Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-04-04
Evans Sweetheart: or, How Sh,
Loved Him.

1t seemed an odd answer for ;
| golden-haired child to give when W,
asked her name.
"I am Evan Routh's sweetheart"
She was only the child Of his early
love, and he was so fond of her thai
she had received that nickname.
Oddly enough we found ourselves
in Llylworth fifteen years from that
time, and we asked if Evan were mar.
ried.
"MarriedI Dearl Ma'am, he'll
never be married. He loved once, he'll
never again"
"And winie? Is she still as pretty
Is she marriedP"
Pretty! She's Just beautiful,
ma'aml Her mother was nothing tc
her; for she is so good and sweet and
true. Married. Oh, no; she's had
lovers enough for any girl to pick
from, but she refuses them ALL
That evening, however. a sudden
and fearful tempest broke over Llyl.
worth. No one could sleep. Those
who were in bed got up again and
dressed.
Mark and 1 went down to the shore,
for the sea was a sight to behold.
Among the crowd saw Evan Routh
and Winnie leaning on his arm, while
he protected her from the fierce wind.
Bronzed, weather-beaten and hand
some, he looked certainly more like hel
| father. They didn't look like lovers.
Suddenly, through the gloom and
under driving wrack. there appeared
an object which made every woman
| utter cry and every man sharply
| draw his breath. 1t was ship-a
| doomed ship-being driven on the
rocks.
Soon she showed signals OF distress,
seeking help from the snore.
One man alone answered the appeal
Evan Routh.
Striding forward, facing round to the
others, he cried:
Lads, who's ready of you to &c
with me to try to save yondeT ship:
Think, mates, there may be women
and children on boaTdi'
There was 81 ence.
"Whatl'' he cried, sis there not {
man among your Am 1 to 20 by my
selfP"
No; not II I can be OF any use."
uttered cry, for the speaker was
Mark.
THANK you, SIR" replied Evan
Routh. You've got the courage, but
not the skill. You're not used to the
sea, so would be in the way. But
you've shamed these fellows into
pluck"
Three or four had stepped for
ward, and soon they began to rur
the boat down.
The ship had been hurled upon th,
reefs with an awful crash. There wa
a momentary mountIin of foam. When
1t cleared away the ship had gone-not
a yestige remained in view.
What of the boat?
We looked back to the spot where II
had been.
1t was not therel
We waited for it to start up from
the dark trough OF, some billow.
1t never camel
'She's gonel" calculated the crowd
L locked toward Winie; her stonl
face was still turned to the sea, bu
she had dropped on her knees.
The men were down at the marge
| with ropes ready to rush in and try I,
save any of the unfortunate men who
might be washed up alive.
The women ran TO and fro scream
ing, crying, beating their hands il
Wine remained still kneeling, mo,
tionless.
Another and another were rescued.
Then farther down the beach some
fishers drew out one and uttered nc
cry.
Mark could not stay me; 1 felt ex-
cited, madi hastened to the spot. On,
Heavenl there he elay-handsome, calm,
as In sleep-the man who had so
bravely risked his life for others-Evan
Routh-deadl
The men in their hearts deep sympa-
thy could utter no sound. But some
how the truth was OWNED, and others
formed ring around.
Abruptly there was a movement, a
whisper:
keep the poor lass back"
Keep her back? Would 1t have been
possible?
Winie had guessed who lay there.
| Her hair loose, and tossed by the wind /;
her head uncovered; her features stony,
but now z gil with grief, an agony
that could utter no soundI she broke
her way through, aud looked upon the
b Jdy.
one low, appalling cry, piercing
every heart, broke from her lips. She
sank on her knees, then dropned over
the dead fisher, her face on his wet
breast, her arms about him light =
tight.
Then silence.
Was she weeping? Was her sorrow
too deep for tears? Had she found
temporary relief from misery in un-
Consciousness?
a space We waited. Then woman