Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-10-04
The PerilOus Rescue.

shrieked the miser, wringing his hands
and running to and fro in the crowd.
But all turned away. There wasscarcely
soul present who had not suffered at
the hands of the hard hearted money len
der.
ooh for the love Of God-you who are
fathers, think of me. My daughter will
Eerisll--will you not go off for her, Town
send I'll give you anything--anything
in reason"
"Go off for her (? Not II" said the man
with mocking laugh, shaking off the
miser; "all your gold would not tempt
me out on that boiling sea. Besides,
amt u father, too-and think you I'll
sacrifice my life for anotherG No, no,
old hulk, you must take your gold and
carry it to some other market"
ooh! she will die, she will die--my
child, for whom | have saved all. Peter
Jones, will you go if give you thous-
and dollarsp
"Not for ten thousand" gruiily said
the person addressed; "a boat couldn't
live in the breakers minute"
81 will give ten thousand toany one"
eagerly said the miscr, 'ten thousand
dollars. know you will go for ten thou
sand dollars, Simon," and he seized one
of the spectators by tho buttons of his
shaggy jacket, cob, go! and the blessings
of a broken-hearted man will 90 with
you"
81 can't think of it, for I'd never re-
turn to enjoy yourmoney. No, old man."
he said, in more feeling tone than the
others had used, "your daughter must
die"
"Must def Oh no; she shan't die!
Take all am worth, good sirs," he said,
lifting up his hands imploringly, "but
restore me my daughter, only-only I
hope you'll spare little for us live on,
if it's no more than beggar enjoys"
cts no use, old man." said the last
speaker, "tllo whole world would not
tempt us to put out to sea in tempest
like this. It's hard lot you've got to
bear; and pity your daughter, for she
was a sweet angel. Bnt the packet will
go to pieces in half an hour, and so you
see there's no more hope"
The father heard the speaker in stony
silence. Then he turned and looked out
at sea, where, few minutes before, the
outlines of the strained packet might
have been seen through the approaching
twilight, almost buried in the whirling
foam that howled over the bar on which
she lay; but now darkness had shut her
in from view, and the only knowledge of
her position was derived from the sound
ing of her minute guns booming solemnly
across the sea- The old man groancd,
and sinking down upon board, buried
his face in his hands, and rocked his
body to and fro, occasionally pansing TO
listen to the guns or to gaze seward,
| and then resuming his position, moaning
continually. Five minutes might have
passed, when young man burst through
the crowd, and shaking the old man by
the shoulder, said:
"Mr. Shilling, they say your daughter
is on board the packet, is it sop
eyes, good youth, and you have come
to rescue her." he exclaimed, starting up
with eager joy; but when he recognized
the speaker, he said in tone of disap-
pointment, Otis Harry Martin. Oh!
surely, young man, you have not come
to triumph over my distress"
"God forbid ~ was the fervent reply.
81 come to aid you, if indeed mortal
man can in an extremity like this. Let
bygoncs by bygones. Only answer me
one question, for no time is to be lost
will you give mo your daughter if sue
cced in rescuing herr"
There was momentary pause, and the
muscles of his face worked cOnvulsivcly
All pressed forward to hear his answer,
for the fury with which tho old miser
had pursued Nh daughters lover, and
his declaration that he would rather see
her dead than married to tho young man
were known to every listener.
At length he gasped:
eyes, yes; but goout at once Only save
her, and she shall be yours"
The youth paused no longer, but dash
ed through the crowd. In q minute his
boat was aAoat, and accompanied by q
solitary individual for but one fisher
man, and he under great obligations to
the young man, could be persuaded to
risk his life with her lover--he set forth
The boat rose gallantly on the waves,
shaking like duck the spray from her
! sides, and for few minutes was seen
momently cutting the outline Of me
gloomy sky as she attained tho summit
of the billow, then she gradually passed
into the darkness, and was seen no more.
For more than an hour tho crowd re-
manned on the beach, almost incredulous
of the lovers success, and yet lingering
in the faint hope that he might return
with his precious freight. That he had
the good wishes of all, was evident from
the eagerness with which they strained
their eyes into the gloom to seeif he was
returning, and the audible prayers for
his success which were breathed by more
than one of tho women. Apart from the
general crowd stood the fisherman whom
the miser had last appealed to, surroun.
| dpd nv a. few kindred aDirits who were