Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-07-25
SELECTIONS.
MY CHANCE.

) ANyAyo0
+ MY CHANCE.
My name is Oliver Desmond, and
was, at the time the story opens, al
a fashionable summer resort, where
/ went to escape the vigilance of my
father, who was on the lookout for a
wife for me. AS | heard something
about Il friend of my sister, who was
coming to pay us Il visit, l suspected
my father ofthe intention Of question
ing me on the subject of a proposal
so | quickly got out Of the way.
| had no intention of getting mar
ried, and 1 felt certain that this mai
den whom had never seen was as
ugly as dragon, and should / ever
have had the misfortune to meet my
fate as they say in the novels, il
would not have been her. When
was through soliloquizing on this
strange maiden it was time to so in
the water, where | had been IA short
time when | imagined | heard dis
tant cries for succor. As | was SC
far out as to be beyond talking dis.
lance with any other person bath
ing, | determined to discover the
drowning person and lend my assist
lance. This it was quite difficult to
do, for the cries had ceased, and the
horrible thought struck me that the
poor unfortunate man had been
drowned.
| was just about to retrace my
steps when the cry again struck my
ear, and | recognized it as that of a
female. | answered it with more
readiness than | would had it been
one of my own sex, and once more
waded into the water, looking for
the distressed female. As | was
.
thrown by wave and in falling my
hand came in contact with an object
which proved to be the head of the
person | was seeking. | was in the
nick of time, for had grasped her
long, beautiful hair Just as she was
sinking. | held the girl until reach
ing the shore, we received ADLER as
sistance. 1t was not until then that
| noticed the strange beauty had
tainted in my arms from sheer ex-
haustion, and we were conveyed to
the nearest hotel, which turned out
to be the very one at which l was
stopping.
AS | sat alone by the couch of the
young girl who was sleeping, and
while awaited the return of life,
noted how beautiful she was. She
possessed hair which could not have
been excelled by Venus /; her COM
plexion was olive; her features were
we'll made, altogether she was a
handsome creature. just as l was
admiring her pretty face was start
led by her eyes opening. They were
very pretty eyes, and they opened
with fascinating look, and she
awoke with a customary cry
"Where am l 7"
"You are in the hotel" / answer.
ed. " You were rescued while drown.
ing. Had it not been for the timely
interference OF friend you would
have undoubtedly have found wa
terry grave"
Yes! | remember all now. But
do you know this friend sn
| answered with prevarication, but
did not let her know how near that
friend was at the time. | gave her
the full particulars of the affair, and
when her nurse entered left init
mating te her that was neighbor-
ing physician wGo had been called in
for assistance.
Returning shortly afterward, /
was surprised to find her somewhat
jubilant and when | entered the
room she poured out thanks to me
for preserving her from a watery
grave. When asked her where she
obtained her information she said
that the nurse had told her. | was
not sorry, though. for it led on to an
acquaintance, and a month afterward
l let myself into a secret. l was in
love with her. l did not know wheth.
er the feeling was reciprocated I
did not even know her name. One
day when We were sitting on the pi-
azza talking about things in general
she inquired where I resided.
"Oh | lived in New York when
am at home, which is seldom,u |
answered carelessly " aud, strange
to say, never cared for this place
much, and would not have been here
now were it not to escape the wiles