The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-12-23

heE luCe was lnluueE anu kGtutT luu
ever. Beyond the bluff which sbeltore
her cabin stretched far line Of sea-coast
the white sand cleaning silvery in th
sun. Fur off a group of batbers, in brigh
dresses, frolicking between shore an,
water. They came from the great hote
down beyond; sho could almost catcl
the sound Of their voices as she sat slow
ly rocking in her doorway. 1. was
quiet afternoon; the air was soft aut
soothing, and the widows heart, so ful
of bitterness, felt itself sweeten aud soi:
en- in the stiffness. This part of the
shore, sheltered by the oyerbangiug rocl
was seldom disturbed 10y intruders, bu
presently the watchers eye caught sigh
of young girl sploshing and frolickinf
in the water just beyond The rocks.
was a pretty sight, the rounded arms, til,
curving shoulders, the swaying, floating
figure. And perhaps the old woman re
called with a sigh the time when she wa;
young and blithe too, and had as CHEEKY
a voice as that with which the fair swim
mer hailed her companions in the dis.
tance.
Gazing absently on the smiling scene,
reverie fell upon her ear and when she
looked again, the young water nymph
had disappeared. She had probably
swan ashore behind the rocks. The
widow turned away, hugging her thin
shawl over her thin shoulders. and
thought that the sea wind was chilly
Hark What was that? Surely she heard
a cry. No merry shout or ringing laugh
this; it might be the cry of wild bird
on its way to its mate.
She couldn't have got beyond her
depth, the young creature. surely! But
Ia! what of it if she had? Dying young,
body gets quit of deal of trouble,
And-Yes, surely, that was scream.
The widow looked sharply ont, Would
Tom never comt? The tide was rising,
and-and certainly something was the
matter. She called-she beckoned fran
tically to the bathers beyond-they
seemed both blind and deaf.
No one, not one soul at hand, and that
young; thing in peril of lifel A minute
she stood still, listening-a feeble old
woman, with haggard, scared face, to
whom no one would have dreamed of
looking for help.
1 can't stand this" she said. Seems
1 might pull out that old scow myself.
Toni" she screamed, with q yell that
held the concentrated energy of ten years.
But no Tom appeared. And it was the
widow herself, with those witbered old
hands that disdained the minister's
kitchen work-it was the widow herself,
who, s;raining, Juggling, and with her
gray hair futteriug in the wind, un-
loosed the old dug-out from its moorings
and trembling, unskillful armed with a
rude paddle, went spinning out dizzily
over the water. 1t leaked, the old scow
it scorned the broken paddle and the
heavy oars, but finally it came drifting
out blindly and dizzily to the object of
her search. A plump hand, with gilt
tering ring upon it, clutched the edge of
the boat, nearly upsetting it, A young,
eager face, with streaming hair, looked
up from the waves, and gasping, shud-
dering, half-drowned, and wholly scared.
the young water-nymph was presently
aboard the old craft,
"Oh, how frightened was!" she cried :;
II felt sure l was losing all my strength,
and would go to the bottom. Oh, you
good SOUL you dear soul! how ever did
you get to me in this water-logged
craft?"
1T hNs seen its best days, certain, +"
said the widow, tugging at the oars.
"You don't look able for such work, e"
said the girl.
Il have seen better days." was the
quiet answer.
And then oh, sufficient reward of
all her efTorts!-this real lady, this fair
young girl with the soft hands and the
pretty bathing dress, actually replied,
II thought So"
"Here, give me tho oar she added,
still painting. "But, my dear soul, we'll
never be able to row down to that point.
where left my clothes, and I can't walk
to the hotel; I'm awfully tired. Can't
you putme ashore at your place, and send
word for me down yondeI?'
The little dark cabin on the shore
frightened up with an unwonted lnster
as the widow sheltered her young charge,
and changed her wet garments for some
of her own,
'If my Tom would only come "a send
him for your things"
ooh, no matterl I'll wrap your shawl
aronud me and walk down myself after
I've rested bit. I'm not hurt, you know,
only scared. Dear me, how was scared.
My old nurse used to teach me not to
scream; but if hadn't screamed, where
should l have been now, / wonde.?"
Mrs Minton, would gladly have parted
with the las; shred she possessed, and
gone sbiyerirg the rest Of her days, to set
her worn-out gown donned SO handsome
ly 10y the bright lassie.
They have seen better days, the
clothes, miss, and I'll not deny that they
have been IN good company in their time
but they're not fit for lady now"
Her companion laughed; pretty, mis-
chievous laugh. She read the weakness
OF her resoner, and treated it tendelly.
"WhAtever q lady has worn is ft for q
lady to wear" she said. and forvith
wrapped herself, smiling, in the old gray
shawl.
Aud at that moment Tom, with his red
shirt cleaning IN the setting sun, and q
string of fish on his shoulder, stood in