one would have
dreamed of looking for help.
81 cant stand this" she said. cit
seems I might pull out that old scow
myself. Tom," she screamed, with a
yell that held the concentrated energy
of tsn years. But no Tom appeared
And it was the widow herself, with
those withered old hands that disdained
the minister's kitchen work it was the
widow herself, who, straining, tugging
and with her gray hair futtering in the
wind, Embossed the old dug-out from
its moorings, and trembling, unskillful,
armed with q rude paddle. went spin
ming out dizzily over the water. It
leaked, the old scow; it scornod the
broken paddle and the heavy oars; but
finally it came drifting out blindly to
the object of her search. A plump
hand, with glittering ring upon it.,
olutched the edge of the boat, nearly
upsetting it. A young, eager face, with
streaming hair, looked up from the wa
ter, and gasping, shuddering, half
drowned, and wholly scared. the young
water-nymph was presently aboard the
old craft.
'sOh, how frightened I was |" she
cried. 81 felt sure I was losing 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 ?"
| cit has seen its best days, Ger ain, "
said the widow, tugging at the oars.
'tYou don't look able Tor such work, !"
said the girl.
''I have seen better days." was the
quiet answer.
And ther-ob, sufficient reward of
all her efforts this real lady, this fair
young girl with the soft hands, and the
pretty bathing dress, actually replied,
81 thought SO.
'sHere, give me an oar" she added,
still pantipg. sBut, my dear soul,
we'll never be able to row down to that
point, where left my clothes, and I
can't walk to the hotel; I'm awfully
tired. Can't you put me ashore atyour
place, and send word for me down yon-
der?"
The little dark cabin on the shore
frightened up with an unwonted luster
as the widow sheltered her. young
charge, and changed her wet garments
eff my Tom would only come, I'd
send him fer your things" ago,
l"Oh, no matter I'll wrap your
shawl about me and walk down myself
after I've rested 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; but if hadn't
screamed, where should I have been
now, I wonder ?" -
Mrs. Minton would gladly have
parted with the last shred she possessed,
and gone shivering therest OF her days,
to see her worn-out gown donned SO
handsomely by the bright lassie.1
g 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'renot fit for lady now"
+ Her companion laughed, pretty,
mischievous laugh. She read the weak
ness of her rescuer, and treated it
tenderly.
6 Whatever lady has worn is Fit for
a lady to wear" she said, and forth
with wrapped herself, smiling, in the
old grey shawl. ina .sleaoea.e,a -,
| /. 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. 49,
5so He stopped when, he saw the guest
standing upon the hearth stone, a bright
fire behind her, and the kettle boiling
cheerily. She nodded to him familiar.
IT, Tom thought he must be dreaming.
ssTom and [ are acquainted, said