The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-10-07
RROOKHAyEN. MISS. THURSDAY. OCTOBER Z. 1880
arad her face with her hands.

tide will not turn for an hour.
The effort was successful. The
ledge is reached, and he carries her
to the very highest rock and lays
her gently down.
"My love, my little love, she cried,
kissing her helpless hands. Il
have killed you"
stop she exclaimed. listen.
There is boat! 1t is coming this
way" Dorothy is upon her knees,
and wild cry of thanksgiving
comes from her lips.
Ephraim Ford had followed them.
The heavy boat with its single oc-
cupant is strong enough to resist the
waves, and as he nears them, they
90 down to meet him.
back" he cries, IL will not take
but one Of you; it is not safe.
The grim Quaker, with his stern,
emotionless face, wrenches away
the slender hands that cling to
Charles, and clasping Dorothy
tightly in his arms lays her at his
own feet i'll the bottom OF
the boat. Not word is said till they
reach the opposite shore, Then he
takes her up again and carries her
to the nearest fishers hut up the
beach.
as they stand within the shelter
of the little cabin, Dorothy looks at
him with wild eyes, and q cry OF
torture issues from her white lips.
go back, go back. You will go
back for him?'
$50 back for your elegant city
lover, whose ignorant carelessness
would have caused you your life
but for me."
Dorothy falls on her knees and
grasps his cold hands in agony OF
entreaty.
$50 back, go back!'
Promise me first that you will
| not marry him. Swear it as the
| worlds people do"
He takes her hand and holds it
Iup to heaven, and waits for the
| oath.
Dorothy's lips move, but no
sound come from them. Dorothy
lad tainted.
The fisherman's wife takes the
unconscious girl and lays her Oh
| ler own bed, and Ephraim Ford
GOES upon his errand of mercy with
murder in his heart
The storm has lulled for a mo
nent. 1t comes on gradually, stop
ping every now and then, as if to
make the earth believe that it were
doubtful of its power, and can afioro
% wait.
Ephraim looks at the sky. 1t is
still red in the west; the waves are
Using steadily, but his stout built
ooat, directed by his powerfui
strength, can yet make it's way
through them. There is plenty OF
.ime; the tide will not turn for hall
IN hour.
Ephraim fights his battle with
,emptation and wins the victory
ior, twenty minutes later the sturdy
,oat plows it's way back to the
shore, and two silent men struggled
against the wind up the beach to the
isherman's hut. Dorothy is wait
ing for them. Her outstretched
arms would wind themselves about
10Th, but the stern, fixed look in
Ephraim, s eyes restrained her, and
Charles turns from her and fixes
lis eyes on the ground.
1t is terrible to Dorothy. She
Knows they both love her, and she
shivers at the suffering in both
aces.
Then she remembers the oath she
lid not speak, ,and wild sort of ter
for takes possession OF her soul.
She speaks at last, and tries to
thank Ephraim for the service he
lad done them.
"Spare me thy gratitude, Doro-
.hy," he commands, in low, solemn
.one, peculiar to his people. Il
know have done thee q service.
/ would not hear of it again. /
uried to make thee swear an oath.
Dorothy, l am glad it was not spok,
IN. Tell me now, though, dost
,nou love this young man? Wilt
.hou forswear thy religion, forsake
he faith of thy f'orefathers and be-
come one of the worlds peopley
Dorothy's eyes look toward Char
les with mute appeal.
L "He has saved both our lives,
lear,,' answers the young man in
teply to her glance, land he is wor-
thy of your love-" Then his eyes
seek the floor again. He has re-
;eived his life from this man S
lands, and now he will speak no
word to rob him of his treasure.
'.Speak, Dorothy" Ephraim re-
peats, sit is for you to choose
Dorothy's voice is choked with
Gears and her breast shaken with
,obs, as she answers.
at is very wicked of Inc, Eph-
..aim, but love him sou
Then she stretched out her help
less hands, and the sweet lips NUT
6ered "Charles.
Only single word, but it decides
ler life. In moment she is in hei
overs arms, and for the sec
ond time that night unconscious.
The nobler man OF the two goes
unheeded out into the storm to con-
| ,uar his heartache alone.