The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-07-16
A GREAT TEMPTATION.
And What Caused 1t to Be Overcome.

A GREAT TEMPTATION, "
And What Caused 1t to Be Overcome. ~
The waves were rolling in toward the,
shore as John Beck ct stood upon ledge
Of rock O. overlooking the sea, while the
sun was slowly sinking into a 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 t at was man of his
own calling, Samuel Henderson. Taey
had once been partners in the business,
and the two had tciled together many a
day upon the alters, but at length a 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 Ger
tain slckly faced child at home, limping
| about on crutches, whose mother lay in
her grave, whit er she went on giving
the child BIRTH
1t SO happened that one day this child
as playing on the shore when Henderson
returned from fishing. Henderson being
a high-tempered man, called to the
child, and bidding him leave the fish
alone which he was strlnging, 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 left its little
bed, lit was too hobble about among old
friends a cripple, Is
| And it was 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 hun
of the storm that was fast. approach
ing. 49,.
John Becket's boat was snugly beached
a few yards distant; he had not been out
that day, but something always drew him
| to the shore when storm was approach,
ing. t.. -. j..
How he enjoyed it now How cooling
were those big drops of rain. How black
clouds upon it. How the thunder NUT
tered, like voice calling him out of the
distance, and as he cast his eye over the.
face of the sea, he detected Hendersouis;
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-
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 Johns
but tiend 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 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 scizing n
coil of rope that lay within, hurried upon.
! the rocky foreland that Henderson was.
trying to round. '.z -.....-
He reached it and giving one end of the
| rope that he held a tremendous hurl into
the air, sent it high over Hendersons
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 atloat. 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 ghost, his hair
dripping with salt sea-water, and his,
clothes clinging to his long, spare limbs,
but IN his eyes the light of gratitudes
and in a moment more their hands were
clasped in one another's; and in that
meeting, to which life and death were in
visible witnesses, the past was forgotten