The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-10-16

A~t-1s ~ HoiA 1es.f " AuAilS1-to h%S ao-
sistanee.
Under the direction Of the foreman, a
long. stout line was cast into the lake,
and when the end ficated down 10 How
ard, he fastened it about Maud's waist,
took several turns around the rock, and
then signaled the men on shore.
He had been growing weaker all the
time, and now. as he finished the task
that WAS TO save Maud, his fingers relax
ed their hold upon the rock, and he was
swept over the dam
Maud shrieked and tainted.
A boat, manned by one of the railroad
men, was coming TO her assistance along
the rope, but she was lifted into the craft
in an unconscious condition, and it was
pulled slowly to the shore.
Several hours later, when she fully re-
covered consciousness, her first inquiry
was for her brave rescuer.
He had mostmiraeulouse escape from
death, dear" answered her father, who
was sitting at the bedside 1T was one
of the bravest acts ever knew q man to
do. He deliberately riske dhis life to save
yours
And was he drosned?8 demanded
Maud, eagerly.
"No, thank heaven" was her fathers
hearty answer The water threw him
into deep pool at the foot Of the dam,
and the under-tow would have been his
death, had he not been an excellent
swimmer As it was, be kept his head
above water until assistance arrived, but
he was pretty well played out when they
took him from the water, and he is even
worse exhausted than you are The doc
tor says he'll pull through ali right,
though, and he shall come up here to
receive your thanks and mine, as soon as
he is able"
Howard was good-lOoking, weIl-edu-
Gated fellow, and his character was above
reproaeh.
He fell in love with Maud at once, and
she with him, and when Archibald Har-
vey saw how things were going, he rub
bed his hands joyfully together.
Hes the only man l ever met that
thoughtgood enough for.her," he reflect
ed.
Hes as poor as church mouse, It's
true, bat he possesses something that gold
can't buy; and, by gracious if he wants
the girl he shall have her, and I'll start
'em in life so that they'll be bound to
succeed
So Maud and Howard were engaged
and life became one continued dream ol
happiness to them
Maud's father had stipulated that the
marriage should not take place until she
was nineteen years Ofsge, but long before
that time they quarreled over a simple
matter, and in the dispute that followed
Maud made some spitefgl reference 10
Howard's poverty, and asserted that be
wanted her money and not her
At those words the brave fellows face
became white as death.
"Do you mean that p he demanded,
huskiiy.
@Yes. You're fJrtune hunter, and
and-I hate your
THAT settles it, said Howard in his
quiet, determined way. ~And 1 guess
you are right, though not in imputing to
me sordid motives. Bot don't think We
are fitted for each other, and bid you
good-tiay and goodbye. l shall never
trouble you again"
With these words he left her
She would have called him back, bat
pride restrained her.
When he did not return she burst into
an agony of tears
She was sobbing bitterly when her
father walked into the room When she
told him what h II happened, he looked
very grave
He must come back sobbed Maad,
for love him. Oh, papa, bring him
back
Thus appealed to, her father hurried of
to the telegraph office. When he reached
there, he found to his dismay that How
ard had resigned his position and left on
the down train for New York.
He telegraphed to intercept him, but
somehow the message was not delivered,
and Howard, with bitter feeling Of re-
sentiment in his heart against Maud,
reached New York and at once purchas-
ed a ticket for the far West.
It was months before they heard from
him, and then only indirectly. He hsd
located in an Arizona mining town, and
Was getting rich.
During this time Archibald Harvey
hal met with terrible reverses, and he
found himself in his old age, reduced
almost to penury.
It was thea that MAu showed her true
nobility of character. With what re-
m ned Of the wreck Of their fortune she
took her poor old father to the neighbor-
ins but larger town Of Buryville. and
sfeer few days of persistent application
she secured a position that would at least
keep them from want
In the happy days when she and How
ard were lovers he had taught her tele-
graphy, and she took advantage of this
knowledge now as means Of livelihood.
A rival telegraph company had opened
an Office in the hotel where she and her
aiher were stopping, and upon appliea-
ton to the local manager she was given
the position Of day operator.
She never ceased to think of Howard
and 70 regret the h4sty words Of anger
that had driven him from her. One day
when she had been in Buryvilie aboIt
year she heard familiar voice that caus-
ed her heart 70 leap with Joy /; and look
ing up she saw Howard Bigon just regis
terirg at the hotel desk.
He WAS bronzed and bearded and hand
somer than ever. He was accompanied
by man Of about his own age whom he
called Jim. and it was in addressing the
LATTE that Maud had heard his voice.
The clerk recognized Jim, and called
him by name.
aren't you Jim Fellows, who used to
be the telegraph operator overat the rail-
road p be asked
aYes.r answered Jim. sand this Is my