Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-09-13

pzzvlsI5ns, anu nad let this man to hi
fate, because he was sick and helpless il
his berth below
Crawling to the upper deck of the sink
ing vessel he had discovered land. and saw
that line OF ugly breakers tossed between
himself and safety.
Those hardy, storm beaten fishermen
realized in an instant the mans despeFat,
situation. There seemed to be no possible
hope for him. Who among them woult
court almost certain death for the uncer
tain chance of saving a strangers life?
The most they could do was to stand OF
the shore and give him their sympathy un
til the ship went down.
How tall and straight he stood, distinctly
outlined against the heaving waters and
the angry sky beyond.
Seeming to realize the utter hopelessness
of his situation he folded his fever ema
ciated arms across his breast and waited fol-
death.
Suddenly a cry from the brides white
lips rang out over the turbulent waters
She had recognized the man, and her
sleeping memory awoke, unrolling the pic
turc of the past before her startled vision
Reaching her white imploring hands
across the waters needless of all else save
the one doomed man, she cried out:
"Henry, Henry, come to me. Oh, my
darling, cannot let you dien
| In that moment Jack Lathrop knew that
he, too, was doomed; that her awakened
memory could never sleep again. He had
read his hearts death sentence in her
white, agonized face he saw it in her wide,
appealing eyes.
ELSIE" he said in low, intense voice,
while his heart lay gasping in its death
agonies, what is that man to your"
Forgive Inc, Jack, she sobbed, 81 did
not know / had forgotten. My past was
sure to come back some time, and when it
did-oh, Jack, he is all the world to me.
Do not let him die -
She was kneeling on the beach, lifting
her clasped hands to him supplcatingly
Stepping lower upon the beach Jack
Lathrop put his hand to his mouth and
shouted across the waters:
Courage, | will save you yetl''
Then turning he lifted Elsie from her
lowly position, his white, stern face soften
ing as he did so, and said in tremulous
tones of entreaty:
I'm another hour you would have been
my wife, Elsie. Give me one kiss 1t is to
be the last. He will not care when he
knows"
She put her white arms about his neck,
sobbing:
"Oh, Jaok, my more than brother, for
give me, that did not remember before"
With her kiss-it was only a sisters kiss,
as he knew-on his lips, he went to his
death, the brave, strong fellow more pow
erffl than any two of those stalwart fisher.
men about him.
His white faced bride never knew Low
he reached the vessels side, she saw only
the tall form on it's deck; her thoughts, her
prayers, were all for him who held her
heart in his keeping.
Presently shout from those about her
proclaimed the fact that Jack had reached
the vessels side in safety, bearing with
him the stout rope which was to assist in
the retdrn.
Having secured the rope about his rivals
waist the two men began the difficult re-
turn, Jack breasting che pillows manfully
and supporting the nearly fainting man at
his side in his strong arms.
The men upon the shore drew in the
rope, breathing long, deep breaths, and
every breath was prayer (for those fisher
men were nOL lDSellSlD1e 10 fellglOuS SenJl-
ments) for the safety of those two men.
Nearer and nearer they come, and now
the pretty bride is on her knees again and
the pillows dash their spray over her. She
is supplcating wildly, but the name on her
lips and in her heart is Henry, not Jack
Now they have reached the beach and the
men wade out to meet them. A dozen
hands draw haeXhausted stranger secured
to the rope out of the waters and dozen
more reach for Jack But where is he, the
brave, noble fisherman, who, treading on
his own heart, went out to save his rival?
They turn to congratulate him and-lo,
he is gonel
He had seen his rival in safety and then
was it design or accident? They never
knew. The waves with which he had bat
tied for his sweet brides happiness bore
him out on their strong breast to the great,
boundless eXpanse of waters, and they
never looked upon his face again,-Detroit
Free Press.