Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-06-25
eve will try and land there. The


The effort is successful. The ledge is
reached, and Charles carries Dorothy
to the highest rock and lays her gently
down,
"My love, my little love-" be cries,
kissing her helpless hands, "have l
killed your"
"Stopv' she exclaims. "Listen! There
is boat. 1t is coming to US. Dorothy
is upon her knees, and a wild cry of
thanksgiving comes from her lips.
Ephraim Ford has followed them.
The heavy boat with its single occu-
pant is strong enough to resist the waves,
and as he nears they go down to meet
him.
"Back?" he cries 81 will not take
but one of you. 1t is not safe"
The grim Quaker, with his stern,
emotionless face, wrenches away the
slender hands that cling tC Charles, and
clasping Dorothy tightly IN his arms,
lays her at his own feet in the bottom
of the boat. No words is spoken until
they reach the opposite shore. Then
he takes her up again and carries her
to the nearest fisher hut upon the
beach.
AS they stand within the shelter of
the little cabin. Dorothy looks at him
with wild ewes and Cry Of torture is
sues from her white lips.
"Go back! go back! You will go back
for him?"
"Go back for your elegant city lover,
whose ignorant carelessness had cost
Won vO,1r life h11t for 20"
Dorothy falls on her knees and grasps
his cold hand in an agony Of entreaty.
go back. Go back!'
''Promise me first that you will not
marry him. Swear it, as the worlds
people do" Then he takes her hand
and holds it up to heaven, and waits for
the oath.
Dorothy's lips move, but no sound
comes. She has tainted.
The fisher wife takes the unconscious
child and lays her on her own bed, and
Ephraim Ford goes upon his errand OF
mercy with murder in his heart.
The storm was lulled for moment.
1t comes on so gradually, stopping every
now and then as if to make the earth
believe that it were doubtful in its
power. The tempest knows its strength,
and can afford to wait.
Ephraim looks at the sky. 1t is still
red in the west, the waves are rising
steadily, but his strongly built boat, di-
rected by his powerful strength, can yet
make its way through them. There is
yet plenty of time; the tide will not turn
for half an hour.
Ephraim lights his battle with temp
tation and wins the victory, for twenty
minutes later the sturdy boat ploughs Its
way back to the shore, and two silent
men struggle against the wind up the
beach to the fisherman's hut.
Dorothy is waiting for them. Her
outstretched arms would wind them
selves about both, but the stern, fixed
look in Ephralm's eyes restrain her,
and Charles turns from her and fixes
his glance upon the ground.
It is terrible moment for Dorothy.
She knows that they both love her, and
she shivers at the suffering she sees in
both faces. Then she remembers the
oath she did not speak, and wild sort
of terror took possession of her soul
She speaks at last and tries to thank
Ephraim for the service he has done
them.
"Spare me thy gratitude, Dorothy, he
commands, in the slow, solemn tone
peculiar to bis people. 81 know have
done thee service. | would not hear
it again. I tried to make thee swear al
oath, Dorothy. I am glad it was not
spoken. Tell me now, though, dost
thou love this young man? Wilt thou
foreswear thy religion, forsake the faith
of thy forefathers, and become one Of
the worlds people"
Dorothy's eyes look toward Charles
with mute appeal.
HE has saved both our lives, dear, y
answers the younger man in reply tc
her glance, ''and he is worthy OF your
love-" Then his eyes seek the ground
again. He has received his life from
| this mans hands, and now he viii
sneak no word to rob him Of his dearest
| treasure.
"speak, Dorothy" Ephraim repeats
"It is for you to choose"
Dorothy's voice is choked with tears
and her breast shaken with sobs, as she
answers:
cit is very. very wicked of me, Eph
rain, but love him SOP
Then she stretches out her helpless
hands, and the sweet lips whisper
"Charlesp'
Only a single word, but it decides he1
lite. In a moment she is in her lovers
arms, and for the second time that nigh
unconscious.
The noble man of the two goes un
needed out into the storm to conquer
his heartache alone.
4 Banana Skin.
''I saw man ambling down Yves
Broadway yesterday" said one man t.