The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-07-23

| lH"ihioSS az i@oe Wi"u Sioi0. -OO iutch
was she on the story, that she did no
notice shadow which fell across he
book. =" lA'
| s'fs there ffirt in this little fishin,
town. thought Fred. Hopkins as b
stood and watched her.
He needed only few minutes, how
ever to convince him that she was en-
tirely unconscious of his presence, snt
quite bound up in her book, He did no
know how near she was reaching th,
end of her story, or perhaps he woult
have left her .undisturbed and rejoinet
his father, who had began his summe
vacation by digging clans little way
below. As it was he was quite surpris
ed, when Oracle shut her hook, and a
the same moment glanced up at him. :.
She .blusheds deeply, half rose from be-
seat, and, 10 her confusion did not no
tice that he was somewhat embarrassed
as well He recovered bis usual natura
easy manner in moment. ~i
| ;"You must forgive my intrusion. i
was entirely unintentional, Miss David
SON." +..i.-
She glanced up in surprise at hearing
her name from one who was an entir,
stranger to her, but he without noticing
her look went on, handing her as b,
spoke card on which was printed
"Fred G. Hopkins" ,t.e
81 am expecting to be one of you
Ineighbors this summer, and shall hop,
to see you again soon" iaQ is,4
He bowed politely, very differently
from the fishermen, and left Oracle t.
think of the story of Marnion, or, i
she preferred, Of her own adventure. .zs
And Oracle did think of 1t. He hat
mot. to be sure, proved himself hero
vet, but if the outward man was any in
dication of'the inward man, Frederick
10 Hopkins was most surely wonder
Not yet, Oracle, do you find him. HI
will be proved at last a true hero worthy
of the honor of men. 'na =, r..
The light keeper watched Oracle a,
she turned to. go into the house, and b,
sighed, and said sadly to his wife:
"There's something on the lads mind
wife" 49,,
! And the mothers anxious heart un
derstood the fathers words. Both knew
too well what had come over the mint
fof their Percy, and that it depended or
Oracle alone whether that burden shouIt
be ~lightened, or whether the future
should be harder and harder than th,
past. 'l,l ~ % f5't*l
So weeks passed away, and at las
Oracle thought she had found her hero
10 Mr. Hopkins She was not certain
not even when he asked her one day to
become bis wife and held in hand ring
which he asked II he might clip on bel
finger to the seal of promised bond.
"Not yet, Mr.. Hopkins. Please dom,
ask me tonight" said Oracle, and she
turned and went into the house. 4
She could not sleep. Few even in the
tower were p sleep, for the wind was
rising and blowing violently. MANY Q
brave man was to meet his death that
night
The light.keeper had o hero's work to
do, for through some accident, the oil
was nearly all gone, and he must hold
up his weary arms and burned hands all
night that the torches might be guide
to those who had met the storm al sea
There was work for Percy to do -
Strange that when at last Oracle sank
into atroubled sleep, she should dream,
not of Mr.. Hopkins. with his gentle,
manly manners, and handsome face, but
of the poor cripple Percy Smith. T
Percy went down on the shore, and
waited for call of aid. In q, little while
there was need enough for an the assis
tance they could render. Not a man
in the village was idle-the women stood
in groups on the shore. or working with
a strong hand and will when there was
something to do. Among them was
Oracle watching with strained eyes two
figures far ont on the water. She knew
them both, the lawyers son and Percy
Smith. Could they reach the shore p
Both we're tired, and the cripple, used
as he was to the water, could scarcely
have much strength left.
Fred Hopkins was the first to give
out Grace saw him sink, for a mo-
ment only, and when he rose again
Percy supported him. After an agony
of watching, the two apparently lifeless,
were drawn ashore. Eav
Then as the eastern sky turned red
with light, and the light.keeper and his
wife left their posts and came down on
the shore 4aH 2a sse
Fred Hopkins slowly came back to
consciousness, but all the care Of the
fisher.wives, all the prayers and tears e
his parents brought no signs of life to
Percy Smith. $50 ~ (
He had given his life for others. And
though both had proved themselves
worthy of honor, Oracle knew that
Percy was her hero. = llaa a