The Magnolia gazette., 1882-10-20
o4angae4l
VIOLA
Thirs Lost ii StuEBIa for 4 Hanl
cHAPTER L-coxrIxUEp.

A dozen men on the edge Of ledgy
beach. the dri,i ing spray aud the storm
enshrondiug them in white, ghostly
mist, over which half a dozen lanterns
cast q yellow. smoky glare. little
dory laid half on its de. her prov
buried in the dripping sea-weed, 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 a child.
q bright. dark little creature. who
clung close 10 him. but looked out with
steady. fearless eyes at the rough look
ing men gathered on the beach. In the
bottom Of the boat lay a woman. her
head resting on Ralph's jacket, which
be 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 swirlng 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 instnctively turned
away their faces.
The woman was carefully lifted out
and borne up the beach 10 Ben Ander-
sons cottage. There were two houses
near the po mt where she was found,
but no one thought OF proposing to
carry her TO either of them. Ned
Bradlee marched on before. swinging
lar Il ~
IL his arms, she only submitting to this
arrangement on condition that Ralph
should walk beside him, where she
could put out her hand and touch his
arm OF face every few minutes.
No one had noticed MIRA Anderson
till they were arranging litter 10 carry
the woman on. Then she stepped quiet
ly forward and assisted them, and fell
back aga'n. The nervousness had en-
tirely LETT her, and there was not a
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, rs he sa d.
that there was something for him to
do there" He thought he would keep
on 70 the rocks. ii he saw nothing
sooner. But he had not proceeded
more than dozen rods when he saw
something white hut ering against the
dark edge Of an abrupt rock that rose
q few feet from the shore He was not
sure but II was the froth cast mp BY the
waves till child's voice said. "mam-
ma" very distinctly. He ran back
few feet and caught hold Of the dorr
and run i down 10 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
10 the rock. He was perfectly familiar
with the place; there was a narrow
strip Of sandy bar, aud. keeping that
between him and the wind. he man
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 spar,
which had caught and broken against
the rock, throwing her up on the bar.
whore she lay, speeuhless and nearly
insensibe. He had lifted them botl
into the boat. and was just pushing OF
for the shore when Ned Bradlee came
along with his lantern and saw him.
The woman did not revive, notwth
standing the careful nursing Of Myrf
Anderson and her husband She lay
hour after hour in quiet, semi-con
scious state. only rousing If one spoke {,
her, but only to open her eyes and smil,
family, and fall away again. But jus
before sunrise she started up and eallet
out sharply; "Viola!n The child
which had lain on the bed with her al
night, opened her great dark eyes sud
denly. and with passionate gestur
threw her arms about her mother
neck.
"Viola. dear, am afraid am goin
20 leave you,n she whispered. family.
sMyra Anderson motioned TO her hus
band. but he had already seen the swil
change creeping over the fair, girlsh
looking face. He came and stood b
his wife's side, feeling of sadness an
pain in his heart. Death Is always sac
coming, as It does, with its Cahill, an
silence, and pallor, into the brightnes
and flush Of our busy lives. We know
and we say: (" IL IS best" The worl
unseen is purer and fairer, and more /
be desired. and God. even our God,
Lord OF that rs we'll as this. But sti
the river is dark that lies between, an
the mists come up and fall into OF
hearts, chilling and shadowing then
and yelling the brightness that lies b,
yond.
Mamma, mamma sobbed Il
child. "don't talk so; you shall n,
leave me here alonein
The woman's eyes wandered wis
fully around the room. Mrs. AndersC
went out and returned in few minut