Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-05-04

I
her doorway. 1t was a quiet after.
noon; the air was soft and soothing
and the widows heart, so full of bit.
terness, felt itself sweeten and softer
in the stiffness. This part Of the
shore, sheltered by it's overhangine
rock, was seldom disturbed by intru-
ders, but presently the watchers eve
caught sight of young girl splash
ing and frolicking in the water just
beyond the rocks. 1t was a pretty
sight, the rounded arms, the curvlng
shoulders, the swaying, floating fig
ure. And perhaps the old woman re-
called with sign the time when she
was young and blithe too, and ila,i as
CHEEKY voice as that with which the
fair swimmer hailed her companions
in the distance.
Gazing absently on the silent scene.
a reverie fell upUn her, and when she
looked again, the young ater-nymph
had disappeared. She had probably
swan ashore behind the rocks. The
widow turned away. hugged her thin
shawl over her shoulders, and
thought that the sea wind was chilly.
Harkl 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 its way to its mate.
She couldn't have gone beyond her
depth, that young creature, surely
But, la! what of it if she had? Dying
young, a 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
J certainly was the matter. She called
she beckoned frantically to the
bathers beyond-they seemed both
blind and deaf.
No one, not one sou!, at hand, and
that young thing in peril of life, A
minute she stood still, listening-a
feeble old woman with a haggard,
scared face, to whom no one would
have dreamed of looking for help.
Il can't stand this" she said.
Seems might pull out that old scow
myself. Toni" she screamed, with a
yell that held the concentrated en-
ergy OF ten years But no Tom ap-
peared. And it was the widow her
self, 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 fiuttering in the wind, unloosen-
ed the old dug-out from its moorings,
and trembling, unskillful, armed with
a rude paddle, went spinning out diz-
lilly over the water. 1t leaked, the
old scow; it scorned the broken pad
die and the heavy oars, but finally it
came drifting out blindly and dizzily
to the object Of her search. A plump
hand, with a glittering ring upon it,
clutched the edge of the boat. nearly
overseeing it. A young. eager face,
with streaming hair, looked up from
the water, and gasping. shuddering,
alf-drowned. and wholly scared, the
young water-nymph was presently
aboard the old craft
"Oh, how frightened 1 wasl" she
cried. "I felt sure was losing all my
strength, and would go to the bottom.
Oh, you good sou! you dear soul!
how ever did you get to me in this
water logged craft?"
1T has seen it's best days, certain.
said the widow, tugging at the oars.
"You don't look able for such work" !"
said the girl.
"I hare 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: II 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 l left my clothes,
and can't walk to the hotel; I'm aw-
fully 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 lus-
ter as the widow sheltered her young
charge, AID changed wet garments
for some OF her own.
"If 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 my
self after I've rested q bit. Pm not
hurt, you know, only scared. Dear
me, how / was scared! My old nurse
used 70 teach me not to scream: but
il / hadn't screamed, where should /
have been now, / wonder?"
Mrs. Minton would gladly have
parted with the last shred she pos
sessed. 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 thai
they've been in good company in
their time; but they're not fit for a
lady now"
Her companion laughed, pretty
mischievOus laugh. She read the
weakness of her rescuer, and treated
it tenderly.
Whatever a lady has worn Is I'll
for lady to wear" she said, and
forthwith wrapped herself, smiling
in the old gray shawl
And at that moment Tom. with ais
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 hearthstone, {
bright fire behind her, and the kettle
boiling cheerily. She nodded to hin