Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-03-19

helpless passengers in her boat. The
waves were running along the very
rim Of it at the stern when Polly once
more pulled away for the island.
By the flashing of the light Mason
saw her land and the boat pull out
again, aud, then, with sudden gurg-
ling sound, the waters closed on the
lifebeat.
''Ohl save me!' shrieked the help
less woman, In her misery.
Mason grasped her and lost his foot
ing but he did not let 60 his hold.
Coming to the surface, he managed to
gasp: IF you touch me l will let you
CO." And, with an utmost despairing
effort, he set his face toward the
shore.
Before Polly had landed the third
time, the guardsman was on the shore
under the cliff, and Sophronia's
slrieks, Joined with his entreaty,
caused her to yield up boat and oars
to stronger hand. Then there came
out to the little, shivering group on
the island that terrible cry of despair
ing agony from the sinking lifeboat.
Mason's comrade pulled with a will,
but the way was intricate and rocky
and only Polly knew it well.
Hell never get thereI" she moaned.
And Ae never did; for midway of the
distance, the beat shot by a sight that
made him. turn. 1t was the pale face
of Mason thrown back upon the waves,
and struggling for life. The next
instant all was darkness. In 1t he
strove to follow the swimmer. He
knew that even Mason could not swim
the distance in a November sea, en-
cumbered as he was, and to save Ma
ison every gaurdsman on the coast
would willingly have risked lis life.
When, by the flashing of the light, the
man was found, his strength was eb-
blng fast, and he was at that moment
sinking into Inconsistencies under
the terrible clutch of the drowning
woman
1t was desperate work for the boat.
man to hold Mason fast with one hand
and get the boat ahead with the other;
but he slowly advanced shoreward,
and, at last, in sorry plight, but alive
every passenger of the lifeboat wa:
drawn up on the land.
No sooner had Polly made certain
that Mr.. Mason was rescued than she
, calling back TO Sophroria to show the
! way, sped back to the house to MAKE
! ready for her unexpected guests.
As she entered by one door, he
father came in at another.
"Oh, fatherl how glad am TO se'
{ you!" said the girl.
"Where on earth have you been, al
, wrapped up In that way, and dripping
5 wet, too?" he exclaimed.
Father" said Polly, ''there's beeI
wreck somewhere, and the coas
/, guard came for you to help the life-boa
E off the rocks; it got on the Tush. and
and l went TO help, and in minute
) they'll all be here-there's nine oI
, them, and they're dripping wet, AM
! one of them is about drowned"
D Peter Carson Ea9 his arms, all tn
way down TO his finger tips, full o
9 parcels he had brought up from tn
boat.
A wreck on Cliff Islandl" he ex
! claimed, as he laid them down. 9Th,
very first one since 1 came here.
. hope it wasn't caused by the light no
! being Lit at sundown."
4 II don't know" answered Poll,
"There hasn't been any chance to fint
, lout anything. Here they come!' ant
J the sorry little procession, wheeling
' slowly in, dropped into place aroun'
, the kitchen stove, in which Polly ha'
kept a fire burning, ready to cook he
: fathers supper.
4 There is not room to tell how Poll
z and Sophronia warmed and dried thei
] guests, and then prepared for them
r very early breakfast; neither can tn
t lstory be given Of the wreck Of tb
lCynthia in a terrible storm outside
r and the finding of the sinking ship b
: the coast guard in time to get of ever
, passenger before the brave old hui
went down; nor can the particulars o
> the rescue of the four women and tn
three children by Mason and his com
I r5ide be given.
q The next day, at sunset, the great ey
flashed away as usual, and the old lif
: III the snug house went on its accus
toned way, for the unexpected guest
were gone on to their hom S, grateful
,, and happy.
Whether or not it was reported t
: the light house board that Cliff Islam
light was not flashing until twent
minutes after sunset on the 18th o
December. 1881, has remained to Pete
;, Carson and Polly Jane unknown; bu
: the happiest day of Polly's life wa
|. the one when her father, with smil
J and kiss, put into her hands the pa
per that had reappointed him keeper @
the flashing light; for that gave peac
. to her conscience. She knew then tina
: iher broken promise had not cost he
:. father all his living