The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-05-05
VOLUME 4.


plunge from the bank into the river. ]
saw thus much. and then an intervening
point of land shut ont the scene. The
horse was DOW rapidly nearing the shore,
and ere long my wife and Were upon
dry land. with the horse and wagon. A.
soon as was sure my wife was safe,
left her to care for the horse, while
posted of down the river bank in quest
Of the swimmer and the child.
"You may we'll understand that all
this tine I frantic l was machine
being operated upon by Singing and
agonizing emotion. How long or far !
wandered do not know; but at length
] met a man wet and dripping, with my
darling in his arlus-.ny darling safe and
sound.
"Ife told me he had caught the child
within a few rods of the falls, and that
in landing he had cleared the fatal abyss
BY not more than two yards, He was
Handsome and stalwart. He said he
had seen my wagon tip, and was coming
TO my assistance when he saw the child
washed away.
II threw my life into the balance.
said he, with a genial smile, "and thank
God! both lives were saved"
81 asked him how ! should ever repay
him. He stopped me with an imploring
gesture.
If you talk of more pay than have
already received" he said. If yon can
rob me of the only solid reward | can
claim. Mercy! if saving the life of such
cherub is not enough reward of itself,
then hard is the heart that can crave
more" And with moistened eyes he
told me that he had child of his own
at home-an only chiid-of nearly the
same age.
81 asked him if he would tell me his
name. With a smile he answered that
his name did not matter-he was not
sure that he had name. ! then asked
him if he knew me. He nodded, and
said he thonght | might be Mr.. Lnring
ton, of Waldbridge. When told him
he was correct, he said that | must ex-
cuse him. He was wet and M lst hurry
home. And with that he turned away.
| was too deeply moved to stop him,
and when he had disappeared | "a rted
to rejoin my wife with a dawning I'M
preston that the man might be slightly
deranged. But my darling was safe
her broad, fleecy cloak had floated ont
and kept her head above the water
and ! went on my way rejoicing, resolv
ed that the preserver ofmy child should
not he forgotten.
"I will not tell you Of the emotion of
my wife when she held her child once
more in her arms. We reached Shireton
before night, and found quarters at a
comfortable tavern.
"On the following day Laban Sarfurt
called upon me, and was about to spread
his evidence for my inspection, when !
interrupted him. ] told him | could not
accept his confidence until l had made
up my mind to take his case in hand
Something seemed to whisper that there
was danger ahead. ! did not feel com
Portable in that mans presence ! fell
as though he was trying to buy me. The
court wonld sit in four days. ! told him
| would give him a final answer-in two
days from that.
That evening l made a confident of
my wife, and asked her what | should
do. If | take the case ! said, i am
sure of Ave thousand dollars She bade
me do what was right God has been
very kind to ia, she said. Let US look to
Ham for our guidance
"A After this | called on the clergyman
of the place, whose son had been my
classmate in college, and whom | had
once before visited. lie received me
heartily, and by andby ! asked him
about William Acton. The result of all
he told me may be summed up in his
closing sentence. Said he:
81 am sure William Acton was Philip
Acton's child-in fact, know it-and
think the father and mother were mar
ried Besty died very soon after the child
was born, and we know that Philip al
ways treated the boy as legitimate
child; and that he loved him as such
can confidently affirm"
On the following morning, after break
fast, as | sat by the window in the bar
room, I saw coming up the street, the
man who had saved my child. He was
walking slowly, like one in trouble.
pointed him out to my host, and asked
him who he was.
"That is William Acton. Perhaps you
have heard Of the trouble he is likely to
have with Laban Sarfurt?"
81 said ! had heard"
81 hope he may come out all right,
the host added; but am fearful. He
has got IA hard and beartless customer to
deal with"
81 shut my IN nth, and held my peace,
until Laban Sarfurt called for his final
answer said to him:
"Mr. Sarfnrt, | have been considering
all this time whether | could undertake
your case with a clear conscience
whether should be helping the side of
justice and right in helping you. | had
concluded that | could not do so before
! had seen William Acton, to know him
by name. | know him for man who
nobly risked his own life to save the life
=, of my child. For that deed l will reward
him if can. l have as yet accepted not
one of your private disclosures. ! have
gained from you nothing which you
could wish to keep from the public. l
can not take your case, but ] tell you
frankly, that if you prosecute, ! will de-
fend William Acton.
81 did not mind Sariurt's wrath. He
raved and swore, and stamped, and then
he went off and enu3ged two LAWYERS