Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1885-12-10

30 over Into tho boiling waters below.
A dumb horror rested over tho crowd
Of startled loggers on shore.
A pallid-oheeked girl. with streaming
hair, reached tho waters edge and
stood with outstretchcd hands appeal.
Ing to strong men for help. No ono
moved.
care you all cowardse" she cried.
facing the multitude. Brawny men
with red shirts wero there, but none
moved at the appeal from the girls
blanched lips.
"No use, miss" said River Dan.
THAT ar jam won't last many minnits.
Nobody kin help EN-; they're goners,
sure"
Take yonder canoe and 60 to the
rescue"
Janet would have rushed to the res.
cue herself had not strong arms held
her back. Weak, moaning. almost
faintlng. the girl pleaded In vain.
mo use; a boat would 60 over In .
iify. Them fellers can't DO saved"
There Is one chance In a hundred"
A low voice uttered the words. and
Janet saw a slender form glide pas,
toward small Indian canoe that rested
on the bank. About the mans arm
was coil Of rope. When the man
gained the foaming edge Of the water
he swung his arm aloft and cried:
"Some Of you take an end Of this
rope. I am going to rescue those men
IL possible"
Goodness! It's the little book.keep.
err"
"He'll drown, sure"
But Mark Farnham heedec not The
comments of the crowd. He seemed
to realize that time was precious, and
at once pushed the light -shen canoe
into the river. SEEKING the paddle. and
fixing his rope so that 1t would pay
out from between his thin knees, the
little book.keeper began padding up
the stream. Strong hands had graspcd
the end Of the rope and II began pay.
ing out rapidly. when Farnham turned
and shot swiftly into the center Of the
stream.
He managed so that the canoe came
down on the upper side Of the swaying
jam. Instantly the canoe was sucked
under and lost, but Farnham sprang to
the surface of the logs. rope in hand.
and quickly made one end fast to an
upright log.
"Quick, Mr. iyon! There's no time
to lose"
The mill.owner demonstrated, and
urged the bosk.keeper to 60 ahead;
this he absolutely refused to do.
Mr.. Lyon went forward, grasped the
rope and passed, hand over hand, to
the shore. A great shout went up
when he landed.
Next came Dick Wellington. He
was heavy, and the rope saggcd badly.
Farnham felt the jam tremble at each
surge of the foreman's body. Sudden.
ly the log to which the rope was ut.
tached gave way and fell. Instantly
the rope dew far out into the stream.
Dick was near the shore and was res.
cued.
The little book.kseper stood alone on
the jam. which was now trembling and
threatening to fall to pieces. Farm.
| hams face blanched. He seemed to
realize that he was doomed
"Another canoe. quick! Go back,
Dick Wellington, and save Mr.. Farm.
ham!"
1t was Janet who spoke. but the
dripping Apollo turned away with a
shudder. :
"Not for a farm would risk my life
out yonder again"
He was not called upon to do so.
A great crash and roar sickened the
crowd on shore. The Jam. with its
lone occupant. had disappeared!
THE man is past all earthly help"
1t was DR.. Gould who uttered the
words. as he rose from contemplating
the battered. bleeding form on the
sand.
From below the dam the little book.
keeper had been dragged from the
river. bleeding and insensible. He lay
at the feet Of Janet Lyon. who bent
with streaming eyes above the drip
ping body.
"Spcak to me. Mark. speakw
mosned the belle. The white lids. un.
closed. and a pair Of blue eyes looked
into the face Of the kneeling girl. A
smile touched the purple lips.
81 saved him-Dick Wellington /
knew you loved him; It was for your
sake. Janet. know you will forgive
me for being o coward now"
"Oh. Mark! Mark"
A faint tremor moved his frame rs
the girl attempted to raise the little
book.keeper's head. A moment later
she held 4 dead weight in her arms.
The great soul Of Mark Farnham had
gone from the small body forever
Oxbow did itself proud at the
funeral Of the little book-keeper, and
one genuine mourner there was at
least-the belle of the Muskegon.
When Dick Wellington asked for her
hand two months later, he met with a
cold refusal. Some people wondered
why Janet Lyon never married. Does
the reader wonder2-Chicdgo Current.