Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1891-12-18

gone to the city of Hull and there wAs
not a living soul about the place, ex-
ccpt "a little maidservant and Agnes
herself, nor was help of any kind near
enough nj hand To be Of use in this
pressing emergency.
Fortunately. however, Agnes Gray
don was no mill<-aud-water miss. From
earliest childhood she had been care
fully trained in out-of-dour exercises,
and was as much at home on the water
as in her saddle. and now she deter
mined to save the impcriled children
II IL lay within human power.
Her own light. srrviccablc Slif was
IN the boat house at the foot ~ the
bank; and catching up a couple Of
WOODEN Shawis. She ran down. seated
herself in IL and waited 90. Tho, now.
too tardy tide To ST.. ii adoat. A
moments consideration viii enable the
reader to understand the fearful nature
and immincnce of the danger
Agnes must pcrf1rc,. remain help
less and inactive rntil the tide should
cover the whole cNpanac between the
bank ard the island with "a 3outh ~
water everywhere sufficient To- carry her
boat. She would then have % row "a
fun milo; and the question was
whether >hc could make thc distance he
fore the RISING flood should mandate
the rocks deeply ENOUGH - sweep the
children avayP
The problem von'd soon hc solved
for now the FIRST curling waveletS
Kissed along the sand under thc boat's
bottom and In few moments the light
craft was free, then, in brief space.
there was room for the oars 20 dip. and
the 1.-the young rover shot away
away away in the solitary race. life
the prize, and the forfeit, death, The
curved spruce blades flashed and
quiyered in her strong little hands. and
scattered sparkling drop. Of spray, rs
with rapid. telling strokes she sent the
beautifully modelled skin along its
watery course.
With uncovered hepd-for She had
never once Thought OF her hat-aud her
lovely unbound hair falling in a bright
cloud over her shoulders, she bent 70
her work with the strength and skill
born Of long experience; and. as She
now and again looked around tried to
hcliev" tN0t she should DC i'm ti.ac. al.
though She trvmhled 10 tbiul: how
frigltfullv great WAS the risk uf .,urc.
The matter u.'.at have uccu e corpar-
ativcly easy one had the course been
over slack water. bnt now the surCinr
tide was settling strongly up stream.
producing heavy current. and Agnes
was Obliged o. pun almost entirely
with her left oar iu urirr 20 avoid bc.
ing carried f.- above the goal Little
more than ouc-half The distance was
covered when 20. saw. q her dilmay.
that only the highest p,'u, of the rocl,
was visible
Ia another minute. this, too, disap-
pcarcd, and the gir,,.-.s ssc now knew
them 70 Gc-cl.nsirg fast to each other,
stood. apparently. ou the surface OK the
water. II was barely possible that they
might 50 stand until il should reach
their waists. II not, they wcrr lost be-
yond hope. But now The brave Young
oarswoman put forth every ounce Of re-
served power, and her light craft sped
along almost a. swiftly ~ racing
shell, while she cried aloud in her
agony, "On. mcrciful God, sustain me.
Give me strength 10 save these limo .
cents" Now she Is within three hun /
dred yards. and. CHANGING once more over /
her shoulder. Ia make sure 81 her course. /
can see the faces OF the children, aud .
gracious Heaven. recognizes them ~ 4
Ethel and Pauline Howard,
At this utterly unlocked for discov-
cry, Agccs Gravdon neither screamed 4
nor tainted, although her heart seemed .
10 stand still with horror ~ fash Of .
thought revealed 90 her
the awful consequences Of failing in the
rescue.
The little girls stood firmly As vet,
though the salt waves Just touched
their short walking frpcls They were
closely clasped together, but did not ut
ter a single cry, for, from the first mo
ment the boat was launched, they OF
course knew who was its occupant, and
their touching faith in their beloved
Agnes kept them from despair.
Now the distance is reduced 10 one
hundred and fifty yards; but, oh, how
fast the tapping waters rise! The cur
rent sweeps against the girls broad
skirts and they slightly waver; but
Agnes, whose nerves are now steady rs
steel, shouts in "a CHEEKY tone: Ethel,
lift Pauline in your arms, stand fast,
and brace against the current. | shall
EASILY save you"
The elder girl At once obeycd, and
he weight thus concentrated gave
greater powers of resistance. The light