The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-11-09
TRUE COURAGE.


7t old Brown, his fathers friend,
earty sea-dog of seventy, he was
oduced to the daughters, Matilda
eW Mary, two very charming girls.
F,ugh they lived in the same house
w led as different lives as If they
ne miles apart. Matilda never
we'd her white hands with work,
p4 preferred to idle around in the
pslor In a handsome dress, dream
~ over a silly novel, Mary was
BRerally to be seen in the kitchen,
mixing pies and looking after her
Mher's comfort. She always looked
VII. though her sister treated her
iie another Cinderella and took ey.
kef opportunity to keep her down
IaN Tout ofsight. The Lieutenant was
go n first-rate terps with both Of
I &c girls. but which one ne preferred
itWould have been hard to deter.
mhe.
Matilda was always talking about
IT, herOis.n she would display in time
of1anger. for she thought it would
plese the young officer to think she
waorave. One day as Grayson was
leav1g he intimated that he was 60
ing make an excursion on the fol-
lowin day with some brother off,
GERS. ad Matilda framed a plan at
once ttmeet them at once in their
sail-boa
"He'smeaning Grayson) "wilI see
me in tn boat as he passes, "thought
Matilda sand Mary shall be there
too. 1 vii take good care to outshine
her. 80 tht he will never again care
for her ashe did Yesterday. He snail
see-yes, indeed, he shalt see-what
contrast here is between me and her.
shall wear my new spring suit,
which een papa says makes me
look like queen. while Mary shall
wear thatsrey dress which never did
become he."
Tine time ecame. and there was Mr..
Brown at the tiller, steering the
boat. while his daughters. attired as
Matilda had intended. sat. side by
side, on the after thwart.
A thick mist, not yet dissipated by
sun. was on the river. This wind
had begun to blow freshly. and the
boat heeled well over.
All at once Matilda. who was
thoughtfully watching for the steam
s9etter, was startled by the popping
up of large fish from the water near
the boat.
She gave scream. and sprang up
so suddenly that she lost her balance
and reeled far across the gunwale.
Mary seized her to prevent her going
over; and it is noticeable fact that
when one woman in a boat tries to
save another in this manner. they
are sure, between them, to capsize
the craft.
Over it went. turning almost bot
tom up and filling.
Fortunately, both young ladies
could swim, and SO could their father.
But the sail had become partially
wound around him. and he was be.
ing jerked under the water, which
was here very deep, his gray hair
streaming on the surface.
Matilda, who had informed Gray.
son that she was anxi )us to become
a heroine, struck out as we'll as she
could, impeded as she was by the
georgous dress. uttering gasping
screams of terror. She was soon near
the bank, which was not far from the
place of she accident, but she kept on
screaming, and did not stop until she
discovered that, for full minute, she
had been swimming in shollow water
only up to her waist.
Mary had not followed her. She
seemed only intent on saving the life
of her aged father.
Bravely she struggled, striving to
pull the beloved head avove the sur
face and to disengage the entangling
sail from the form.
Papa dear, noble. good papa 1
will save you or die with you " she
cried.
Vain every effort.
She could not hold up the sinking
form.
But she still clung to him-still
stroye to saye.him. as with gurgling
sound his white head went under.
Pull ahead. lads pull with a will!
Long and strong. boys-long and
strong is the word !" came deep but
composed voice behind her.
"That's he l" came the voice again
moment later. "that's he, my lads
Stand byv"
A boat manned by half dozen
"blue jackets" shot alongside the
struggling twain in the water, and
the next moment Lieutenant Gray