Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1888-07-05

that he had not been false and faithlesl
after ell; knew now that Jack Ruth
erford had once loved me, and had
meant TO ask me to be his wife.
Morning came, and pale and worn
by mental sufferings, threw q shawl
about the simple evening dress that ]
still wore, and leaving the hotel went
down upon the beach, A brisk walk
in the cool morning air would revive
me, thought. l would leave the
place that very day. and after that the
silence of death must lie between Jack
Rutherford and rae.
] had wandered down the shining
sands half mile perhaps, when a
shrill cry for help fell upon my ears.
l turned swiftly, and saw far out in
the floating waters the form OF a
woman rising and falling with the
waves. One moment and l compTe.
hended. The woman had been taking
q morning dip, and had gone beyond
her depth. l saw that she was drown
ing. / saw also that 1t was Ida-1ack
Rutheriord's wife.
One swift glance around and my
eyes fell upon little boat which for
tunately was tied to a stake not far
away. / knew that l could manage
1t, and in the briefest possible space
was seated within the skift pulling
away for dear life in the direction Of
the drowning woman. l was strong
and in perfect health; she was 3 weak,
delicate little creature; l was certain
that l could save her. After time ]
reached her side, and STOPPING, tried
to assist her into the boat. But she
repulsed me angrily.
Scoop she cried. ~ do not want
you to help mel will not owe my
life to you l know you, Elaine Som
ers Jack has never loved any one
else but you, aud will die here before
/ accept help at your hands. l made
him believe that you were false-that
you never never cared for him." she
went on shrilly; II intercepted YOU
letters and his, and So oh, Godr"
She had gone down for third time,
and the green water hid her from
sight. ! clutched trantically at the
floating skirt of her bathing dress, and
managed to hold her above the water
quite unconscious now-while a
fishing smack near came slowly to the
rescue. think few people suffer as
intensely la all their lives as suffered
during the interim. "She must NOT
de-" cried eRgerly-'I hold myself
responsible for her lifel'
And at last-pale and still-she was
safe on board the fishing smack, and /
found my way somehow back to the
hotel. Once there l packed my trunks
and returned to my old home, my
native tOwn-my old place in the
schOolroom. l took up my burden as
bravely as possible, and life went on
as before--only with a difference. And
50 timelpassed and whole year went
by.
Yesterday l received letter from
Jack Rutherford. 1 transcribe it here:
ELAINE, Ny DAZZLING: After long
/ years write to you once more / know
| ell at last ali the black 81 ad wv that so
long divided us, and it Is past nov for
| ever. Elaine, she is dead; Ida, my poor
! erTing wife, never recovered from her
I alarm and the exposure of that dreadful
day. Pneumonia followed, and she died
u few weeks Riterward-dled iepenting
her errors, the mad mistake of her undis-
ciplined heart She confessed all to me,
and was freely forgiven. Since then
have been q wanderer over the earth.
Elaine,wi J. u no. make home happy iol
me, and let US forget in the future the
darkness OF the long years of separation
| when we Wers divided by a womAn's sin?
WI you marry me, Elaine?
So, after all these years, l shall be
his wife at last