The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-06-04

that Miss Stf0Hg w0Hld met be so foal-a
ISL as to reject any one who paid her
| due attention simply because we've
were schoolmates for tinle''
ibid you eyerp' cried Margaret. 81
never" she added. demurely.
We were standing on the portico of
the house wliichaoveriooked the lake
while this nninteresting conversation
was progressing. We did not, however,
notice that the sun had suddenly dark
ened, and that the wind sweeping MP
the lake had raised the placid waters of
| q half-hour before into Turbulent waves
The wind rapidly increased in vio-
| lenee, and it grew so dark that it SEEM
ed the night was aboutto let its curtains
| fall in thick folds upon the earth. The
| water began to pitch and toss at a 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. es.s
Good heavensr suddenly cried my
sharp-eyed sister; "look! look there Lon
the lake. See that boat. 1t will cap
size. Its sail is torn into ribbons, but
still the boat is in danger. Who's in it,
Frankp 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 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
t<a$$
told me who it was. $50
WHO is itP'' cried my mother and
sister together. sis it neighbor? 1t
must ber' 4sft 9st
81 will tell you in moment all about
her, / said, as I 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. $50 %sss
On, on / rushed toward the shore
entered the boat-house, and untying the
yawl, leaped into it, and unhesitatingiy
pushed into the deep. / stood up. The
wind caught the boat and drove it to-
ward the middle of the lake--drove it
directly toward where / had seen the
boat in which was the woman. I looked
around me. The gale had not increased,
and it had not renewed its wild force. /
saw that which made me shudder.
Within a hundred yards of me l saw q
capsized boat.
..My Godr' cried; sis she lostP''
Ny eyes caught sight of part of q
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.
..Nowr' I said, as I stopped and
clutched the dress. 49,
Another moment, and was rods away
from the boat, but had retained my
hold of the woman's arm and dress. 1
gradually drew the form toward me;
then, with q great effort. raised it into
the yawl Taking it into my heart, I
passionately kissed the pale, marble-like
lips r a 5oq
..She is dead-dead,' murmured.
s.Poor child! And so loYed 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,
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. i- .aa
Ere | 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. kA5sTaz ff@as
.sWhy, it's Jennie Strong!'' cried my
mother, as she looked into the boat.
ut isl replied, as gathered up in
nv 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. - -.
ssYou look well, Frank he said. cor
daily taking my hand. 81 see you
have obeyed my instructions. You look
brown and healthy, and with stamina
enough to struggle through another
Il have obeyed you in all things but
one, sir.' replied, with a smile.
I'm what have You disobeyed mep''
he asked.
81 couldn't help falling in love with
AN old friend, and-and marrying her.
What, STRIP he cried; "a Benedick
so soon?'' esss5s ssE,ssrs~f -
told him quietly my little romance
as have to you, my reader.