The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-05-14
The swimmer was Frederic Brastome

The swimmer was Frederic Brastom
the man who had all but killed m
darling sister-thc traitorl
My arm fell listlessly to my sid,
Agnes was dying, poor darling, almo
within sight of the hcaving sea whic
, bore her faiihless lover on its apor
bosom; and should | save his life who
he had wrecked hers? mol NV reveno
was complete. had him in nv powe
now. The demon tempted me IN If
him bide and die; and yet a strange sa
compassion for the heartless destroye
of my sisters life, in his dire extremity
filed my heart.
lie recognized me and called gasr
ingly for help; for help-for Agnes
sake! For her sakel Did he dare T.
trade his safety OH her blightcd life
And yet at the sound of her name, tb
thought that she had forgiven him hi
trespasses against her now prevailed
l called out and hove the life buoy clos
to him. lie was almost spent, bu
clutched it with the grasp of drowpin,
men, and soon assisted by the waves,
hauled him almost senseless to the rocl,
alivel CThe yacht drove on the rec
just then, and the crew were rescued
after.)
Thank Heaven, had saved him
Now that he was free from danger
felt more at case. The black cloud o
revenge had passed away, and Agnes
pnre influence had worked a woudrou,
change in me. lie lay insensible. bn
in short time Dobson and his mate
having hauled the others out of danger
came to my assistance, and they carried
Brastome in and laid him on the bed.
| could not see him, though saved
his life, but aftcrward heard the fact
from the other Young men, who over
whelned us with thanks, and their ac.
count was this Eve were sitting in the
gallery when they told the tale. and
how they met their companion-him- =
my cncmy-as judgcd):
They had borrowed Mr.. Pendrewitt's g
yacht and had sailed to Cherbourg. AT
that port they had encountered Bras
tome, who was very anxious to return
at once to England, but had missed the
steamer. Knowing who he was-for
they had met at Mr.. Pcndrewitt's house
they volunteered to bring him to our
little port, as he said he had received n
most urgent letter from friend. Nv
informant, his own sailing master, had
managed to get good anchorage about
ten miles away at six o'clock the preyi-
ous evening, bat the storm increasing.
the yacht dragged her anchor about
three A. NJ. Thus they had drifted, aud
though they had managed to keep off
shore. the set of the tide carried them
to lceward, and the yacht bore down
upon the reef, struck, and sank in eight
fathoms.
| listened to this narrative with very
mingled feelings. The letter referred
to must be the letter which | had sent.
why did he not telegraph his reply?
was still debating on the course should
ADOPT, when Dobson came up and said
that the other gentleman wished to see
me. | followed the sailor, and in q
moment was in Brastome's room.
lie held out his hand. hesitatcd to
accept it.
"Why, Harry" he said, show have |
offended you? Your letter puzzled me
considerably"
"Can You ask how?" rcplied.
You who have Tilted my sister, and
blightcd her life-and, l fear, caused
her death by your dastardly conduct.
saved your life but could almost re-
grct it. l have long reckoning to
settle with you."
"But listen to me; you are quite in
error. l never injured your sister; I
am as true to her as even you could
desire. | am indeed"
Are yon not engaged to be married
to Sir William As daughtcr?'
"Certainly not. My cousin, who has
come into the title, is going to marry
her-I hope to marry Agnes--your sis
ter; and can't really understand -"
| did not permit him to finish. I
wrung his hand nearly of, begged his
pardon, and almost cried in doing it.
Then | rushed out and wanted Dobson
TO signal for boat, which he very pro-
perly declined to do; so | sat with
Fred and talked alb ,ut Agnes till | be-
gan to think that carried my affection
quite far enough.
All was explained, and l was happy
again; and the next day! Oh, what
happy day it was? The sea Fortunate
ly abated. Murray came out with the
welcome news that darling Agnes was
better, and that evening we all went
ashore in the highest spirits. The glad
intelligence of her. faithful swain's re-
turn was gently conveyed to her, and
she at once got so bright and happy.
that we declared she had been "sham.
ming" all the time; and when, three
days afterward, she and Frederic were
allowed TO see each other-well, the
meeting is beyond the power of my
poor pen to describe.
Nothing now presented any obstacle
to tn cir engagement being announced
About three months afterward, on a
cold January morning, my dear sister
was united to the husband of her choice
'.for richer, for poorer, till death do
them part;" and Judging by external
evidence, | am thankful to say that
there is no prospect of separation for
many years. .a,.l.
am very glad now that heaved the
life-buoy at Frcderic's head from the
OId Channel rock that stormy morning
Just fifteen years ago. Aud that was
nv reyen0ei