The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1879-07-17
A GREAT TEMPTATION,
And What Caused 1t to Be Overcome.

And What Caused 1t to Be Overcome.
The waves were rolling in toward the
shore as John Beckett stood upon ledge
Of rock overlooking the sea, while the
sun was slowly sinking into great frosty
bank of cloud.
John Beckett was by trade fisherman
and no Drawer or more industrious man
even lived upon the coast. John had but
one enemy, and that was man Of his
own calling, Samuel Henderson. They
had once been partners in the business
and the two had toilcd together many &
day upon the waters, hut at length di.
vision arose beteen them, and in that way
the feud grew, till at length: all inter.
course ceased between them.
Now, as John stood there, his thoughts
were Of Samuel Henderson, and a Ger,
tain sickly faced child at home, limpine
about on crutches, whose mother lay in
her grave, whittier she went on giving
the child birth.
1t so happened that one day this child
vas playing on the shore when Henderson
returned from fishing. Henderson beng
a high-tempered man, called to the
child, and bidding him leave the fish
alone which he was stringing, and the
child not needing, struck 1T with the oar
of the boat, little thinking, perhaps, Of
the weight of the blow, or what would be
the result. For months the child Ian
guis ed, and when at last it LETT its little
bed, it was too hobble about among old
friends cripple,
And twas the injury done to the child
by Henderson that Becket's thoughts
were busy with as he stood upon the
ledge, as the sun sank among the clouds,
and the wind that lifted his hair told him
of the storm that was fast approach
ing.
John Becket's boat was snugly beached
few yards distant; he had not been out
that day, but something always drew him
to the shore when storm was approach
ing.
How he enjoyed it now. How cooling
were those big drops of rain. How black
the sea looked with the shadows of the
NlONNS u1OA w. AAV" VAlC lluANC1 HUI
tered, like voice calling him out of the
distance, and as he cast his eye over the
face Of the sea, he detected Henderson's
boat making directly for the shore, al
most in line with the place where he
stood.
The boat came fast, for the winds bore
it along with them; now he saw it lifted
high upon some seething crest; again it
was lost in the hollow of the sea--a
few more struggles and it was closer to
the coast, with Samuel Henderson stand
ing in the stern, striving to steer into the
cove on the right, and around the point
OF rocks which jutted out between him
and the land.
Then was the moment of John Becket's
great temptation.
II can save this man," thought John;
but fend in his heart whispered: "No,
let him perish! He is your enemy"
Henderson looked toward him where
he stood, and in spite of the bitter hatred
between the two. Beckett could not help
feeling admiration for the cool, courage
Gus sailor in the boat below, facing death
with as apparent unconcern as if he were
merely touching land upon a bright, sun
ny day.
High in the air rose the boat on the top
of huge breaker, and the two men ap-
peared to one another SO close that one
step might have brought them together.
Then down. down, down, and John
Beckett could see that Henderson was
many yards from the rock yet.
One moment of hesitation, and away
he sped towards his boat, and Selling u
coil of rope that lay within. hurried upon
the rocky forcland that Henderson was
trying to round.
He reached it and giving one end Of the
rope that he held tremendous hurl into
the air, sent it high over Henderson s
head, who catching it as it fell, wound
it fast around his body; and, as the next
wave lifted his frail bark upon its crest
to dash it mercilessly upon the rocks, he
gave leap into the sea and striking out
manfully to keep himself adoat. slowly,
cautiously, but steadily Becker drew
him in, and in less than five min
utes the two men stood together on land
Henderson, pale as a ghost, his hair
dripping with salt sea-water, and his
clothes clinging to his long, spare limbs,
but IN his eyes the light Of gratitude
and in moment more their hands were
clasped in one anotbcl's; and in that
meeting, to which life and death were in.
visible witnesses, the past was forgotten