The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-08-03

and worse than all (they hadn't
thought of it before, they could not
go in bathing, for the little mother
was nervous about the boys, and in
any case no one dared to venture out
among the breakers without Uncle Ar
thur.
Two doleful days passed, and they
all began to think watering. places
were dclusion and snare, when,
Just as they were at tea on the second
day, they heard, "Whoa! l tell yer "
followed by tramping on the piazza,
and the next thing was Uncle Arthur
beaming on them like a benignant
giant
The boys nearly flew over the table,
everybody laughed aud everybody
shook hands with everybody else, and
there is no certainty that in the hub
bub everybody didn't kiss everybody.
They were all so glad that no one
thought of asking why he came. al
though on their arrival it was well un.
1crstooi that pressing business would
not admit of his leaving town fol
more than a week during the whole
summer
The little mother smiled as she kiss.
cd him. and her eyes twinkled mische.
viously as he greeted Mary, who blush
ed furiously, and was so angry with
herself for doing it that it made ii
still worse; and to cap the climax
Aunt Prim said
"Why, Mary, dear, how warm you
look 1t doesn't seem to me so very
warm tonight.
"lIow long are you going to stay,
Uncle Arthur"
THAT will depend on how well you
will treat me-" he replied. What
would you like TO do to morrow? p
"Oh, bathing, bathing!" they all
screamed together.
whatever else we do we must have
dip. We haven't been in since you
went away said one
So it was agreed there should be a
grand old frolic, and one and all should
have taste of salt water.
Of all the groups which emerged
from the bathing houses next day,
none were so noisy or happy as this
family party. Even the mother ven
tured in little way, and Aunt Prim
donued most becoming costume of
navy blue flannel, with an abundance
of crimson scallops Her modesty had
caused it to be made unusually long
for a bathing dress, and as soon as it
was wet it became so heavy that she
could scarcely step.
They all joined hands and waded
out, jumping together as a wave met
them. a large wave struck Aunt
Prim before she was ready and knock
ed her down, dragging Mary, who
held her hand, off her feet also
Before either could recover her foot
ing another came, washing Aunt Prim
on shore, and in a second left her high
and dry on the sand, lying flat on her
face, with her beautiful hair washed
completely away, giving her the effect
of being scalped
The mother, who had retreated at
the first big wave, and had seen it all
from the shore, ran down, beckoning
wildly with her hands for them to
come in, and thinking it was she who
needed them, they came in as fast as
the waves would let them
BY this time Aunt Prim had been
helped to her feet; the younger boys
were met and dragged in by theil
mother, who screamed to her broth
er:
"Mary! Mary !"
lie turned deadly white, and plung
ing into the foam again, looked wildly
about for something, anything, floating
Other swimmers searched also; moth
ing could be seen except those who
were searching, and they all said;
Shes washed out, you may be
sure, when, Just as Arthur turned tc
swim for boat, something slight
struck his hand. He clutched at it tc
find he was grasping a long lock OF
hair, and drawing it toward him, h,
had Mary's head within his grasp.
Putting one arm around her, h,
struck out for shore with the other
but the waves were so strong, and hi
was soon so exhausted, that they mus
have been drowned if the boats haC
not met them.
All they could do on the way faileC
to elicit spark of life, and Arthur
agony was intense. As soon as the,
touched shore, however, they wer,
met by skillfui hands, for not a mo
ment had been lost in getting all tn
assistance possible; but for a Ions
time it was very doubtful if she woul,
breathe again When she did, an,
they We're able to take her home, thei
joy knew no bounds. But no on
spoke except the children; the heart
of the elders were too full for speech
Aunt Prim was too much shocke,
and affected by Mary's accident t
say anything to her about her owl
feelings with regard to Halliday; bu
she gloritied him to herself.
"What a brave thing! OF course h
had to leave me, as was safe, an,
look after Mary; and what comfor
to be connected with such a nobl
man What could / have said to he
mother if she had not been saved
And she burst into tears at tn
thought
Her tender care and thoughtfulnes
did much toward Mary's recovery, an
in a few days they had a jubilee whe
she was able TO lie on the parlor sof;
The boys had been admitted for fv
minutes as a great privilege, and afte
the first greeting the eldest said
"Did you know Uncle Arthur swar
in with yOu! He's hero !"
"Nes, said the younger one, san
what's she p nodding his head i
Mary's direction. ....
"She's the heros wife, said Arthur
who came in just at that moment, an
took her dear hand in his.
How he knew it was mystery {
the boys, for no one had heard thel
saying anything before this, and lad
couldn't be a wife till she was asked
but however it happened, it was Il
| most sat .EpptnrN thip,r tn oil ,ort;.,s