Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-03-27
the beach, when the ship splits in two,
rolls over and disapDears


rolls over and disappears.
"Give way, boys! we may find one or
two yet" says the coxswain of the life
boat as, having landed their passengers,
they prepare for new errand of mercy.
AS they bend to their oars one of the
men feels his strike something, and
glancing in the direction recognizes a
man.
"There's one; may be there's life in
him. Haul him aboard, lads; that's the
style. Why bless my daylights If 1t
Apt the chap that stood by the capita in.
He's good 'un. Give him crop. He's
got life in him yet"
But when they got to land they
deemed it advisable to find some com.
Portable shelter at once for him If his
life was to be preserved.
sit is three miles to town. Who lives
in that cottage?" inquiries the captain OF
the crew.
Don't know her name, but she's
widow lady with daughter"
Follow me, lads, and bring him care
fully"
In very few seconds he taps sharply
at the door, and is met by a kindly-look-
ing old lady.
"a poor fellow, ma'am, nearly
drowned just of the wreck. Will you
take him in? His life depends upon it."
"Heaven help him; put him on the
sofa"
THANK you, ma'am, warmth is what
he needs"
And while the men who remained
changed his wet clothes for the blankets
they had been supplied with Mrs. Ellis
Ter busted herself in preparing bed for
him in the adjoining room.
But recovery was not immediate; in
Decd for many days the doctor despaired
of saving his life, and credited the prog
ress he eventually made to the tender
and contant nursing of the poor widow.
"Ah, DOCTOR" she said one day, in re-
buttal of his compliments, 81 have to
thank strangers for caring for my own
daughter, who has been grievously sick,
though they told me nothing till all
danger was past. Some love affair, l
fancy. She will be here in a few days
as she is not fit to work yet awhile"
"You deserve the best of daughters.
Meanwhile, remember this young man
needs every care; there is an apathy in
his speech which may result from his
weakness, but has led me to think that
his mind is little unhinged," and
with these words OF caution the doctor
went his way.
One week from that day dear Mrs.
Ellsler's heart was futtering wildly in
the expectation Of her daughters
arrival.
She was not disappointed in this, but
the tears started to her eyes when she
beheld the pale face and wasted form of
Martha, who really needed assistance to
alight from the buggy-she who had
often prided herself upon her dexterity
in jumping over the wheels and all to
the ground.
ooh, mother, mother" sobbed the
poor wanderer, ''there's no place like
home. Would might never have to
leave this haven of peace and rest. |
could lie down and die here, mother,
without pang"
my dearie, don't talk of dying; you
are i'll, child, come in. No, let us take
the back door, my patient is in that
room, and you had better not disturb
him. He Is stronger than he was, but
the shock of the shipwreck has left him
cloudy in the brain"
That evening Martha Ellsler stole
quietly to the little, upright piano and
ran her nimble fingers over the keys.
Der thoughts were still Of Robert
Hickman and his desertion of her, and
in spite Of the certain evidence she had
that he had cared but little for her, she
found comfort in the melody as in the
words of "Some Day"
She was singing the second verse when
the door Of the patients room opened
gently, and figure, all expressive of
veneration and wonder, watched and
listened.
The last strain was floating in the air,
the last words: 81 love you now" when
Martha's heart filled too full, and hei
face fell forward buried in her handker'
chief, as she cried
"Oh, Robert, Robert, my darling how
could you leave me without word?"
"You did not want me. had to gor
1t was hoarse whisper the word:
were uttered in, and Martha rose as she
turned, but stood dumfounded as she
recognized in her mothers patient the
man she loved.
Martha, why did you not answer my
letter II you loved me?"
what letter? know of none"
"Did not Jessie deliver my note tn,
day after our last chat at the gate?"
She had not, as the reader knows, ant
on learning this he was not slow to re
peat its contents, and beg her to be hi
wife.
When Mrs. Ellsler came to bring he
daughter to supper she found she hat
company, and scarcely recognized he
late patient whose dull, meaningless
expression had given place to one
bright intelligence and radiant hope.
Mother, darling, this is Mr. Rober
Hickman, my future husband"
1t was not until many happy month
had passed over their heads that the.
had an opportunity of questioning Jes
sic, when, with a sudden fash of recol
. lection, she confessed her negligence
and led them to the old elm tree, where
; safe in its nook, they found the los
enthusiastically Story Paper.