Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-06-17
enough to risk his life that is no, reason
for your being the talk of the hotel"
Laura raised her eyes proudly.

mo danger OF that, papa and besides
every one is occupied now with the on
that rescued him."
'.And what madman was that ?" sal
poor Mr.. Steele, who could not reconcil
himself to the present condition of al
fairs. @3
II don't know-a stranger, I believe
I was SO interested in Mr.. Stuyvesant
forgot to ask" t-.-, ..-..-...
'sBah I" said Mr.. Steele, getting upol
his feet and walking to the door. "I'l
60 and find out all about it. Do you sta,
here till return"
Before he had gone far, Mr.. Steel
heard from the excited guests severa
different versions of the affair but on
and all agreed that the resouer could b.
nothing less than champion swimmer
"a regular water-dog!" said one gen
tleman to Mr.. Steele; and as the mer
chant had heard this epithet but one
before in his life, and that on an occa
sion of vital interest to himself, ht
sought out the hero of the hour, ant
| found, to his unbounded astonishment
it was John Waters himself! He wa
quite enveloped in the flounces and fur
bellows of pretty and sympathetic wo
men, who insisted upon knowing ever.
haIf-second If he was sure he felt strong
and we'll, and how in the world could b.
buffet those dreadful waves in thai
grand, heroic way, and how did hi
manage to drag poor Mr.. Stuyvesant il
to the shores
John, like any other hero of the hour
enjoyed this adulation, but looked anx
iously at Mr.. Steele when he approach
ed. ...-...-.-
"Hum," growled that worthy mer
chant, "a pretty fellow. you. to interfere
with other peoples plans. How do yoy
know he wanted to be rescued 2"
"He appeared anxious that way, sir, ,
said John. "He wrapped himself about
me like devil fish. thought at one
time we'd both go down together. There
ought to be school for teaching people
how to be saved. It's the easiest thing
in the world the water itself is an &C
cessory, if you manage it right"
"0h, do tell US how, Mr.. Waters,
please" chorused the pretty and sym
pathetic women and as John began his
lesson Mr.. Steele slipped away.
"Oh, papa" began Laura, show il
Mr.. stuyvesant ~ 4la
1T don't know-I didn't ask" he re-
piled; II was interested in the fellow
that dragged him ashore. He's an ole
friend of ours. The way we made his
acquaintance was on such an occasion
he saved . lady from drowning"
"Why, papa." /" said Laura, 'he must
be a splendid fellow"
"Magnificent! !" said Mr.. Steele. "You
see we had travelled over considerable
of the world together, your mother and
I, while you were yet a baby and WE
found it rather odd one morning to dis.
cover that, having crossed the ocean anG
the Alps, loitered in the Highlands
| travelled thence down the Mississippi
| Valley, across the American desert te
California, and back again by another
route. your mother had newer been vi
the East river as far as Morrisina. I
seemed SO absurd to have neglected this
home excursion that we determined up
on it at once. The morning was wet
but we didn't mind it. Your mother
looked prettier in waterproof and rub
bers, with shovel-hat tied down under
chin, than most women would in ball.
dress. She wasn't abit fraid of rain Oh
mud. She was little too reckless; for
getting ashore to see the institution fol
vagrant boys, her foot slipped off tht
plank, and she disappeared.'
Mr.. Steele stopped q minutes his voice
faltered /; the plump little hand of his
wife slipped into his own he clutched
1t and went on again.
Zone minute saw her, as neat and
trim little figure as ever graced a wat
erpraof and shovel hat, and the next shs
was gone"
"GoneW cried Laura ''gone where ?'l
"Into the water, child-into the hun
cry green waves that surged up to taxi
her away from the fondest heart in ths
universe and if it had not been for on
of those very vagabond boys who haG
been lurking there for a chance to escape
from the island you would have lost u
both, my dear for [ made an agonizet
plunge after her, though am ashamed
to say can1Ots swim stroke, an(
should only have gone to the bottom
like plummet of lead but an Officia
standing by caught and held me, anG
cried out that Johnny Waters had her
safe as trivet; and presently that vaga
bond boy came up with your swee
mother on the other side of the boat
and the officer cried out, "He's regula
water-dog, that Johnny Waters!" ant
these were the very words guest her
used in relation to John q minute or s.
ago"
"Johnw cried poor bewildered Laura
sour John? Mamma Was John tn
boy? And is it John, our John, tina
saved poor Mr.. stuyvesant?p
''The very same darling John, ou
John he is always on hand when ther
is any trouble or danger"
ooh. mamma mammal" cried Laura
e,va +tpg all the years that had passe'
s;nee sire' Tho .eeident, and crumbling bot
The tnoc co;ffenre,@ life heads in the most rockies
Papa she then .>aid, 1--WE must g
and find John; want 70 ten him nov
much-I-" .e.,.
"Yes. dear" said Mr.. Archibe Id steele
and ali the way through the co-riao
and into the parlors of the hotel, VIII
his plump and pretty wife on one arr
and his beautiful daughter on the othel
| he sailed. i....4.9g.
I But John was still surrounded by tn
pretty and sympathetic women, VIII
had cruelty deserted the blue-bloode
descendant of the old Dutch governor
lying in his most graceful and langui
Of attitudes on a neighboring lounge
the descendant, not the Governor-an
had flocked, one and all, to the hanG
some and heroic founder of the ne
school Tor Ceacnlng people the way 10
rescued from drowning.
These charming creatures spent s
much of their time at the sea- shore, an
it was nice to be wise.
John was almost hidden in fiounc
and laces but when his eyes met Lat
ra's he plunged out of those costly bi
| lows with his usual ease and trepidit,
There was something in Laura's eyl
that he had never seen there before !;
tempting languor bewitching sh.
ness; a bewildering splendor tn
stepped his soul in mad sweet hope.
Laura stopped one moment to whi
per to her mamma, and John gasp'
out to Mr.. Steele -
, eff I dared-if I only dared to t.
her"
! II have told her myself" said Il
, merchant.
i "That was pauper without home
friends ?'
Il II told the story in my own wa
john" continued MI. Steele. "and I fis
! ter myself told it successfully do "
, look out for the future, john"
, And John did. Laura walked throu,
the parlor that night, envied of all t
: pretty and sympathetic women Al
brave and aDDreciative men that co