The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-02-03

John, ssid Mr. sieele, did you see bis
hin. cruel bps, his trcaeberons eyesf
ouly saw I.&nrs, sir. said John sim.
ply
Later on Mr.. Archibald Steele and his
plomp, pretty wiie we're alone together
Ia their private parlor. Her dlmpled
band lay lovingly in his, her shapely
head, fresh from tlse hands Of the CO.. lscRr
rested recklesslY on bis shoulder.
Soddenly ,be door opened, and there
was heard the rustic oi silk drspery. A
A still shaplier lille bead, and fresheF
iFom The hands Of the c0tfeug, all un-
runpled by the audaolous touch Of NOR
tai, peeped ia 3, the door, Laura was
pale; her little white hands were elssped
together her musical voice trembled.
Oh, papa, mamma, come directly. Mr..
Siuyyesaut veniured out too far, and
and
Was drownedy said MIR. Steele, with a
peculiar combination IN bis voice OF pity
and relief
M, no. how can you suppose so dread
ful a thingg He was rescued, but he is
very weak and ilI lie has asked for me
aud may go2 VIII YOU come NTH me,
mamma2 Oh, Do, beg Of youl Cant
she, papal
Her blue eyes filled with tears; her lii.
tie feet seemed painting 10 fly through
the corridor.
Certainly not, said Mr.. Steele. Let
him wait till be is able TO come to you or
10 me. Either a man is drowned or he
isn't, Because he WAS imbecile enough
TO risk bis life, that is no reason for your
being the talk Of the hotel.
Laura raised her head proudly.
No danger Of that, papa; and besides,
everybody is occupied with the one who
rescued him.
And what madman was that? said poor
Mr.. Steele, who could not reconcile hiu-
self to the present condition of affairs,
don't know-a stranger, believe. |
was so interested in Mr. Sluyvesant, /
forgot TO ask.
Pahl said MIR. Steele, getting upon his
feet, and walking TO the door, III 20 and
find out all about It, Do you stay here
till ] return.
Before he had gone far, Mr.. Steele
heard from the excited guests several
different versions of the affair; but one
and all agreed that the rescuer could be
nothing less than champion swimmer.
A regular water-dogl said one gentle
man to Mr.. Steele; aud as the merchant
had beard this epithet used but once be-.
fore in his life, and that OH an occasion
of vital interest to himself, he sought out
the hero of the hour, and found, to his
nnbounded astonishment, it was John
Waters himself! He was quite enveloped
in the flounces and lurbelows of pretty
and sympathetic women, who Insisted
upon knowing every half second if he
was sure he felt strong and well, and
how in the world could be buffet those
dreadful waves in that grand, heroic
way, and how did he manage to drag
poor dear Mr. Stuyvesaut into the shore !?
John, like any other hero of the hour,
enjoyed this womanly adulation, but
looked aDxiously at Mr.. Steele when he
approached.
Huml growled that worthy merchant,
a pretty fellow you to interfere with 9TH
or peoples plansl How do you know
he wanted to be rescued?
He appeared anxious that way, sir,
said John, He wrapped himself about
me like devil-fsh. ! thought one time
we'd both 60 down together. There
ought to be school for teaching people
how to LEI themselves be saved. It's the
easiest thing in the world; the water it.
self is an accessory, If you manage ii
right.
Ga, do tell us how, Mr.. Waters, please
choru.ed the pretty and sympathetic wo-
men; and as John began sis lesson, Mr..
Steele slipped away.
Oh, papa, began Laura, how is Mr..
StuyvesantY
don't know didn't ask, he replied,
| was SO interested ii the fellow that
dragged him ashore. He's an old friend
OF ours. The way VIC made his acquaint-
ance was on just such an occasion; be
saved lady from drowning,
Why, papa, said Lanra, he must be a
splendid fellow!
Magnificent! said Mr.. Steele. You see,
we had travelled oyer a considerable Of
the world together, your mother aud j
while you were yet baby. And we
found ii rather odd one morning to dis
cover that having crossed the ocean and
the Alps, loitercd in the Hudson High
lands, travelled thence down through the
Mississippi valley, across the American
deser, TO California, and back again by
another route, your mother had neyel
been up the East river as far as Morri
sania. Ii seemed so absurd to have neg
lected this home excursion, that we de
termined upon il at once. The morning
was wet, but that didn't matter. You
mother looked prettier in waterproof
aud rnbbers, with shovel hat tied dowi
under her chin, than most women woult
| In ball dress. She wasn't bit afrait
OF rain or mud. She was little too reck
les, for, getting ashore 10 see one OF th
institutions for vagabopd boys, Ter foo
slipped OF the plank, and she disap
peared.
/ Mr.. steele stopped minute; biz yuic
filtered tue liltle plofnp hand OF hi
wife slipped into biz own; be clutched