The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-03-22
made them feel that persuasion would

he examined it, and then, walking back
a dozen yards, ran rapidly up the board
made a great leap forward and went
down among the waves. There were
seconds of GREATNESS waiting and eager
scanning OF the water. Then:
"Hurrah l see him" shouted 4
student. land he's beyond the break
of the surf"
YES, and he is swimming steadily"
said another; ''but he'll never make
the ship in such a sea as this
"He's the strongest swimmer I ever
saw" said Thorpe.
That may be, but this is an awful
swim. 1t is a quarter Of a mile to the
ship. and with such a sea on it might
as well be ten miles,
1t was impossible now TO see the
swimmer buried as he was in raging
sea, and blinded as the people were by
the mist and spray. But the line was
drawing out and that showed that
Wentworth had strength to swim
The students climbed trees for a bet
ter view. The women came back and
crowded the bluff in their eagerness to
learn how matters went with the swim
mer. One young woman ran out upon
the springboard. She stood there,
watching the bold swimmer through a
large spy-glass. Her hair was turned
loose and tossed about by the wind. A
gust carried away the shawl she had
worn about her shoulders. But she
knew nothing of these things or of the
pitiless pelting of the storm upon her.
She knew only that there was a young
hero out there among the mad waves,
daring death in an effort to save the
lives of others.
After while the paving out of line
came to 4 stop. The cord hung limp
in Thorp's hands, and even began to
drift back upon the beach. Five min
utes, which seemed five hours, passed
away Then the line stretched again.
and the payingout was resumed. Not
for long, however. The intervals of
rest increased in frequency and length,
while the spurts of swimming grew
steadily briefer.
He was still alive, however. and that
was something. After awhile the swim
mer seemed to have recovered strength
for the line drew out slowly and steadily
for long time, and by the amount Of
cord left it was judged that he must be
within a hundred yards of the ship.
Then he ceased to draw the line Min
ute after minute passed without a sign.
That long swim, they were sure, mad
been 4 last desperate effort to reach the
ship and when that failed the swimmer
had sunk to the bottom.
There was a low murmur among the
people as this thought was forced upon
them. Then there was a witch at the
line in Thorpe's hand. and a moment
later it began again to run out.
"We give Thee thanks" said the
president, reverently barring his heac
and looking upward, and not another
word was spoken by any of the people
on the shore. There was no need o
speech. The line still drew. Wentworth
was still swimming.
The young woman on the spring
board had not lowered her glass for ;
moment. She had stood there like ;
statue, scarcely moving 4 muscle. Nov
she changed her attitude little, and il
a voice quivering with excitement sh,
said: They see him, and are gettin!
a line ready !" Then another pause
"Thev are throwing the line , He ha
caught it no he has missed it. H,
is drifting past the ship and out O
reach He has caught a line throw
from the bow: They are haulin!
him up He is on deck Hurrah
hurrah hurrah ~
And the girl, wild with JOY, threv
down her spy-slass, and waved he
arms as she shouted.
\ large cord was now attached ant
drawn on board. Then cable wa
carried out, and a little after noon tn
first load of passengers, women and chill
dren-werc brought ashore. When a
the women and children were save(
the men followed. and with the las
Carfull came Wentworth and the cap
tain. The youth was greatly exhausted
and much bruised from being haulet
aboard the ship, but days rest in be-
was all that he needed.
No. Wentworth did not marry tn
spy-glass girl If this were made-ul
story that is the way it would end bu
it is not 4 made-up story at all. 1t i
simply a true account of somethin:
that actually happened, though | hav,
changed the names of the real persons
tsomewhat. Wentworth was the hero
of the college and the town, of course
and when it was known how poor h,
was there was an effort to raise some
money for him. There were wealth,
men who wanted to subscribe LIBERAL,
to fund for his benefit. but the prouc
fellow refused to receive Il cent, saying
when the matter was mentioned to him
Il am not an object Of charity. Give
your money to the poor
And so Wentworth went on, "work,
ing like a slave and living like pau
per-" but in truth being a self-respect
ing gentleman. He made his way