Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-03-10

IA 1@0 Rk0Uu0 mO1 DlAckneSD
s~uffounded him. There was . plunge for
ward, ! terrible splash, and rock, shrub,
md man wers buried in the seething wa
teri.
@Oh, she has killed hint" vas the
Thought that flashed through Daisy's mind,
~, with clasped hands and blanchAd
chesks, shs stood and gazed upon the
|turbid Watei1 where they had closed over
him. But the next instant . wild
thrill shot through her frame a. che saw
shts hAad appear above the water. The cur
rent was bearing him rapidly down stream.
Shc remembered that q short distance
below was = little headland, extending
nearly TO the middle Of the channel, and on
IL banks were willows whose branches
dfooped over the stream. But could she
reach II before the current would bear him
pAst7 Tearing herself from the OBTAINING
arms Of her naughty cousin, she few tow ard
the spot. A look Of wild terror came into
her face ~ she saw that it was submerged.
Scarcely pausing In her rapid flight, she
reached her decision. Guided by the rows
Of willows which grew on either bank. she
dAstsd forward and paused not until she
reached the tree which stood at the extrem-
ify Of the headland. Then, firmly grasp
ing ona Of the dropping branches with one
hand, she leaned over the little torrent and
caught the hand Of the drowning man with
the othsr, and drew him to the shore. Then
sitting On : rock which was a few inches
above lie water, she drew his head into
her lap and called to her cousin, whom she
saw approaching, TO hasten home and get
help.
Belle Barclay, frightened at seeing her
gentle cousin, wnom she really loved, sit
ting With her feet in the cold water, hast
ened to her uncle's home and told them the
startling news. The faces Of the sturdy
father and brothers paled ~ they heard Of
their loved ones danger. Snatching their
hats they rushed to the river bank; the
two boys lifted the apparently lifeless
form OF the young man and carried
him home, while the father sup
ported his trembling daughter. Not q word
was spoken by any member OF the little
procession az they toiled homeward; but
when the chilled bodies were placed in the
beds which had been hastily prepared for
them, the icy limbs chafed until some
warmth returned, and one Of the boys had
been dispatched for the physician, Mrs.
Leigh turned TO her niece and inquired how
it all happened.
sWhy," replied Belle, with as much in
difference as he could assume, II p
! must have startled him. He was stand
ing, apparently in deep meditation, near the
edge Of the bank, by the great boulder. l
suppose he was not aware that there was q
cave beneath him, and ! called to him in
warning. It gave way and he fell into the
stream"
.But how did Daisy get him out7" asked
her aunt, breathlessly.
why, she ran down the stream 10 that
willow neck and caught him as he fioated
past, and the water three inches deep.
too. ] would not have done it. He might
have drowned first"
Mrs. Leigh shuddered as she heard the
cold, unfeeling words. Although o pang
pierced her heart rs she thought of the pos
sible consequences to her gentle daughter,
yet the knowledge that her daughter could
do 20 noble IN act only rendered her thrice
dear 10 that fond heart.
Then followed days OF anxious watching.
Not for the daughter; her constitution had
not been impaired by fashionable dissipa-
ton, but possessed q b%uOyancy that would
not easily succumb; this, with her mothers
excellent nursing, formed q strong
bulwark which babe defiance TO the en-
~croachments OF fever, which. for a short
time. flushed her face and added a peculiar
light to her lustrous eyes. But in this
Autnus WucEo 1--WE AOI NOu, iuV0 IoT eacn
other. aud love for humanity were the
principles that guided each one, the
stranger was cared for Just as tendcrly rs
ono OF their own number.
Claude Beverly had been ambitious. He
had worked early and late, for he was de-
termined to stand at the head of his pro-
fession. He also wished to maintain his
popularity in the fashionable world, and
had been out until nearly morning many a
night when he should have been gathering
strength for the next days labor. But
since that memorable afternoon when he
met Daisy Leigh, pure, modest, and lovely
a. her namesAke, he had lost all desire for
company, and had plunged 90 recklessly
into work that herculean strength must
have broken down under the long continued
pressure. Disease was reaching out its
bony fingers. He felt its cold hand on his
heart, and his blood crept in chilly waves
10 his very finger tips. A hot breath
seemed scorching his brow and soaring his
brain. Thus far he had successfully re-
sistad the approach Of disease; but this
sudden shock had thrown him defenseless
had fastened upon him its relentless grip,
and for days and weeks he tossed and
raved until strength was gone and only
low means told Of his agony.
During those long days Daisy sat by his
side very much, and held his thin, feverish
hand In her own, for only in that way could
he be quieted. Then the wild light would
fade from his eyes, and he would
talk In low tones Of HIS mother, and
murmur the prayer he had lisped at her
knee. Then there seemed to dawn on his
consciousness the great difference between
his life 0 and his life then, and he would
moan, 20 mother, I did not mean to 90
20 tar wrong, but God only knows how I
was tempted. how hard ] tried to do right,
and how, In that hour Of awful disappoint-
ment, l fell. In my despair l plunged
recklesslx INTO sin, and, @ mother, oan
You ever love your boy again? Can God
ever forgive met"
And then this suffering man thought
there came to him an angel from heaven,
bearing q message Of pardon. as Daisy
leaned ever him and said, Sod and
mother will both forgive you il you tell
them how sorry You are, and Chat you will
always try to do right" A glad smile
lighted his face and q tear forced its way
from under his closed eye,ids. Love.
forgiveness, she heard him murmnr, and
then there we're fragments OF prayers md
hymns that he had learned when a child.
BY degrees the fever left him and he
sank into q heavy stupor; there were anx-
ions faces In that household. and the
question .Will he live?n was asked Ia low
tones ~ the physician came ont with grave
face. "While there is life there is hope"
he replied, "but IL he has any friends they
had better be. summoned"
The last word the sick man had uttered
was mother. and his eyes wandered fee
bly, about the room, but mot finding the.de-
sired object, they closed YEARLY. Farmer
LAigh searched his pockets, and found a
worn and faded letter from his mother.
From this her Address was obtained, and q
Telegram was sent telling her to come very
socn II abe would zee her son.
That evening she came. Her face was
pale, but still lovely md love- inspiring.
From every feature beamed the radiance Of
4 mothers tender love. She sat down by
Daisy, to whom he still chung, and minis
tered to his wants az only loving mothers
can, And there they remained, mother and
Daisy, by his side, and sen With him down