Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1878-12-21

Out ulLLlly over the water. II itdhcti. TN
old scow; it scorned the broken paddle and
the heavy oars, but finally il came drifting
out blindly and dizzily to the object OF hel
search. A plump hand, with Il glitterin2
ring upon it, clutched the edge OF the boat
with streaming hair, looked up from the
drowned, and wholly scared, the young
water-nymph was presently aboard the old
craft.
"Oh, how frightened | was she cried
Z" felt sure | was losing all my strength
and would go to the bottom. Oh, YOU good
soul you dear soul how ever did you get
to me in this water-logged craft ?"
at has seen its best days, certain said
the widow, Juggling at the oars.
You don't look able for such work,
said the girl
"Ihave 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" Il thought so.
| Here, give me the oar she added, still
painting. But, my dear SOUL we'll never
be able to row down to that point, where |
left my clothes, and | can't walk to the
hotel; Pm awfully tired. Can't you put
me ashore at your place, and send word for
me down yonderw
| The little dark cabin on the shore bright
ened up with an unwonted luster as the
widow sheltered her young charge, and
changed her wet garments for some of her
| own.
eff my Tom would only come I'd send
| him r your things"
ooh, no matter! I'll wrap your shawl
about me and walk down myself after I've
rested bit. Pm not hurt, you know, only
| scared. Dear me- how | was 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 parted
with the last shred she possessed, and gone
| shivering the rest of her days, to see her
| WORKOUT gown donned SO handsomely by
| the bright !assie.
"They have seen better days. the clothes,
miss, and I'll not deny that they've been in
good company in their time; but they're
not fit for lady now"
Her companion laughed; pretty, mis-
| chievous laugh. She read the weakness
OF her rescuer, and treated it tenderly.
Whatever lady has worn is fit for a
lady to wear" she said, and forthwith
| wrapped herself, smiling, i'll 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 stand
ing upon the hearth-stone, a bright fire be-
hind her, and the kettle boiling cheerily.
She nodded to him Familiarity. Tom
thought he must be dreaming.
Tom and | are acquainted" said she.
care your" responded the astonished
widow.
eyes," said the girl; "Pve watched Tom
many time walking along the shore with
his red shirt, and once he took me and
father out rowing. Tom, your mother
saved my life"
"Saved your life" echoed Tom, who
never in all his life had heard of his
mothers doing anything before.
Tom, stupid and staring, was hurried on
| 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 little warmth of hui
man feeling had reused this woman to life
and activity again.
When Tom returned, laden with various
articles of apparel, the two were quietly
slipping their tea together at the old round
| table.
He did not return alone, however. Fol-
lowing him came a tall, gray-headed gen.
| tleman.
Here's father |" cried the girl, springing
forward. "Oh, father, this good lady saved
my lifew
Lady The widow Minton wanted to kiss
the beautiful rosy lips that pronounced the
words.
"Well, my DEAR" said the old gentleman,
good humoredly pinching the plump cheek,
"she has done it very thoroughly. You
certainly don't look very near death just
now"
Whereat the story, with due enlargement
and variation, was told him with pretty
pout. The father smiled, but also he fur
lively wiped away 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 pranks as any
Dozen"
Belle playfully put her hand over hel
mouth. al won't have my character ira
duced where they've been so good to me,
she cried. "And oh, father, isn't this q
beautiful place-such a nice view of the
water! / mean to come down here every
day and do my sketching."
"Fm afraid" said the sire, shaking hi
head, "that this good lady will have cause
to wish she had thrown you overheard"
ooh no, father; she likes me and like
her. And I've fallen in love with Tom long
ago, you know"
Tom blushed painfully. Something
strange and new stirred in his mind. Com
pliments did not sweeten his thoughts a!
they did his mothers, for Tom had never
seen better days, and felt as if he had beer
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 wen
off silently to his fishing.
One morning Belle and her father de
parted Belle kissed the withered cheek o
her friend, and that was all. For wheI
mention had been made of helping her sub
stantially, the widow had drawn hersel
sharply up, all the lady shining in her eye
az may have seen my better days." SIN
said, "but haven't come to that yet. Ant
if I needed any reward, I've had it now,
she added, as she felt the soft blood mant
} ling in the cheek that Belle had kissed.
Long after the two had left, Tom wen
about with a cloud on his face, and in hi
ear were those hooking words: "Tm il