Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-08-30

brown silk dress, smooth hair, and a
baby. My angel refused to speak. |
attempted to kiss her by way of open
ing her mouth, when, what should she
do but scream such a piercing
scream as went through me like a
sword, and brought me to my feet in
an instant, with every sign of sleep
knocked as completely out of me as
though | was stock broker. In an
instant / saw the whole boat was in
confusion, people running every way,
and everybody shouting orders to
everybody else. saw my lady--the
owner of the baby-standing white
and still, in the centre of group, and
then | heard somebody say: GA
woman and child overheard. | un-
derstood the matter at once-it was
the nurse and child. | jumped quick
ly to the side of the boat, which lay
still upon the water, her engines be-
ing stopped, and looked out astern.
There not more than twenty yards
astern they were, the woman buoyed
up by her clothes, and holding brave
ly on to the child. A glance showed
me that the boats which they were
attempting to lower away would not
reach them as quickly as a good
swimmer. | prided myself on that
peculiar accomplishment, and was not
unanxious to show it before such an
audience. | took up a small line that
lay on deck, and fastened one end
around my waist-an intelligent deck
hand saw in an instant the idea, and
seized the coil. In less time than it
takes TO write it, | was dashing out to
the drowning woman and child, and
before the boat had been lowered
away, the deck hand had us all three
towed in under the steamers stern.
Then | was Iona wet one-but
still lion. Away went the steamer,
and away | went-to become dry,
The captain took me in charge-tell-
ing, meantime, how the woman came
to go overheard. [ don't mean to
detail how the little brown lady seiz-
ed my hands when | got back to the
cabin, or how that, in few inmates,
she told me great many things,
but, amongst the rest, that the baby's
father was to join them at Newburgh
to which place we were just going in;
and that when he came, which would
be in few minutes, he should, and
would, add his gratitude to hers. l
saw clearly that | was getting in love,
and it would never do; therefore l
made an attempt to get away before
the gentleman whom | already re-
garded as my rival in possession
came on board. 1t was no use; l
could not leave the brown lady rudely
while she was speaking +; and even
while she was speaking, the man
came on board, and rushed to her
side. 1t was astonishing how quickly
she conveyed the news to him, and
how he shook my hand. He hadn't
the slightest idea how / hated him at
that moment, or he wouldn't have
thrust his card into my hand, as he
did. looked at it though.
"Charles Ford
"What! Charlie Ford How stupid
that | did not recognize him at a
glance, in spite of those great whisk-
ers."
The recognition was instant, and
mutual. He shouted out my name as
though he was announcing it to
friends on either shore, and l saw a
look of intelligence in the brown
lady's face. And so, | thought, he
has spoken of me to his wife, and |
was grateful but, did he ever speak
of me to his sister?
lie took the brown lady's hand, and
put it in mine.
"This is my sister"
Charlie Ford's sister.
At first | thought | should have
tainted and then (I'm afraid / be-
haved very foolishly) | kissed Charlie
Ford's sister, right there before all
those people who were looking on !;
and l say it without egotism, that
though she blushed deeply, and mon
strous prettily, she looked glad that |
did it.
| am done. / had found Charlie
Ford's sister: and if there is any one
so imbecile that they cannot tell the
result, let them appeal to certain col
umns of the newspapers of that date
for further particulars.
A little brunette, TO whom / have
been reading this story, says that |
ought to make an explanation about
the baby, and tell where Charles
wife was, and how baby came to be,
for the once in charge of Charles SIS
ter; but as | believe she only sug-
gests it in the hope of seeing her own
portrait in print, | have refused, even
though she promises that she will
never again be separated from the
baby for an hour.-NeU York Mercury.