The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-02-12


like meteor long, black horse shot by
disappearing in the mist, leaving for
John the memory of a charming head,
crowned with blonde curling hair two
kind eyes bent upon his own, and white
waving hand extended in salutation.
''John," said Mr.. Steele, ''did you
see the face of that man? 1 count upon
your saving Laura. Did you see his
thin cruel lips and treacherous eyes 2"
81 only saw Laura, sir, said John
simply.
Later on Mr.. Archibald Steele and his
plump, pretty wife were alone together
in their private parlor. Her dimpled
hand lay lovingly in his, and her shapely
head, fresh from the hands Of the coiff-
eur, rested recklessly on his shoulder.
Suddenly the door opened, and there
was heard the rustic of siiken drapery.
4 still shapier little head, and fresher
from the hands OF the coifuer, all un-
rumpled by the audacious hands Of NOR
tai, peeped in at the door. Laura was
pale, her little white hands were clasped
together, and her musical voice trembled
"Oh, papa mamma, come directly !!
Mr.. Stuyvesant ventured too far, and
and"
"Was drowned 2" said Mr.. Steele,
with a queer combination in his voice of
pity and relief.
"No, no; now can you suppose 50
dreadful 4 thing? He was rescued but
is very weak aud Ill. He has asked for
me, and may go? Will you not come
with mammal Oh, do, beg you. Can't
she papa p
Her blue eyes filed with tears; her
little feet seemed waiting to fly through
the corridors.
''Certaialy not, said Mr.. Steele. Let
him wait till he is able to come to you or
me. Either the man was drowned or he
wasn't. Because he was imbecile en-
ough to risk his life, that is nc reason
for your being the talk Of the hotel"
Laura raised her eyes proudly.
''No danger of that papa; and besides,
every one is occupied now with the one
that rescued him.
''And what mailman was that ?" said
poor Mr.. Steele who could not reconcile
himself TO the condition of affairs
81 don't know-a stranger, | believe.
I was so interested in Mr.. Stuyvesant l
forgot to ask.
'Bah y said Mr.. Steele, getting up
on his feet and walking to the door
'.I'll go and find out all about it. Do
you stay here till return.
Before he had gone far, Mr.. Steele
heard from the excited guests several
different versions of the affair; but one
and all agreed that the rescuer could be
nothing less than the champion swim
mer.
ga regular water-dog p said one gen.
tleman to Mr. Steele as the merchant
had heard this epithet but once before
in his life, and that on an occasion of
vital interest to himself, he sought out
the hero of the hour, and found to his
unbounded establishment, it was John
Waters himself! He was enveloped in
>the founces and furbelows of pretty and
sympathetic women, who insisted upon
knowing every half second if lie was
sure he felt strong and well, and how in
the world could he buffet those dreadful
waves IN that grand, heroic way, and
how did he manage to drag poor Stuyye
SAINT into the shore2
John, like any other hero of the hour,
enjoyed this adulation, but looked anx-
iousiy at Mr.. Steele when he approached.
"Hum,' growled that worthy merchant
''a pretty fellow, you, to interfere with
other peoples plans How do you know
he wanted to be rescued2 2"
"He appeared anxious that way, sir"
said John. "He wrapped himself about
me like devil fish. 1 thought at one
time we'd both so down together. There
ought to be school for teaching people
how to be saved. It's the easiest thing
in the world; the water itself is an ac-
cessorY, if you manage it right"
''Oh, do tell us how, Mr.. Waters,
please" chorused the pretty and sym
pathe Cic women; as John began his les
son Mr.. Steele slipped away.
"Oh, papa" began Laura, show is
Mr.. Stuyvesant!'
81 don't know-I didn't ask" he re-
piled. 81 was interested in the fellow
that dragged him ashore. He's an old
friend of ours. The way we made his
acquaintance was on such an occasion;
he saved lady from drowning"
why, papa" said Laura, she must
be a splendid fellow"
Magnificent !" said Mr.. Steele. ''You
see, We have travelled over considerable
world together, your mother and I, while
you were yet baby; and we found it
rather odd one morning to discover that
having crossed the ocean and the Alps,
loltered IN the Highlands, travelled
thence down the Missippi valley, across
the American desert to California, and
back again by another route, your moth
er had never been up the East river as
far as Morrisania. 1t seems so absurd
to have neglected this home excursion,
that We determined upon it at once.
The morning was wet, but we didn't
mind it. Your mother looked prettier
in water proof and rubbers, with q
shovel hat tied under her chin, than
most women would in ball dress. She
wasn't bit afraid of rain or mud. She
was little too reckless;fo getting ashore
to see the institution for vagrant boys,
her foot slipped off the plank and she