Iron County register., 1888-10-18


water and swan out to the boat again.
"Save mel can't swim. and Pm drown
ing" cried Beleville, rs he c1ung to the
half-submerged boat
Charlie swan up to the opposite end
from the one Belville was holding on to
and steadied it, his cool action allaying
Roberts fright little.
"Miss Brighton is all right, aud we must
get this boat ashore, dip the water out of
1t, and row her to the club house." said
Charlie, as he began to push the boat to-
wards the bank. "As soon as your feet
touch the bottom take that bow line
ashore and pull the boat in"
Belville saw that the danger was past;
and when he felt bottom he made for the
shore with the line. Then, as Charlie
had told him. he put 1t over his shoulder
and pulled with all his might. Then, in
looking around, be saw it was up the
bank far enough to dip the water out Of
it. But something else then met his view
which unnerved him SO hat he sank for q
second on the grass; for. just astern Of
the boat in the deep water he saw the face
of brave Charlie Cook sinking beneath
the water. Charlie had become over
heated when working with May, and that
last plunge into the cold water was too
much for him. Cramps had siezed him
the fruits Of his bravery.
Robert was almost disabled by the
shock, but he saw that he must do what
ever was to be done quickly. So he tip
ped the water out of the boat and after
trying to find Charles body he put the
still unconscious girl in the boat and
started to pull for the club house as best
he could.
He was somewhat saddened by the acci-
dent to Charlie; but then, as he looked
on the beautiful, pale face in the stern of
his boat, he could not help thinking, with
a little selfish satisfaction, that his pre-
ferred rival was out OF the way; aud then
the thought came into his head why could
not he tell May, who had been unconscious
during the whole affair, that he was tho
hero who had saved her, and thereby win
her hand. This thought had no sooner
come into his head that he determined to
act on it. So, when he reached the dock
and met two Of Mays B sta friends there
he said:
''Boys, hurry and help me take Miss
Brighton up to the house. Our boat cap
sized; Charlie Cook took a cramp and
was drowned, and had all could do to
save Miss Brighton"
They accordingly lifted her out of the
boat, and one ran ahead to prepare Nays
take the still unconscious girl right to her
room.
That night there was a gloomy silence
about the club house, which was broken
now and then by low inquiries concern
ing May; regrets at Charlle's untimeIy
death and praises for Mr.. Belville, who
was the hero of the hour; and it was said
that he would surely have Mays hand for
the brave deed.
Next morning at nine O'Clock Robert
Belville's carriage stopped hefors she
club house, and he was caev snu led up
the piazza steps by 3 lot Of Mays friends.
who showered upon him numberlsss
words of admiration for mis- hereisr. lie
was no more the unpopular man Of the
previous week.
"Robert Belville, If you ever are in
need I'll be a mother to you," cried Mays
aunt, as she grasped him by the hand
when she came down from Mays room
at the head of the stairs on hearing his
voice.
Poor May! The shock had been ter
rible one to her. The first words she ut
tered when she regained consciousness
were:
''Is Charley Cook safe?"
They feared that the truth would be too
much for her, weak as she then was, SO
morning they saw she was strong enough
to hear the truth which they told her as
gently as they could. She didn't want to
see any one then. She felt as though she
could welcome death. She could hardly
believe that the great strong, noble
Charlie had been drowned and she, the
weak, little. helpless one, had survived.
It could not be true. 1t could not be true.
When she heard her aunt talking with
Robert Belville at the bottom of the stairs
she tottered ont of her room and to the
top of the banisters to see if she could
hear any thing about Charlie. She could
she peeped over the railing, her eyes were
blinded by tears, but she thought she saw
% joy! she knew she saw, Charlie Cook
himself appear at the front door Of the
club house.
Robert Belvilie, standing with his back
to the door, in the midst of circle Of ad-
mirers, was just saying
''The cramp caught but his sen.
tence was doomed never to be finished
for May gave a little scream Of joy, rush.
ed down stairs and past him to the front
door.
When every one present turned to see
her they discovered Charlie Cook, with
May clinging on his arm, looking as we'll
THANK God! you're safe," he ex-
claimed. "Where's Belville? l want to
congratulate him on getting you back to
the clubhouse 80 safely"
But Belville was nowhere to be seen.
However the clatter OF hoofs outside told
the tale Of his ignominlous retreat.
''We thought you dead" exclaimed
May, as she clasped his hand in both of
her hands.
$50 would have been If the cries of
when we tipped over, had not
made an old hunter up in the woods
come down to, the shore and see what
was the matter" said Charlie. '.He
came, however, just too late to find Bel
Vile and the boat, but just in time to see
me floating, utterly exhausted and quite
into the lake. He pulled
me from the water and carried me up to
his camp, where he worked on me almost
all last night and, thanks to his efforts, I
am able to be with you once more.
''What is that you say, Miss Brighton?
Belville told your aunt that il he hadn't
been so prostrated by his labor in saving
you he might have saved me?"
Then, whom they gave him Belville's.
version Of the accid ent and he saw the
little plot Belville was endeavoring 10
play, he gave full account Of the sad
experience. in doing which, he avoided
to his own brave conduct; then
be excused himself so that he might pack
his trunk for the train hs had intende d
to take before.
I think that ere Charlie Cook boarded
that one O'Clock train. he surely must
have had a few quiet words with May; for,
when he bade her good bye, after parting
with the others, saw the CLEAN of soli-
taire ring on her finger, which Charlie