The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-07-16
SOMERSET. PA, wEDNEDAY, July IS, 1890

Eagerly he took up his telescope. This
was just the opportunity she wanted.
Slowly he swept the horizon with the
glass.
Why, yes" he says, " | see it quite
plainly. l can even read the name on
oh, Miss Van Zandt Help help y
With shrek of terror she had disap-
peared over the side; only one terrified
scream, but in an instant the deck was
filled with eager, frightened faces.
Lord Fenyll was rushing from one end
of the place to the other, dragging with
him an immense coil Of rope, tangling
up himself and every one else, crying
out the awful accident at the top of his
voice
Mrs. Van Zandt and another lady had
tainted the gayety had vanished all
was confusion and haste.
Tom saw nothing of this. He was in
the water before the echo of her voice
had died away on the startled al With
firm, rapid strokes he beat the waves,
and his eyes were alert to catch the first
glimpse The sun glarsd into his face,
but he did not find her. His heart fail
Why did she not rise? Ethel" he
cried aloud in frenzy. But what was
that white speck yonder? Could he
reach it? A moment more-only mo-
ment more; with ebbing power, as the
white face came to the surface, he threw
one arm around the body His strength
all but exhausted, he was taken with
his lifeless charge into the boat lowered
to meet him. The glad news about shout
ed to the waiting yacht, and willing help,
was ready to greet the rescued and res
cuer.
The little figure in its clinging white
seemed devoid of life. The soft baby
curls around her forehead clustered dark
ly golden; the large drops had slipped off
one by one, till there was little pools on
the floor. Pale and pure and still as
death itself she was-ah pitifully still.
The red, laughing lips were pallid now
the soft, white hands limp and inert.
any girl, my little girl ~ moaned and
sobbed Mrs. Van Zandt, and while they
talked in undertones, and while tears
fell, they took her below, and toiled for
hours to summon back the wavering
spirit.
Tom-unhappy Tom-was the hero Of
the hour. But he could not be quiet.
He could not wait in patience. Great
waves of remorse filled his breast, till
the great drops stood out upon his fore
head and his lips whitened. The dull
boom of the sea seemed to roar in his
ears he felt that lifeless body still living
passive in his arms. Never again to see
her smile, never again to hear her voice,
with its gentle, tender accent ; never
ah, no. 1t could not be too late-she
must not die
Up and down, outside the door, he
paced, listening to each sound, wrestling
with his misery, praying to God as he
never prayed before.
Suddenly the door opened again and
Mrs. Van Zandt herself came out.
lie dropped into chair and hid his
face in his hands. He heard her COM
ing directly toward him-to tell him
what? And then Mrs. Van Zandt's
arms were around his neck, she was call
ing him her dear boy, her hero ;she
was thanking him through tears and
sobs. He hero he could have laugh
ed aloud bitterly at the mockery of it.
She was telling him that Ethel had come
back to them; she was awake again
she wanted to see him-would he come?
With choking in his throat he made
his way to where his little love was ly-
ing. Mrs. Van Zandt softly closed the
door, and they were alone.
White she was like bent lily the
damp yellow hair lay over the pillow
and brushed back from her white fore
head, where his eyes saw the mark of
cruel bruise, blow as she fell; bus her
lips were smiling, and one hand was out
stretched to him. He could not take it;
he sank on his knees at her side.
"Ethel, sweetheart, can you forgive
?' he groaned, and with the words
the fioodgates were swept away, and he
sobbed aloud. ETHEL, it was almost
death-it would have been murder, and
your murderer
"Tom, Tom," she whispered, weakly,
"do not frightcn me so. am not dead !;
| will soon be well now."
Forgive me, Ethel say you forgive
me-" She stroke gently the brown head
buried in the pillows.
"Yes, Tom, l forgive you"
And then he raised his haggard face
at last, and a great pity swept over her
tender heart. Both hands were out
stretched to him now and as he took her
reverently in his arms, she murmured,
SO family that he could barely hear it.
".And l love you, dear, dear Tom !"