The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-10-10

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 less mass. She had tainted dead away. Natalie gave . low cry of despair and
 looking up, with the child clasped in her
 arms, saw a man close by her side fasten-
 ing life-preserver about the body of a
 young boy. With lightning-tike flash
 of memory, in this strait, with death at their elbows, she recognized the face as
 Will Leslie's. At that moment he too
 turned. By what invisible process of att
 tractien may two human souls sometimes,
 at the instant of meeting, understand each
 otherf By what reasoning can such
 mysteries be explained1 She appealed
 to him at once. At once he saw the need.
 must save them both, she said.
 "Yes." He raised Mrs. Talcott's mo-
 tionless form in his arms. "Wait right
 here," he said. And she crouched down
 instantly with the screaming child. She
 tried to soothe 1t little new. A feeling
 of safety had come ever her. He would come back for them. He was calm and
 good and strong. And presently she felt
 his groping hand. She lifted the child
 to him. "The child first" she whis. pered. But she was growing dazed. She
 hoped he would not be gone long this time. It was barely couple of minutes.
 but to her it seemed an eternity. His voice, when it reached her amid the din and the roar, was like voice speaking behind a wall.
 "Are you ready" She got upon her feet at once. He caught her firmly. They took step and his foot struck against something.
 :" Thank Godl" she heard him ex- claim. It was ife-preserver. With rapid fingers he secured it under her arms. Then once more he caught her in his strong grasp. "We shall have to jump Don't be f'ightenedp
 To an imaginative mind there is some thing almost cruel in the serene rising of the sun upon a scene of human wreck and ruin such a scene as greets the eyes of the inhabitants of those calm green shores, with the furnished tints of the autumn touching their slopes here and there, on the following morning.
 But Mrs. Talcott was not imaginative. She was safe, the baby was safe, Natalie was safe. Even that poor foolish girl of a nurse had managed to get herself into one of the life boats. Their escape was miraculous truly miraculous How many poor souls did Natalie say had been lostf It was dreadful, dreadfull Blu, they, personally, had much to be thank tul for. Yes, indeed
 Altogether, Mrs. Talcott had recovered from the terror and emotion of the night and regained her normal tone with a ra- pidity and elasticity which would have been surprising to one who had not known her well. Nor did she consider it the | least of their blessings that the wide, old fashioned country house--a boarding | house Tn summer-in which they had | found refuge till that poor hysterical nurse and the baby, whose nerves had also suffered, should be well enough to allow them to get home, had proved so comfortable.
 And as for Mir. Leslie, Natalie, I sim. ply don't know what we should have done without him. He's been so kind and useful, telegraphing for us everywhere, and especially to my poor, dear Ben, all the way out west, who will be half dead with apprehension till he gets the mes- sage. And then what strength and cour- age he hasl He's hero. But you, too, Natalie, you're a heroine You heroic people do certainly loom up magnifcently in the few grand occasions of life; I will confess that. There, Minerva, don't look so reproachtul. know my frivolity is perfectly incomprehensible and dreadful to you but it's my nature. What can dor Did you notice, by the way, how surprised Mir. Leslie looked early this morning, when you thanked him, calling him by name3 suppose he could not imagine how you threw"
 Doubtless Mrs. Pussy Talcott would have gone on tor some time longer but that, turning her head, she discovered that Natalie had left the room.
 On the following day the lady decided that her party was in condition to 20 on to New York in the morning.
 In the evening Natalie, descending the steps of the broad old piazza, saw Leslie coming toward her through the grounds. He joined her and they walked on in sic lence, which neither could find the words to break. It was cool, and the air about them was soft and gray. The dying leaves rustled under their feet. /" am glad to be able to speak to you alone before go," Leslie finally said. "I want to ask you whether you will permit { me to sec you again. should not like to feel that this meeting of ours under such strange and unique circumstances ( must be parting as we'll"
 " And am glad to see you, MT. Leslie, that may have an opportunity of thank. ( ing you again, though words are so lit. { tle-"
 He interrupted her impetuously { ' Don't say that Don't thank me It i is no question of thanks. Miss Bronson, did you ever happen to read { little poem-three short verses, entitled { An Answer'-which appeared in one of ! the magazines two years agop Perhaps not But for me they had very peculiar { interest. had written a little thing, i shortly before, in certain mood with I which this second little poem was most i strangely in sympathy and accord. lIt