Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1889-01-24

! almost reached the chsmber windos
into which be was not long in climb
ing.
aThs boat j. gone. You will hav
to TRAIT yoorsslve< to me. be said.
Tie light Of the lamp revealed |,
him the little group Of tsrri6sd chil
dren. and the white face Of Nellie ca
ssy. and at the same instant she sas
who was their sslf-sacri6ciDg deliver
sr.
Its Charley Arnold = exclaimed
Mrs. Casey. sGod Bliss you, Charley,
Take the little onss first.
She handed him zee Jsnnie. He
oeoa placed hsr IL safety. and return
Ilsle-n nla1D "a asarsin. n.
- eldest. eonld suim. and hs took
position BY the group On the hillside.
With diGcaliv young Arnold next
succeeded in conveying the rather
plump and stout matron to her shiv-
ering brood. Then he sank to the
ground in utter exhaustion.
"Nellier' cried Mrs. Casey. 40
my Nelliel You have given out, Mr..
Arnold. and she is left to perish"
"No. don't fear for her, but look to
your own safety.
He directed Ben where to find his
horse. TO place his mother and the lit.
tie ones upon it, and take them to his
mother, who was ready to receive and
care for them--as moments delay in
their drenched state might be fatal.
The poor woman ives undecided as to
complying with his commands, when
Nellie called to her to seek shelter,
and at once, as she was in no imme-
diate danger.
The raoment Arnold had Been Mrs.
Casey and her children upon the right
path, he SWAN again to the cottage,
notwithstanding the repeated solici-
tations of Nellie that he would wait
and recruit his strength. But the
cold wind was rapidly uniting him |
for the task, and his already exhaust
cd frame would find it difficult to ac- |
comPlish it at best; end the young |
girl for whom he was making the des-
perate effort saw with anguish that
his stroke was weakened BY the strain-
ing to save her loved ones. When he
hsd reachsd The window, AID was
clinging to it for support. he could
only whisper the single word
"Come."
"Nol l cannot-will not tax you
further. Save yourself, Charles Ar
nold, and may God recompense you
for all you have done for me and mine
this night"
"Nellie. are you mad ?" be ques.
toned. hoarss with emotion and ex.
haustion.
mo. am perfectly sane. o. do
not waste the precious moments, but
save yourself"
Even as she spoke the house seemed
to be lifted from its foundations, and
swayed ominously.
Come, Nellie. ! will not leave
you. In . moment more the house
will join the other wrecks in this
scathing food. Come. or I will share
your fate whatever it may be-"
As he spoke he clambered in at the |
window. and sinking at her feet con- |
tinued:
"Yon cannot prevent my dying with
you. Helen Casey, though you seorn
my love and the strength of nay right
arm to save you.'
"Too late ! o Charley. what have
you done? We are afost, and rap
idly driving down the stream" And
the wretched girl implored him with
streaming eyes to save himself even
then. 20. if you ever cared for me.
CO. said che. "befors It is too late.
You gan reach the shore if uncumber-
ed"
rYou would make Of me an iafa-
nous coward Think You could be
induced to leave any helpless woman
to psrish alone 2 much less one who,
had she permitted. would have been
my loved and cherished wife7 No;
if you will 20 With me, Nellie. will
attempt even now to reach the shore.
Otherwise. ] will remain and 90 with
you over the lower dam. which We are
very fast approaching; and with cur
refuge dashed to pieces, our fate will
be certain"
Forgive me for increasing the dam
ger by this delay, and believe me I
thought only Of Your safety. Charley"
"Then you will let me strive to save
you r.
YES. Bat before We trust our
selves to what seems certain death,