The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-06-08

1Sn as 10 reJecI any Ouo WIZ paiu AcI
due attention simply because we've
were schoolnates for time"
..Did you ever?" cried Margaret. "I
never" she added, demurely.
We were standing on the portico of
the house which overlooked the lake
while this uninteresting conversation
was progressing. We did not, however,
notice that the sun had suddenly dark
ened, and that the wind sweeping up
the lake had raised the placid waters of
q half-hour before into turbulent waves.
The wind rapidly increased in vio-
lence, and it grew so dark that it SEEM
ed the night was about to let its curtains
fall in thick folds upon the earth. The
water began to pitch and toss at fear
full rate, and the long, crest-crowned
waves broke with a roar upon the low
bench, while the trees were bent by the
force of the gale until their topmost
branches touched the ground.
Good heavensr' suddenly cried my
sharp-eycd sister; .'look! look thereon
the lake. See that boat. Tt will cap
size. Its sail is torn into ribbons, but
still the boat is in danger. Who's in it,
Frank? Can't you see? Get the glass
It's woman, as I'm alive, and she'll
perish with no one to help her. o that
] were a man,
BY this time had the telescope to my
eye. 1t was just as Margaret had said
"a young woman, terrOr-stricken and
helpless, was in it at the mercy of the
waves-exposed to the fury of the terri
BILE tornado that now was taking up
great trees by their roots and whirling
them into the black air. saw the face
OF the struggling woman. One glance
told me who it was.
s.Who is itP'' cried my mother and
sister together. sis it a neighbor? 1t
must be?'
II will tell you In moment all about
her." said, as threw off my coat and
rushed into the storm.
needed not the voices of those who
called after me entreating me to return,
and avoided not the debris of the land
which the whirling gale hurled and
played with in space.
On, on l rushed toward the shore.
entered the boat-house, and untying the
yawl, leaped into it, and unhesitatingly
pushed into the deep. l stood up. The
ward the middle of the lake--drove it
directly toward where l had seen the
boat in which WAS the woman. looked
around me. The gale had not increased,
and it had not renewed its wild force. l
saw that which made me shudder.
Within hundred yards of me saw =
capsized boat.
''My Godr' cried; ''is she lost?''
My eyes caught sight of part of
woman's dress. Next saw an arm, the
hand holding on the rudder of the use
less craft; then white face turned up,
the eyes closed. shuddered. There
was too much repose in that face. 1t
reminded me of death.
was now close upon the capsized
boat. must use every effort to seize
the woman ere was blown past her.
''Noww said, as l stopped and
clutched the dress.
Another moment, and l was rods away
from the boat, but had retained my
hold of the woman's arm and dress. /
gradually drew the form toward me;
then, with great effort. / raised it into
the yawl. Taking it into my heart, l
passionately kissed the pale, marble-like
lips.
''She is dead-dead," I murmured.
''Poor child! And so loved her, not
withstanding all have said to the con-
trary."
The storm ended almost as suddenly
as it began. Carefully laying my pre-
cious burthen on the floor of the boat, l
put the oars in the rowlocks and pulled
energetically toward the shore. was
there met by my mother and sister.
"Who is it?" asked Margaret, as she
called to me before had quite reached
the beach.
Ere l could answer her, the boat
struck the pebbles of the shore. Before
its impetus could be checked, it ground
its way half its length beyond the wa
ter.
why, it's Jennie Strongr' cried my
mother, as she looked into the boat.
lit is,'' replied. as gathered up in
my strong arms the unconscious if not
inanimate body of poor Jennie, and ran
straightway with it to the house, follow
ed by my relatives.
Precisely in thirty days from the com.
mencement of my vacation was at my
desk in the banking house, ready for
work. Mr.. Singleton greeted me with
smile.
'.You look well, Frank" he said, cor
daily taking my hand. II see you
have obeyed my instructions. You look
brown and healthy, and with stamina
enough to struggle through another
year"
81 have obeyed you in all things but
one. sir,' replied, with smile.
'.In what have you disobeyed mop"
he asked.
az couldn't holm fallipO in love with
an old friend, and-and marrying her,"
what, STRIP he cried; "a Benedick
so soon?"
l told him quietly my little romance
as have to you, my reader.