Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-09-26

there was plenty to start with, and said,
"Now, friends, stand out of the way, and let
me havea clear start" raised his bare head
one moment toward heaven, and, taking a
short run, leaped as from the spring board OF
plunge-bath.
Such an anxious crowd as followed that
lesp Great numbers, in spite Of that dan.
gerous wind, Law fiat on their breasts and
watched him. He struck water at least TWEEN.
ty-6ve feet beyond the cliff, and disappeared
in its dark, foamy depths.
When he rose to the surface he saw before
him gigantic wave, but he had time to
breathe, and before it reached him dived be-
low its centre. lit broke in passionate fury
upon the rocks, but Jones rose far beyond it.
A mighty cheer from the men on shore reach
ed him, and he now began in good earnest to
put his Pacific experience into practice.
Drawing continually on the men for more
rope-which they paid out with deafening
cheers-he met wave after wave in the same
manner diving under them like an otter and
getting nearer to the wreck with every wave,
really advancing, however, more below the
water than above it. .
Suddenly the despairing men on board
heard clear, hopeful voice:
"Help at hand, Captain Throw me a
buoy" - "
And in another minute or two Jones was
on deck, and the cheers from the little steam
er were echoed by the cheers of the crowd on
the land. There was not moment TO be
lost she was breaking up fast; but it took
but few minutes to fasten strong cable to
the small rope and draw it on board, and
then a second cable, and the communication
was complete.
There is lady here, SIR" said the Cap
tain. "We must rig up chair for her, she
can never walk that dangerous rope"
but we have not a moment to waste, or
we may all be lost is she very heavy
"a slight little thing-balf child, sir"
| "Bring her here" ....g .. ....,-...
This was no time for ceremony. Without
word, save few sentences of direction and
encouragement, he took her under his left
arm, and steadying himself by the upper ca.
BILE, walked on the lower, with bis burden,
safely to the shore. The crew rapidly follow
ed, for in such moments. of extremity the
soul masters the body, and all things become
possible. There was plenty of help waiting
| for the seamen, and the lady, her father and
the captain, had been put in the carriage of
Braddon and driven rapidly to the hospital
hall.
Jones, amid the confusion, disappeared
He had picked up an oil-skin coat, and when
every one turned to thank their deliverer, he
was gone. No one knew him; the sailors
said they believed him to be lone of the mil
itary guests by his rigging" but the individ-
uality of the hero troubled no one until the
danger was over. In an hour the steamer
was driven on the rocks and went to pieces
and it being, by this time, quite dark, every
one went home.
The next day the hunting party returned
from Gwynne Hall, the storm having COM
PEELED them to stop all night, and at the din.
ner that evening the wreck, and the hero of
it, were the theme of every ones conversa-
ton.
"Such plucky fellow" said Ensign Pow.
ell. II wonder who he was. Gwynne says
he was stranger; perhaps one of that crowd
staying at the abbey
"Perhaps," said Captain Marks, "it was
Jones"
"Oh! Jones would be too afraid of his
mother"
Jones made little satirical bow, and said,
pleasantly, perhaps it was Powell" at which
Powell laughed, and said, "Not if he knew
it,"
In week the event had been pretty we'll
exhausted, especially as there was to be a
great dinner and ball at Braddon, and all the
officers had invitations. The ball had a pc.
culiar interest for the young lady who had
been saved from the wreck would be present,
and rumors of her riches and beauty had
been rife several days. It was said the little
steamer was her fathers private yacht, and
that he was q man of rank and influence.
Jones said he would not 60 to the dinner,
as either be or Savlle must remain for even
ing drill, and that Saville loved good din.
ner, while he cared very little about it. Sa.
Vile could return in time to let him ride over
about ten o'clock and see the dancing. Sa-
Vile rather wondered why Jones did not
take his place all the evening, and felt half
injured at this default. But Jones had a
curiosity about the girl he had saved. To tell
the truth, he was nearer in love with her
than he had ever been with any woman, and
he wished, in calm blood, to see if she was as
beautiful as his fancy had painted her during
those few awful minutes that he had held her
high above the waves.
She was exceedingly lovely; just the fresh
innocent girl he had known she would be-
He watched her dancing with his brother Of
6cers, or talking to her father, or leaning on
Braddon's arm, and every time he saw her
she looked fairer and sweeter. Yet he had
not courage to ask for an introduction, and in
the busy ballroom no one seemed to think of
him. He kept his post against the conserva-
tory door quite undsturbed for some time.
Presently he saw Squire Braddon with the
beauty on his arm approaching him. As be
passed, the Squire remembered he had not
been to dinner, and stopped to say few cour.
teous words, and introduced hia companion.
"Miss Conyers-Lieutenant Jones'"
But no sooner did Miss Conyers hear Lieu
tenant Jones' voice, than she gave joyful cry,
and, clapping her hands together, said:
II have found him! Papa! papa! I
have found himl'
Never was there such an interruption to q
ball. The company gathered in excited
groups; and papa knew the lieutenant's voice,
and the captain knew it, and poor Jones, un.
willing enough, had to acknowledge the deed
and be made hero Of
1t was wonderful, after this night, what a
change took place in Jones quiet ways. His
books and boat seemed to have lost their
charms, and for his walks, they were all in
one direction, and ended at Braddon Hall.
In about a month Miss Conyers went away,
and then Jones began to hunt the postman,
and to get pretty little letters which always
seemed to take great deal of answering.