Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-11-19

lace Lac shore was less than half q
mile distant, but In that short space
was more than cnce on the point Of
giving over my efforts.
But | was laboring for life far
more dearer than my own, and /
struggled on. At length, faint and
gasplng, / was drawn, with my pre-
cious burden, out of the seething bil>
lows upon the land. Waiting only
long enough TO regain my breath. /
plunged into the water again and
swan back to the wreck.
When I reached it again only a
small portion OF it was left. Ciinging
to broken timber, in stolld despair,
found Clarenne Bell.
81 did not believe you would re-
turn" said he, looking at ms in bag,
gard amusement. Are you more than
a man that you should risk your life
for one that has injured you as 1
haveW
''This is my revenge" I replied.
"Good for evil; life for worse than
DEATH"
He utteIed a groan and covered his
face with his hands.
The renewed struggle was indeed a
hopeless one. Wearied by my pre-
vious efforts, with a heavier and quite
as helpless burden to support, [ be-
lieved from the start that we wero
doomed
For more than half an hour I labor
ed desperately on, till could scarce
ly move my cramped limbs. My eyes
were blinded with blood and my breath
came in groans. Finally I felt my
senses leaving me.
81 can do no MORE" [ gasped; II
am sinking"
Ny arms relaxed and I foated help>
less at the mercy of the waves.
"You are dying for me-" he moan>
ed; ''and 10 Godl Claud, for
give"-
A swell passed over his head and he
disap peared. The next instant I
became unconscious.
x y
An age seemed to have elapsed
when I became vaguely aware of a
sense of great pain and the sound of
a woman's voice in prayer.
80 Father in heaven, spare him to
me" it said-"spare him that he may
at length forgive me for my sin and
take me back to that noble heart
which betrayed"
''Lois" murmured, stretching out
my hand feebly towards her.
He lives!" she cried. falling upon
her knees beside the bed and covering
my hand with kisses. ooh, it is more
than deserved
"HushT [ said gently; don't
speak of that now. Tell me of Clar-
ence."
'He still lives" she ans wered,
averting her face; "but it is. said that
he was mortally injured by piece
of wreck and will die He has asked
to see you"
He was lying in the next room,
conscious of his approaching fate, de-
string only to see me before he died.
On the following morning was
able to get to his bedside. Battered,
dying, with the last vestiae of his
once wonderful beauty gone, he was
indeed sorrowful sight.
''They tell me that my time is up"
he said, feebly, trying to smile; land
I am heartily glad of it. In some
measure it squares accounts between
us. You can forgive me now, can
you not old frienda"
Fully and freely, before heaven"
I replied. solemnly.
'Yeu used to say no woman could
resist nae," he continued, with a mo-
mentary flash of his old, mocking
manner. ST tempted, deluded, fas-
cinated her; but under all she was
true to you. During our journey on
the steamer she came to her senses.
She loathed me and did not disguise
it. She would never have married
me. and what would have been the Sc
quel cannot guess, but for the provi-
Dental storm that killed me and res
stored her to you unframed. Forgive
her, Claud. She loves you, and has
never ceased to love you"
81 have forgiven her," / said, ''as
entirely as I have forgiven YOU"
With faint smile, in which there
fingered something OF the gay, care
less friend [ had known and loved so
long, he closed his eyes, and so I left
him.
His death drew the last bitter sting
from my heart, but it was months be-
fore the memory of that sad time fad
ed te plaintive dream. Even then,
with my love strengthened and my
faith renewed, it was long before the
prospect OF happiness was again open>
ed to me.
The folly I had pardoned, Lois could
not forgive in herself. She was not
worthy of such love as mine, she said.
1t was fitting she should pass the rest
of her life ia the penance of self denial
and regret.
But we were both young, and love
conquered With her as it had with me
as ia all true hearts; though. tears and
fire, sorrow and shame, it reaches
that union which is foretase of
heaven.
Loss Upon Loss.
New York Sun.
Grocer Ito farmer)-I hear that YOU