The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-11-25
were, slippers of light leather encas-
do his feet

were, slippers of light leather encas-
do HE feet.
This singular attire was noticed
by the seamen. and q look of disap-
proval was exchanged a,norgst
them; but they finally concluded it
was mere "oddity," and not a want
of respect for the occasion, which
had prompted the assistant to as
sumo this SOFT of dress.
DR.. Weldon, glancing now and
then at the young man, drew down
the corners of his mouth, and arch
ed his brows in a sarcastic manner,
while the captain rolled his quid,
and muttered something about
Young fellows who were top-heavy
with book-larnin' not always being
ship-shape in his toggery."
"Come, ma'am," kindly said the
skipper at last. "I'm sorry, but we
must launch the body. Why, ma
am, what's the US o. takin' on so ?
Death must come to US ill ; we can't
steer clear of that chap, ma Fam and
as the poor lass is dead, why, then,
don't you see. she's dead"
mo, no! | cannot-l must not
let her be thrown into the sea y
walled the distracted mother. "She
was my all-my own Eva They
saved her from the wreck, good for
tune was before her, my sight was
restored so that could see her, and
it was lever meant that she should
be torn from me in this manner. Oh,
my child-come back to your old
mother w
The gruff captain dashed his big
hand across his eyes, the sailors. one
and all, felt their sight grow dim.
And still, as the old lady knelt
there, vainly calling on her child to
come back to her, gust Of wind
howled mournfully through the rig
ging, lifting the thin locks of gray
hair, wet with drizzling rain which
was falling, and rattling with dis
NAL sound the half-masted flag at
the mizzen.
At last, with gentle hands. the
captain and his officers drew Mrs.
Harrison away, the skipper gave the
signal, and away went the body as
the plank was tipped up, sliding off
anu falling with dull splash into
the sea.
But as it struck the water, and the
few weights beneath the feet were
drawing it under. something like a
gurgling sort of cry seemed to issue
from it.
The sailors exchanged glances of
horror, but young Barker, as quick
as thought, leaped from the gang
way into the ocean.
One fathom beneath the sea he
caught the sinking form. and work
ed himself to the surface with it.
Down boat p roared the skipper,
and in few moments Eva and the
young doctor were picked up and on
deck.
The girls eyes were open, and she
was staring wildly about her, but
she was apparently very weak.
Mere words could not express the
excitement which followed. The
ugly canves was ripped from Evas
form, and, an instant later, her over
joyed mother had her in her arms.
Then, with ringing cheers, the
sailors crowded about young Barker,
all eager to shake his hand, while
the old captain muttered to the
maze:
Book -larnin' is something great.
after all. | know now why the
young chap wore that light toggery,
which ! thought was so queer, and
l now know that be was right in
trying to persuade me to put off the
burial for several days. He told me
why he wanted me to, but spoke
to DR.. Weldon about it, and he on
Iy laughed at the idea, SO ] refused
to grant the request"
In fact. after he had surveyed the
face of Eva, as already described, the
young man had noticed about the
eve-lids that which, though be knew
that it was no sure sign of life in the
body, aroused his suspicious, and
suggested to him the necessity of
caution In regard to hasty burial.
The conversation he had held with |
Weldon in their room had reference
to this subject, but the elder doctor
ridiculed she motion" as lie termed |
it. of his assistant
Now, again true to his work, the
young doctor determined to prepare
for what might take place. He knew I
that if there was life in the girl, the
sudden shock of submersion in cold
water, after her being launched in a
downward direction into the sea,
might cause her to give signs of it
by crying out.
He donned light suit that his
movements might not be impeded,
for he knew the necessity of instant
action, as the weighted body would
otherwise sink SO far beneath the
surface that it could not be brought
up in time to save the patient. And
thus, through the knowledge, care
and forethought of one who loved
his profession, was Eva brought
back to life and to her mother.
The young lady rapidly recovered
under the skillful treatment of her
and never had a recur-
renee of the trance which so closely
death. She reached New
Orleans, enjoyed with her parent the
fortune there awaiting her, and was
eventually married to Barker, whom
she had loved from the mement he
restored her mothers sight.
By this time he had risen high in
his profession, and beome as pros
porous as he deserved to be for hav-
ing proved bimself go True to his
Work