The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-08-29
dense, red vapor almost touched the

A tramp on the hard, wet sand, and,
like a meteor, a long black horse swept
by, disappearing in the mist, leaving for
John the memory OF charming head,
crowned with blonde curling hair, two
kind eyes bent upon his own, and
white waving hand extended IN saluta-
tion.
"John," said Mr.. Steele" did you see
the face of that mana count upon
YOUR saving Laura. Did you see his
thin, cruel lips and teacherous eyes"
ri only saw Laura, sir,' said John,
simply. =,
his plump, pretty wife were alone
together in their private parlor. Her
dimpled hand lay loving gly in his, and
her shapely head, fresh from the hands
Of the coilfeur, rested recklessly on his
shoulder.
Suddenly the door opened, and there was
heard the rustic of silkcn drapery. A
still shapelier little head, and fresher
from the hands of the coiileur, all un-
rump.ed by the audacious hands OF NOR
tai, peepel in at the door. Laura was
male: her little white hands were clasped
together and her musical voice tremoled:
'sOh, papa, mamma, come directiy'
Mr.. Stuyvesant ventured too lar, and
aud" .,
:'Was drowuedl" said Mr.. Steele, with
queer combination in his voice OF pity
and relief.
ssNo, no; how can you suppose so
dreadful thing2 He was rescued, but
is very weak and ill. He has asked for
me. and may go2 Will you not come
with me, m :mma9 Oh, do, | beg OF you.
Can't she, papa" >,
Her blue eyes filled with tears: her
little feet seemed wanting to fly through
the corridors.
"Certainly not" said Mr.. Steele.
"Let him wait till he is able to come TO
you or me. Either the man was drowned
or he isn't. Because he was imbeclle
enough to risk his life, that is no reason
for your being the talk of the hotel"
Laura raised her eyes proudly.
"No danger of that, papa; and be-
sides, every one is occupied now with
the one that rescued him."
And what madmau was that2" said
poor Mr.. S eele, who could not reconcile
himself to the present condition OF
affairs.
az don't know-a stranger, | believe.
I was so interested in Mr.. Stuyvesant l
forgot to ask"
"Bah!" said Mr.. Steele, getting upon
his feet and walking to the door. "Pll
60 and find out all about it. DO you stay
here till l return"
Before he had gone far, Mr.. Steele
heard from the excited guests several
different versions of the affair; but one
aud all agreed that the rescuer could
be nothing less than champion swim
mer.
"a regular water-dog" said one gen.
tleman to Mr.. Steele; and as the mer-
chant had heard this epithet but once
before in his life, and that on an occa-
SIGN of vital interest to himself, he sought
out the hero of the hour, and found, to
his unbounded astonishmeat, it was
John Waters himself! He was quite en-
veloped in the iounces and furbeloWs OF
pretty and sympathetic women, who In.
Sisted upon knowing every half second if
he was sure he felt strong and well, and
how in the world could he buffet those
dreadful waves in that grand, heroic
way, and how did he manage to drag
poor Mr.. Stuyvesant to the shorel
John, like any other hero of the hour,
enioved this aGulation, but looked
anxiously at Mr.. Steele when ne ap-
preached.
"Hum," growlcd that worthy mer-
chant; "a pretty fellow, you, to inter.
fere with other peoples plans! How do
YOU know he wanted to be rescued2'
"He appeared anxious that way, sir"
said John. He wrapped himself about
me like a devil-6sh. thought at one
time we'd both 60 down together. There
ought to be school for teaching people
how to be saved. It's the easiest thing
in the world; the water itself is an ac-
cessory, if you manage it right"
"Oh, do tell us how, Mr.. Waters,
please chorused the pretty and SYM
pathetic women; and as John began
his lesson MIR. Steele slipped away.
"Oh, papa" began Laura, chow is
Mr.. 'Stuyvesant."
'I don't know-I didn't ask he re-
piled. 81 was interested in the fellow
that dragged him ashore. He's an old
friend Of ours. The way we made his
acquaintance was on such an occasion; /;
he saved a lady from downing"
"Why, papa" "said Laura, he must be
a splendid fellow"
dMagnifcentr" said Mr.. Steele. "You
see, we had travelled over considerable
of the world together, your mother and
1, while you were yet baby; and we
found it rather odd one morning to dis
cover that having crossed the ocean and
the Alps, loitered in the Highlands,
travelled thence down the Mississippi
valley, across the American desert to
California, and back again by another
route, your mother had never been up
the East river as far as Morrisania. 1t
seemed so absurd to have neglected this
home excursion, that we determined
upon it at once. The morning was wet,
but we didu't mind it. Your mother
looked p,ettier in water proof and rub
bers with shovel hat tied down under
her chin, than most women would IN
ball dress. She wasn't bit afraid OF
rain or mud. She was little too reck-
less; for, getting ashore to see the in
stitutlon for vagrant boys, her foot
slipped off the plank, and she disap-
pcarcd." :.
Mr.. Steele stopped a minute; his voice
fal,e:cd; the plump little hand of his
wife slipped into his own; he clutched
it, and went on again.
"Jne minute I saw her as neat and
.;.a O. l;ttlo tinnrn rs EYER uracnd q water