Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-07-24
STORM-TOSSED.
A Perilous Voyage on Lake Ontario.
BY w. l.. FRENCH.

One fine June day in the year 1872,
a young couple might have been seen
strolling through grove of magnif-
cent beech and maple trees toward the
shore of Lake Ontario. They were en-
spectively Harry LeMar and Bessie
Corbett.
The young couple were both resi-
dents OF the city OF Rochester, and were
down with party of ladies and gentle
men from the city to enjoy the cool lake
breezes for time.
Harry was handsome young fellow
of six and twenty, little too quick
tempered perhaps, but q good fellow
withal, and thoroughly devoted to his
betrothed.
Bessie was handsome, vivacious girl
of twenty, kind and considerate as
general thing toward others, with one
exception: when it interiered with the
qualification of some personal pleasure,
then Bessie was decidedly selfish.
As her parents always indulged her
every whim and wish from childhood
she had not improved any with years.
The day was not very warm as there
was good breeze blowing on shore,
but when they got down to the beach
they found the big waves were rolling
high.
They had come down for the purpose
of going around point, which ran out
a couple of hundred yards into the lake,
in boat, and then rowing back into a
little inlet or bay where some handsome
water-lilies grew, which they had OBJ
served the night before. Finding the
water so rough Harry said
Il do not think we had better venture
out on the lake to-day, but wait for a
time when the weather is calmer. am
not much of sailor, as you doubtless
know and a bath in the lake with the
waves running high, might be rather
dangerous.
Now, Harry, you know there is not
bit of danger in going around there;
you only refuse to go to spite me for
flirting with Ed Brooks, that's all"
@No, Bessie, you are mistaken; l
never play the baby act. I do not con-
slider it safe to go around that point in
the present wind. While one might
make it safe enough, it might also end
in disaster"
"a truce to your fears, Harry" she
replied; Il will firt twice as bad with
Brooks tonight if you don't row me
around that point"
"You may flirt with him all YOU
choose, replied Harry. "But 1 will
not imperil your life and my own fol
the sake of satisfying whim."
"You may call it whim if you wish,'
she retorted half angrily, but if you
Will not row me around, can and will
go alone, and l don't think you will lei
me do that"
Angered more by her manner than
her words, he hotly replied: "Nol
will not even let you go at all. If YOU
are determined to have the flowers
will go alone, to show you that it is not
physical fear which deters me. But
can see no reason in the venture"
Who gave You authority over me, to
restrain me from doing anything |
wish?" and she started toward the
boat.
"No, you shall not do this!" he ex-
claimed and, stepping before her and
giving the boat push from shore,
leaped into it. Selling the oars, he
piled them vigorously, and, as the water
was not so rough near the beach, made
good progress.
He glanced back once at Bessie,
standing on the shore looking after him
with an expression half of anger, half
of sorro,, on her face.
Already che was commencing to re-
pent the hasty words that were causing
him to venture out in the boat. AS he
neared the end of the point the water
grew rougher and rougher. till il re-
quired all his strength and skill to keep
the boat from turning with the wind
and waves.
Slowly he forged ahead and had
nearly rounded the point in safety,
when one of his oars snapped
IN twain. His boat whirled
sharply around and commenced to drift
with the waves and he was powerless
to preyent'it.
The wind was blowing stiff gale di-
rectlv toward the Canadian shore and
Harry saw the beach, where Bessie
still stood watching after him, fast re-
ceding from view.
Bessie saw that something serious had
happened, and that her lover was
powerless to return to the shore.
She bitterly repented her rash words
and stood there watching the fast re-