The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-08-07

Hiouluci.. 'uudeHly INC uOoI OpeuStl, anu
there was heard the rustic of silken drap-
cry. still shapeler head, and fresh
from the hands of the hair dresser. peeped
in at the door. Laura was pale her little
white hands We're clasped together. her
voice trembled.
ooh, papa, mamma, come directly? Mr.
Stuyvesant ventured out too far, and
and
"Was drowned ~ said Mr.. Steele, with
peculiar combination of pity and relief.
Mono; how can you suppose so dread
fnl thing? lie was rescued, but is very
weak and i'll. He asked for me; and may
go? viii you come with me, mamma
oh, beg of you. Can't she, papa"
Her blue eyes filled with tears, and her
little feet seemed painting to fly through
the corridor.
Certainly not, said Mr.. Steele 'Let
him wait until he is able to come to you
Either the man is drowned or he isn't Be
cause q man is imbecile enough to risk his
life that is no reason of your being the
talk of the hotel.
Laura raised her head proudly.
mo danger of that, papa; and beside,
every one is occupied now with the one
that rescued him.
''And what mailman was that ~ said
Mr.. Steele, who could not reconcile him
self to the present condition of affairs.
Il don't know; stranger I believe. 7
was so interested in Mr.. Stuyyesant | for
got to ask.
''Pah.' said Mr.. Steele, getting upon
his feet and walking to the door 'I'H
go and find ont all about it. Do you stay
here until | return
Before he had gone far, Mr.. Steele heard
from the excited guests several different
versions of the affair." but one and all
agreed that the rescuer could be nothing
less than champion swimmer.
"a regular water dog said one gentle
man to Mr. Steele; and as the merchant
had heard the epithet used but once before
in his life, and that ON an occasion of vital
interest to himself, he sought out the hero
of the hour and found to his astonislment,
that it was John Waters himself. He was
quite enveloped in the ilounces and furbe-
lows of pretty and sympathetic women,
who insisted upon knowing every half
second if he was sure he felt strong and
well; and how in the world could he buffet
those dreadful waves in that grand, heroic
way, and how did he manage to drag poor,
dear Mr.. Stuyvesant to the shore
John, like any other hero of the hour,
enjoyed this womanly adulation, but look
ed anxiously at Mr. Steele when he APP
preached.
Hunt" growled that worthy merchant;
"a pretty fellow you, to interfere with
other peoples plans. How do you know
he wanted to be rescued ?"
''lIe appeared anxious that way, SIR
said John. ''IIe wrapped himself about
me like a devil fish. thought one time
that we'd both go down together, There
ought to be school for teaching people
how to let themselves be saved It's the
easiest thing in the world; the water itself
is an accessory if You manage it right
ooh, do tell us how, Mr.. Waters
please." chorused the pretty and sympa-
thetic women; and as John began his les
son Mr.. Steele slipped away.
''Oh, papa" began Laura, chow is Mr..
Stuyvesant ?"
II don't know did't ask, :" he replied.
Il was so interested in the fellow that
dragged him ashore He's an old friend
of ours. The way we made his acquain-
lance was just on such an occasion. He
saved lady from drowning.
''Why, papa, he must be splendid fell
lowr' said Laura.
''Magnifieentr' said Mr.. Steele you
see we had travelled over considerable of
the world together. your mother and |,
while you were yet a baby, and we found
1t rather odd. one morning, to discover
that, having crossed the ocean and the
Alps, lettering in the Hudson Highlands,
travelled thence down the Mississippi valley.
across the American desert to California,
and back again by another route, your
mother had never been up the East river
as far as Morrisania 1t seemed SO hard to
have neglected this home excursion that
we determined upon it at once. The morn
ing was wet but that didn't matter Your
mother looked prettier in a waterproof and
rubbcrs. with a shovel hat tied under her
chin, than most women would in ball
dress. She wasn't bit afraid of rain and
mud. She was little too reckless, for.
getting ashore to see one of the institutions
for vagabond boys, her foct slipped off the
plank and she disappeared"
Mr.. Steele stopped minute; his voice
fatered; the plump little hand of his wife
slipped into his own; he clutched it, and
went on again:
zone minute saw her, as neat and trim
a figure as ever graced a waterproof and
shovel hat the next She was gone p
s'Goner' cried Laura, ''gone where?''
''Into the water child; into the hungry,
greedy waves that surged up to take her
away from the fondest heart in the uni
verse: and if it hadn't been for one of those
very vagabond boys who had been lurking
there for a chance to escape from the
island. you'd have lost Us both. my dear,
a..