The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-09-22
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VIOLA
Thrice Lost IN a Struggle for a Name,
BY MRS. X. d. EDISON.

CHAPTER I.-CoNTINUED.
4 dozen men on the edge of ledgy
beach, the driving spray and the storm
enshrouding them in white, ghostly
mist, over which half a dozen lanterns
cast yellow, smoky glare. A little
dory laid half on its S de, her prov
buried in the dripping searweed, and
standing proudly erect, his blue eyes
purple with excitement, and his wet
cheeks flushed, was young Ralph Ander-
son. One hand grasped an oar, the
other held the little hand of child,
a bright, dark little creature, who
chung close to him, but looked out with
steady. fearless eyes at the rough look
ing men gathered on the beach. In the
bottom of the boat Law a woman, her
head resting on Ralph's jacket, which
he had taken off for that purpose. She
was greatly exhausted, evidently, but
she smiled sweetly when Ralph spoke
to her, and then again at the conclusion
of Bradlee's speech.
20. here's Anderson, now" Bradlee
added, as Ben strobe straight through
the swirling surf and Shiny sea-weeds,
and stepped into the boat and stood an
instant with uncovered head and up
lifted eyes beside his boy. They all
knew what was in the fathers heart at
that moment, and instinctively turned
away their faces.
The woman was carefully lifted out
and borne up the beach to Ben Ander-
sons cottage. There were two houses
near the pc mt where she was found,
but no one thought of proposing to
carry her to either of them. Ned
Bradlee marched on before. swinging
his lantern and carrying the little girl
in his arms. she only submitting to this
arrangement on condit on that Ralrh
should walk beside him, where she
could put out her hand and touch his
arm or face every few minutes.
No one had noticed Myra Anderson
till they were arranging litter to carry
the woman on. Then she stepped quiet
ly forward and assisted them. and fell
back again. The nervousness had en-
TREY left her, and there was not .
steadier nor prompter hand than hers
among them all.
AS they went up to the house, the
story of the rescue was told. Ralph,
upon leaving the rest, kept down
toward the Point. believing, as he sa d,
that there was something for him to
do there" He thought he would keep
on to the rocks, if he saw nothing
sooner. But he had not proceeded
more than a dozen rods when he saw
something white fluttering against the
dark edge of an abrupt rock that rose
few feet from the shore. He was not
sure but il was the froth cast up by the
waves till child's voice said, "mam-
ma" very distinctly. He ran back
few feet and caught hold of the dorv
and run it down to the water and
sprang into it. The light from the
lanterns up the shore cast faint light
on the water. and the tide was falling,
and so he managed to get the boat out
to the rock. He was perfectly familiar
with the place; there was a narrow
strip of sandy bar, and, keeping that
aged to hold his boat in place. He
found the child sitting on the edge of
the rock where she said she had
climbed from her mothers arms.
The woman had been lashed to a spar,
which had caught and broken against
the rock, throwing her up on the bar,
where she lay, speeches. and nearly
insensible. He had lifted them both
into the boat. and was just pushing off
for the shore when Ned Bradlee came
along with his lantern and saw him.
The woman did not revive, notwith-
standing the careful nursing of Myra
Anderson and her husband. She lay
hour after hour in quiet, semi-con-
scious state. only rousing if one spoke to
her, but only to open her eyes and smile
family, and fall away again. But just
before sunrise she started up and called
out sharply: "Viola!" The child.
which had lain on the bed with her all
night, opened her great dark eyes sud-
denly. and with passionate gesture
threw her arms about her mothers
neck.
viola. dear, am afraid am going
to leave you," she whispered, family.
Mvra Anderson motioned to her hus-
band, but he had already seen the swift
change creeping over the fair, girlish-
looking face. He came and stood by
his wife's side. feeling of sadness and
pain in his heart. Death is always sad,
coming, as it does, with its chill, and
silence, and pallor, into the br ghtness
and flush of our busy lives. We know.
and we say: :. 1t is best" The world
unseen is purer and fairer, and more to
be desired, and God. even our God. is
Lord of that as well as this. But still
the river is dark that lies between, and
the mists come up and fall into our
hearts, chilling and shadowing them,
and yelling the brightness that lies be-
yond.
.sMamma, mamma" sobbed the
child, "don't talk so; you shall not
leave me here alone!"
The woman's eyes wandered visit
fully around the room. Mrs. Anderson
went out and returned in few minutes