The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-06-04


rocks, and the kissing of the foam was
like escaping steam, or the horrid whiz-
zing of an avalanche, which few can hear
and live after they have heard it.
The men disappeared round the rock
and left me standing Mt the door irreso-
lutte, lifeline i'll my hand, buoy at-
tached to it hanging ready for use.
A loud cry attracted my attention-a
cracking, grinding notes.-the vessel had
struck, and us l looked over the rushing,
swirling waves l could see, though in
distinctly, three white faces and three
pairs of arms struggling i'll the water.
| was fascinated-I could only stare.
Help was yet ont of the question, but
even as gaZcd one swimmer, with great
presence of mind, turned with the waves
toward the lee of the lighthouse to IL
spot where in momentary eddy he
might be saved.
saw this now, aud pulling myself
together" stepped cautiously just with
out the reach of the Missing waves which
swooped in masses down upon the rocks
ard slid in smooth layers Of water, like
thick glass, into the boiling surf beneath.
When had reach coign of vantage the
poor swimmer was still bravely battling
with the undertow, and in few moments
l hoped to be able to have the life buoy
to his assistance.
1t seems SO unreal to look back upon,
and were not sure of all this sad morn
ing's work | could almost believe it a
fancy. But there was no time to think
what to do. In another moment / had
grasped the line and was about to swing
the buoy to the struggling, drowning
man, when / recognized his features,
notwithstanding the wild spray and the
disheveled hair That was matted by the
salt water around his forehead.
The swimmer wns Frederick Brastone
the man who had all but killed my
darling sister-the traitor
NV arm fell listlessly to my side. Agnes
was dying, poor darling, almost within
sight of the heaving sea which bore her
faithless lover ON its angry bosom; and
should save his life when he has wreck
ed hers? No! My revenge was COM
plete. | had him in my power now.
The demon tempted me to let him bide
and die, and yet II strange, sad compass
sion for the heartless destroyer of my
sisters life i'll his dire extremity filled
my heart.
He recognized me and called gasping!
ly for help; for help-for Agnes sake.
For her sake! Did he dare to trade his
safety on her Oh her blighted life? And
vet mt the sound of her name the thought
that she had forgiven him his trespasses
against her now prevailed. called out
and hove the life buoy close to him. He
was almost spent, but clutched it with
| the grasp of drowning man, assisted
by the waves / hauled him almost sense
less to the rock, alive (The yacht drove
on the reef just then, and the crew were
rescued after.)
Thank heaven, [ had saved him! Now
that he was free from danger felt more
ut ease. The black cloud of revenge
had passed away, and Agnes pure inhn-
ence had worked wondrOus change IN
me. He lay insensible, but i'll q short
time Dobson and his mate, having
hauled the others out of danger came to
my assistance, and they carried Bras
tome III and laid him on the bed.
l could not see him, though / saved
his life, but afterward heard the facts
from the other young men, who over
whelmed us with thanks, and then
vccount was this 1--WE were sitting i'll the
salery when they told the tale, and how
they met. their companion-him-my
enemy, Is 1 judged).
They had borrowed Mr. Pendrewitt's
yacht, and had sailed to Cherbourg. A
that port they had encountered Bras
tome, who was very anxious to return al
once to England, but had missed thu
steamer. Knowing who he was, fo
they had met at Mr.. Pendrewitt's house
they volunteered to bring him to on
little port. as he said he had received ;
most urgent letter from friend. NJ.
friend, his own sailing-master, haC
managed to get good anchorage abou
ten miles away, at 6 o'clock the previou
evening, but the storm increasing, tn
yacht dragged her anchor about 3 p. NJ
Thus they had drifted, and although
they had managed to keep off shore, tn
set of the tide carried them to leeward
and the yacht bore down on the reef
struck, and sunk in eight fathoms.
| listened to this narrative with yer,
} mingled feelings. The letter referred
must be the letter that had sent. VIII
) did he not telegraph his reply? / wa
: debating on what course to adopt whe
Dobson came up and said that the othe
gentle man wished to see me. i fOllowe
, the sailor, and in moment was III Brl
stones room.
! He held out his hand. hesitated t
acc apt it.
"Why, Harry" he said, chow have
offended you?" Your letter puzzled nj
! considerably"
"Can you ask how? You have jilte
my sister and blighted her life, and,
: fear, caused her death, by your dastart
Iy conduct. l saved your life, but / a
most regret it. / have long reckonin
to settle with you.
"But listen to me. You are quite
error. 1 never injured your sister; Al
rs true to her as even you could desir
/ am, indeed.
care you not engaged to be marie
to Sir William As daughter?"
"Certainly not. My cousin, who h;
q come into the title, is going to marry he
| hope to marry Agnes, your sister; an
: l can't really understand"
/ did not permit him to finish.
! wrung his hand nearly of, begged h
, pardon, and almost cried iii doing
e Then | rushed out and wanted Dobsc
to signal for a boat, which he vel
n properly declined to do; 80 l sat wit
4 Fred, and talked about Agnes until i b
4 gan to think that had carried my affe
ton quite far enough.
All was explained, and / was hapI
again, and then the. next day! o.
\ what happy day it was! The sea TO
r tunately abated. Murray came out wit
the welcome news that darling Agn
" was better, and that evening We all we
4 ashore in the highest spirits. The gli
q intelligence of her faithful swain's r
= turn was gently conveyed to her, and 81
4 ut once got 80 bright and happy that v
.r declared she had been shamming" {
"a the time, and when three days afte
wards she and Frederic were allowed
see each other-well, the meeting is b
II yond the power of my pen to describe.
10 Nothing now presented any obstac
to their engagement being announce
o. About three months aftcrward, on co
I January morning, my dear sister W
!, united to the husband OF her choit
Mt "for richer, for poorer, till death
in them part" and, judging by extern
lis evidence, am thankful to say that the
is no prospect of a separation for ma
n years.
y. am very glad now that heaved
M buoy ut Frederic's head from the {
4 Channel rock that stormy morning j
ed fifteen years ago. And that was my
tn venge.
nd A SHORT time ago Secretary Eva