Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-04-24

women and children begins.
Dolly-little Dolly-sees them lower
her mother and sister. Dacre is stand
ing by her side, white ard stern.
She throws her arms about his
neck in farewell. Tears and sobs
choke her speech. "Oh, Dacre, if the
life boat does not return in time, I shall
never never see you again. And you are
so good--remember [ shall always
A rough hand is laid upon her arm.
She, too, must now co..
For one instant Dacre holds her in a
clasp from which no hands can tear her.
Some one is lowered in her place
then Dacre pushes her forward quickly.
May not an other instant see her
dashed into the sea.
This acquaintance, this friendship,
this love begun ten days ago on ship
board, has it lived its life, and is this
the end?
Away goes the life boat, and still the
vessel RACES on, and still there are wo-
men left to wiring their hands with hor.
ror at what seems now certain death.
But again the life boat comes before
the sturdy ship yields to her furious op-
ponent, and again it puts off, leaving
the few stout hearts behind who had
longest waited.
No boat will survive the storm, yet
quick wit and skill have strung together
a raft, and when the life boat leaves
them, the crew and remaining pas
sengers lash themselves to this. Dacre
Farleighstone is among them.
At last the break comes, and an hour
later, when the dull, leaden day slowly,
surlily dawns upon the scene, the wreck
is no longer within range Of their Wis
ion, but ten drenched human beings
are floating along in the deep sweep of
ugly water. The wind has at last abat
cd, but the rain still pours down.
Around them vast nothing, unbroken
by line of shore or CLEAN of sail.
Will they, ere long, also become
nothing?
Within cheerful, fre-lit drawing
room, Mrs. Thornburn is seated with
her two daughters.
It is eight months since their visit to
Europe, and they are once more COM
fortably established for their winter
season in New York.
Poor Dolly's tender parting with her
lover had been the first intimation which
her mother had received of any attach
ment between the two. Consequently,
Dolly had not escaped vigilant sur
veillance thenceforth, Notwithstanding
the fact that Dacre is reported among
the missing; the mother, evidently,
would never trust Dolly out of her sight
! more.
A downright scolding Dolly had re-
.ceived, but, owing to her evident ILL.,
health, "as l. consequence of their mis-
hap" the mother said, she was spared
further reference to the subject.
II shall marry her as soon as posi-
BILE, said the mother, in confidence, to
her elder sister. "One is never safe
with such girl on ones hands"
Consequently. two or three rich
bachelors had "been thrust at her." as
Dolly expressed herself to her bosom
friend, Jessie; "and," Dolly would add,
in the midst of her sobs, ''all ugly as
they can be! And Dacre was so hand
some! and now, poor boy, I shall never,
never see him again! Mamma thought
he was too young and too poor, because
he had only his salary; but he was then
on business for the large firm with
which he was connected, and he told me
had he the prospect of rapid advance
ment. And now that he has gone
shall never, never marry. Think how
little I would seem to value his memory
to turn about and marry the first ugly
rich man I met!"
So Mrs. Thornburn found more diff
Guilty with her daughter that winter
than she had anticipated.
She would go to- no parties. She
would see no gentlemen.
ut is MIR. Haddon, called for the
third time this week." said Mrs. Thor
burn, glanc1ng at q cord handed her by
O waiter. II told him once you were
out, and again you were i'll, but urged
him to call again, and I insist upon
your seeing him, Dolly"
"There is only one way you can n: cake
me see him." cries Dolly, springing to
her feet in anger, "anl that is to drag
AiC III Soi SoSlAu$S LII JouA Ill LID.
Having exploded which outrageous
speech, Dolly leaves the room, her
mother standing helplessly aghast.
Presently Miss Dolly may be seen
making her way to the house Of her
friend, Jess Holmes, into whose re-
ssponsive bosom she pours forth the
burden of her woes. She remains to
dinner, much preferring the society
there to that of her mother in her pres
emit mood. For there is always Jessie's
brother Jack, ayoung man possessed of
fine spirits, whom Dolly likes next best
to her lost lover and Jessie. -, b.. j.,
He is late tonight, and when at
last he arrives, he. brings with him
"a handsome, tall, bearded fell
low, whom he Immediately pro-
ceeds to introduce to the girls, when
he is interrupted by slight scream
from their fair guest, She grows pale,
then red, and but for the action of this
stranger, she would have lain prone up-
on the floor in q swoon.
He, hears the one word, "Darce!" ut
tered in such 9 voice, he sees the face
best beloved on earth, and the next in
slant he holds the frightened girl in his
arms. I, ss& $ss.ss5g 54s
Before the astonished household he
kisses his little love back to conscious
ness, and Jessie knows it is the lost
Dacre returned. The sea has given up
its dead. u ss# h III. & Isl ;.|
He had but just arrived, and meet
ing his old friend Jack Holmes TO
whom, of course. Dollys confidence
had never extended, )he had accepted his
invitation to dinner, Little dreaming
whom he should meet there.
The crew and the passengers on the
raft hal bean rinkn1 Ut, Nv. a atoo noors