Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-01-11
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VIOLA
Thrice Lost in a Struggle for a Name,
BY MRS. II. 3. EDISON.

CHAPTER I-CoNrINUED.
A dozen men on the edge of a ledgy
beach, the driving spray and the storm
'enshrouding them in white, ghostly
mist, over which half a dozen lanterns
cast a yellow, smoky glare. A little
dory laid half on its side, 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 q child,
q bright, dark little creature, who
chung close to 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
lie had taken off for that purpose. She
vsas greatly exhausted, evidently, but
she smiled sweetly when Ralph spoke
~ her, and then again at the conclusion
Of Bradlee's speech.
30, here's Anderson, now" BAdlee
added, as Ben strobe straight through
the swirling surf and Shiny sea-weeds.
and stepped into the boat and stood an
instant with uncovered head and up
UeSltic HIS 10y. IHtN jill
knew what was in the fathers heart at
that moment, and instinctively turned
away their faces.
The woman was carefully lifted out
and borne up the beach to Ben Ander-
near the point where she was found,
but no one thought OF proposing to
carry her 10 either of them. Ned
l0n al,o1 t,,fo
his lantern and carrying the little girl
in 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 or face every few minutes.
No one had noticed Myra Anderson
sill they were arranging litter to carry
the woman on. Then she stepped quiet
ly forward and assisted them. and fell
back again. The nervousness had en-
tirely left her. and there was not a
steadier nor prompter hand than hers
among them ali.
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, as he said,
that There was something for him to
do there" He thought he would keep
on to the rocks. if he saw nothing
sooner But he had not proceeded
more than dozen rods when he saw
something white fiuttering against the
dark edge of an abrupt rock that rose
a few feet from the shore. He was not
sure but il was the froth cast up by the
waves till q child's voice said, "mam-
MAJ very distinctly. He ran back
a few feet and caught hold of the dory
and run it down to the water and
sprang into it. The light from the
lanterns up the shore cast a faint light
on the water. and the tide was falling,
and so he managed 10 get the boat out
to the rock. He was perfectly familiar
with the place; there was narrow
strip of sandy bar, and, 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 dashed to spar,
which had caught and broken against
the rock, throwing her up on the bar,
where she lay, speechlesS and nearly
insensible. He had lifted them both
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, notwith.
standing the careful nursing of Ayra
Anderson and her husband. She lay
hour after hour in a quiet, semi-con-
scious state. only rousing if one spoke tC
her but only to open her eyes and smile
family, and fall away again. But just
before sunrise she started up and called
ont sharply: 'sViola!'' The child,
which had lain on the bed with her all
night, opened her great dark eyes sud
denly, and with a passionate gesture
threw her arms about her mothers
neck.
s.Viola, dear, am afraid | am going
tn leave you," she whispered, family.
Mvra Anderson motioned to her hus-
hand. but he had already seen the swift
change creeping over the fair. girlish-
LOOKING face. He came and stood by
his wife's side, feeling of sadness and
main in his heart. Death is always sad,
Coming. as it does, with its chill. and
silence. and pallor, into the brightness;
and flush OF our busy lives. We know.
and we saw: - 1t is hest.' The world
.nnseen is purer and fairer, and more to
he desired. and God, even our God. is
lord of that as well as this. But still
,the river is dark that lies between, ano
The mists come up and fall into oul
hearts, : chilling and shadowing them
and yelling the brightness that lies be-
yond. o,,,oa 81,
child. "don't talk. so; you shall MOI
leave me here alone!'
The wonan's eyes wandered visit
fully around the room. Mrs. Anderson
Sant out and returned in a few minute: