The Republican journal., 1876-01-13

| NOulS SiIl w LII tiC oolU itlibS anu Iii'
pretty bathing dress, actually replied, y
thought so"
"Ilere, give me an oar" she added
still painting But, my dear soul, vel
never be able to row down to that point
where | left my clothes, and | can't wall
to the hotel; I'm awfully tired Can
you put me ashore at your place, an'
send word for me down yonder?'
The little dark cabin on the shore
frightened up with an unwonted lustrt
rs the widow sheltered her Young charge
and changed her wet garments for somt
Of her OWE.
at my Tom would only come, I'd scnt
him for your things"
NOh, no matter III wrap my shaw
about me and walk down myself attel
Eve rested q bit. ''l'm not hurt, YOU
know, only scared. Dear me, how | >ou,
scared. My old nurse used to teach me
not to scream; but if | hadn't screamed
where should have been now, wonder?
Mrs. Minton would gladly have partet
with the last shred she possessed, and
gone shivering the rest OF her days, tc
see her worn-out gown donned SO hand
somely by the bright iasso.
= They have seen better days, the
clothes, miss, and III not deny that they
have been in good company in their time
but they're not fit for a lady now
Her companion laughed a pretty, mis-
chievous laugh She read the weakness
of her rescuer, and treated it tenderly.
"Whatever a lady has worn is fit for d
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 a
string of fish on his shoulder, stood in the
doorway.
He stopped when he saw the guest
standing upon the hearthstone, Il bright
fire behind her, and the kettle boiling
cheerily She nodded to him tamliarly
Tom thought he must be dreaming.
Tom and are acquainted,'' said she
"-1re you?" responded the astonished
widow
"Ycs." said the girl live watched
Tom many a time walking along shore
in his red shirt, and once he took me and
father out rowing Tom, your mother 7,
saved my lile.'
Saved your life" echoed Tom, who
never in all his lite had heard of his
mothers doing anything before
Tom. stupid aud staring, was hurried
off in search of the missing garments
And meanwhile his mother betook herself
to making a cup of tea for her protege
1t was wonderful how y little warmth
OF human feeling had reused this woman
to life and activity again
When Tom returned laden with vari-
Gus articles OF apparel, the two We're
quietly slipping their tea together at the
old round table.
lie did not return alone, however. Fol
lowing him came 4 tail grayheaded gen
tleman.
''Here's iather.7 cried the girl, spring
ing forward. "Oh, father, this good lady
has saved my life -
Lady. The widow Minton wanted to
kiss the beautiful rosy lips that pronounc-
ed the words.
"Well, my dear, said the old gentle
man. good humoredly pnching the plump
cheek, ''she has done it very thoroughly
You certainly don't look very near death
Just now.'
Whereat the story, with due enlarge
ment and variation, was told him with Il
pretty pout.
liz lilutl olllllcti, bttl ttlSp llc ltl Wv tiN
wiped away a tear
"Well, madam said he, courteously,
'accept my cordial thanks for looking
after my little madcap, Belle. She's my
only child, you see, and as full of prank>
as any dozen.'
Belle playluly put her hand over his
mouth.
Il won't have my character traduced
where they've been so good to me" she
cried. "And oh, father, isn't this beau
tful place such a view of the water
mean to come down here every day 30 do
my sketching."
II am afraid" said the sire, shaking
his head, that this good lady will have
cause to wish she had thrown you over
board"
"Oh, no, father; she likes me, and |
like her. And I've fallen in love with
Ton long ago. you know"
Tom blushed painfully. Something
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
was being made a Jest of.
A week passed, during which the young
girl strolled almost daily to the cabin
When she was there Tom seldom entered
the house. He had grown shy and sulky
he sat on the shore darkly brooding, or
went off silently to his fishing.
One morning, Belle aud her father de-
parted. Belle kissed the withered cheek
OF her friend, and that was all. For when
mention had been made OF helping hel
substantially, the widow had drawn her
self sharply up, all the lady shining in
her eye.
81 may have seen my best days" She
said, "but haven't come down to that
yet And if | needed any reward I've
had it now,' she added, as she felt the
soft blood mantling in the cheek that
Belle had kissed.
Long after the two had left, Tom went
about with cloud on his face, and in his
ears We're ringing those mocking words
I'm in love with Tom" A disgust fol
his fishing life and for himself and tol
their miserable surroundings OF poverty
filled the lads heart with an unwonted
bitterness.
"Mother," said he one day, as he sal
darkH brooding over the hearth, ''you
said you were Il born lady; why didn't
you make a gentleman Of me ?"
| Htuu any Hlolley IelG NHcll yol
came,' said the widow briefly.
"'rhen its money that makes people
gentlemen and ladies?"
| Il don't know" said the widow puz.
zled ''they somehow mostly have it.'
One day Tom came and told her he was
going to sea. There had been mar
down looking for hands, and he had taker
Tom gladly, for Tom was a handy fellow
at almost any kind of sea craft, and woul(
soon make good seaman.
"And you must just bde here patiently
till | come back, mother; tor if there's
better days any where, | shall bring 'em
with me, be sure"
After that the sea looked colder ant
bluer than ever, and the solitary woman
lived sort of hermit's life. No CHEEKY
voice of gossiping neighbor lightened the
dreary cabin, no children prattled aroun(
her; and only Belle, the bright, blithe
hearted lassie, seemed to remember to
cheer her with letter now and then
Belle was away now visiting some dis