Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-02-20
.attling talk of the gay, light hearted

u uO ROOu, duu LII IOO . PiOsluOhSo
tried to be the means of saving the
lives of people who were nothing to
him?
Thus his thoughts ran over and
over again, repeating themselves like
the voices of mocking demons, while
he labored on as unremit-
tingly as though no influence OF the
kind were at work piling on fresh fuel
for the flames, or pushing some burn
ing log into a setter position. and IN
that way he won the victory.
Peace succeeded to the wild storm
of agitation which had momentarily
threatened to engulf him. Thus the
night woro through.
With the morning came great
calm. One would not have thought
that the un.fecked waves which came
leaping in, white crasted and tumul-
tuous, to meet the stern barrier of
rocks, and crawl up, upalmost to their
summit, could be aught but playing
in their force. All, it is treacherous
beauty-that of the sea.
Too tired to notice the beauty of
the transition from storm to sunshine,
Owen walked slowly home. His
work was done, and he must have
rest.
Late in the day he started out for a
walk. He was in that miserable state
of mind which oftentimss follows
some great exultation of spirits. The
thought that Annis had gone away
without his seeing her again weighed
upon his mind like an unwelcome
incubus.
At the voice of Robert Hunter, who
stopped to accost him, he shraak and
trembled as though in pain, but he
listened as intently as though his life
depended upon what he was about to
say. Had he proposed to Annis, and
had he been accepted
Glenn" he began, II wish you
and l could change places about last
nights work"
"It's rather late for that now" was
the quiet answer.
"Im fully aware of the fact, and
that's what / regret about it. I'm
afraid Pm dished in certain direc-
ton"
"What'do you mean2" asked Owen,
with sudden interest.
"Why, if you believe it, might
just as we'll have left my visit unpaid
last night; indeed, had far better done
so. Annis was SO interested at the
chance OF there beng ship outside
IN distress that it was all could do
to prevail upon her not to face the
storm and come and help, she said Z;
and she gave me some pretty rubs, l
can tell you, about my leaving you
alone to do the good work, as she
called it. | do believe that little
Annis will not look at me again with
out thought in her mind of what |
ought to have done and didn't"
Such tide of JOY rushed through
Owen Glenn's heart that he could
hardly speak, and while he was strug-
Cling to hide his emotion Robert went
on with his revelations, little realizing
the effect of his words:
"She's not going home o-day just
on that account. She told me to tell
you to come up and see her and tell
her all about it. l wish it had been
my luck to make such hit. Women
are great on any one who touch their
feelings. You ought to have seen hel
eyes snap and sparkle when she was
lecturing me about not staying to
help your" For Owen was hurryine
off in the direction of the cliffs.
AS he went Robert caught look
upon his face which told him more
than Owen intended. He stood star
ing at him, thinking to himself:
Il see it all. My failure will be
Ovens opportunity. Well; he's q
good fellow and as long as cans
have her, what odds does it makes
And | saw last night she cared nc
more for noe than if | had been 8
stick"
When Annis caught sight of Owen
approaching the cottage she ran opt
with an impulsive, "Oa, how glad ]
am TO see you'll l do not want to tel
you what think of you"
Then she stopped short. Something
in Ovens face filed her with confus-
ion. But outstretched hands were
already within his clasp, and his low
murmured words of love were sound
ing in her ears:
II am as glad as you that l have
done something to please you; for oh,
Annis, love you SO dearly that ]
would do or dare anything for your
sake"
And then, she never knew how i
came about, but his arms were about
her and his kisses were upon her lips,
as she found that she loved him SO
well she was willing to promise to be
his wife, whenever he should be able
to earn enough to make home for
her.
They were both young, and it would
not be hard to wait, and they were SO
sure Of one another's love.
The prospect was at first that several
years must elapse before their mar
riage, but suddenly all was changed
for them as if by magic
A letter came from abroad within a
twelve month. 1t was addressed to
the minister Of the little seaside viii
lage, and asked for information as to
to the persons who had kindled a
beacon light in answer to signal of
distress from sailing vessel on the
night Of -, giving the correct date
and time when Owen bad sacrificed IN
to the dictates of duty and
of humanity.
The light had saved valuable cargo
from being lost, and the writer pro
posed to give half of the proceeds to
the parties who had been so instru
mental in the matter. Also, a medal
was to be struck off commemorative
of his gratitude that the lives of all
on board had been thus preserved to
their families.
Owen became at once the boast of
the village. For when a mans fame
has reached foreign countries his own
townspeople are always sure to re-
ocho it.
The wedding day was set for the
first anniversary of the evening when
his good fortune came to him in the
guise of Disappointment, and Robert
Hunter was the first to congratulate
the young couple.
Who'd have thought, " he whisper
ed to Owen, that the tables would
have been so turned3 Truly, There's
a tide in the affairs of men which,
taken at the flood, leads on to fortune
and you took it, my boy. "-Philadel
pha Call.
Personal Application of Text.
Lowell Mass Courier.
This story is told as illustrating the
ready wit of the late DIR. Howard, of
hAi i. i.