Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1891-09-18


It was him. Then he tried to get into
the boat with me. but he was SO weak
Il seemed like he couldn't stand, and
the boats plunged as if they would
swamp, but he held 'em together, an
when they lunged forred he fell into the
boat with me. In a minute he got onto
his knees an cried out wild like: oh
father, can't save We! can't save yel
the oars are in the other boat! an
away it drifted an we was helpless
AFTER awhile he said, sort of slow
like: Father, I've done my best !
couldn't use the oars if l had 'em, my
hands are so bad. Mebby we ken steer
onto some island an get saved Then
see his poor hands was sweued to the
shoulders from rowin', an worn raw
an bleedin', an kissed 'em an cried
over 'em, an we talked an forgive one
another.
"Then he tried to steer the boat, but
he couldn't set up, an for long time
we laid at the bottom Of the boat like
dead men. But about night he strug-
gled up an said: Father, there's is
land ahead, an guess I'll steer ontoit,
caise the sea has been gettin' worse fer
three days, an we can't keep ahoat
much longer So he managed to steer
for the island, an when we got nigh,
he said again: 4 am 'feard, father,
the currents goin' to carry us by And
he set the helm to port an tied it. Then
he got me forred into the Prov, an
when we was about to strike he held
me mp with his knees an teeth. an
what he could with his poor hands. an
when we struck he lifted an throwed
me ahead, an fell onto the shore. But
it was solid rock where we hit, an the
boat sprung back an glanced off, an he
fell in the PROV an laid still He'd
tainted, Lucy, his last drop OF strength
was gone. got upon my knees an
hollered with all my might to rouse
him, but he had no strength, Lucy;
he'd give it all to mel" and tears ran
down the big mans cheeks, while the
mother sobbed with her face pressed
against the pillow.
Then the boat lurched," the man
went on, huskily. IAN it followed the
current past the island, and see him
struggle up an heard him CALM: oh.
fatherI done my best! tried to
bring We back! Mebby some ship'll
save ye, an if We ever reach home an l
never come, tell mother l died inner
cent? died inherent" Then ! couldn I
hear him no more, an ! watched the
boat 20 further an further, an ! see
another island way off to the west, but
Jest afore he reached it the boat struck
something's bar, ] guess--an' sunk,
an fell forred an didn't know no
more, only a sort of dreamin' move
ment Of sights and faces, till Eric laid
me down there on the sand an your
calm reused me to life again"
His voice failed, and they sat a long
time weeping together in silence; and
all that might ever have been said OF
praise or blame, of sorrow and love, OF
regret and new resolve, was spoken in
that sound of falling tears.
The next day was a Sabbath and all
was quiet in Redwood town. The
saws rested from their snarling hum,
the millmen. clad in fresh clothing, sat
ON the doorsills of the cottages smok-
ing their pipes and looking idly out al
the blue fields Of the sea, or down
among the fragrant stacks of lumber
sat whiting and talking. Some, when
the little cracked bell in the steeple OF
the church upon the shady hillside
called them, had gone with the chill
dren to hear what love could do in
saving men-even the love of q wronged
andcrippled boy. Surely all their hearts
were better for having heard from the
minister's lips the story of Paul Ar
mor's victory, though they knew it well
before.
Over on the head the day broke beau
tifully, yet with little cheer, for sorrow
and heavy poverty were there. The
children felt it, and the mother went
sadly to and fro, longing for her lame,
lost boy. Near noon she stood in the
doorway looking out to sea. A big
yacht, with all its white sails spread,
blew into the little harbor, but she did
not see it, for her eyes were wet She
was thinking of that island. somewhere
to the west of the blue horizon line,
upon whose cruel bar her boy went
down. She thought of him as he used
to lie upon her breast when child, and
again she seemed to see him. as she had
30 many times, coming up the path to
the door where she stood, his straw hat
In his hand. his light curls blown about
hts frank blue eyes. And yet when she
turned from these fancies there was
something sweet at the bottom of her
heart. She could not tell whence il
came. Was it because the sky was Sc
beautiful with its focks of snowy
clouds, the sea SO blue, the air SO crys.
tai clear, the sunshine so pretty on the
tree-tops? She saw, too, that the chill
dren seemed happier than for many
DAYS, and when she went into the sick
mans room he met her with smile.
Presently footsteps came to the door,
and Eric and his comrade, with their
sweethearts, entered. Behind them
were others bearing bags and baskets,
and the children leaped with Joy
Armor arose and came out. His step
was slow but steady and his face was
clear. The children, with Gale among
them, shouted and danced with glee to
see him grown so strong, and the big
mans eyes were uueu Win blessed
tears as he looked around upon the
faces of his friends.
The shadow seemed lifted; even the
mother smiled; something strange and
sweet was in the air.
Suddenly there rose the noise of many
voices near the hut, cheering and sing
ing In the sunshine. Eric sprang up,
and all stood still and hardened The
singing and the voices came nearer
A great light came into the mothers
eyes. She held her hand hard against
her leaping heart and listened Sud
denly Eric leaped out the door with al
answering shout They all followed
him, and along the top of the green
blur . crowd poured into view, and
there, borne upon the shoulders of the
cheering men, sat Paul Armor!
he was pale and weak. and his poor
hands. swathed in white bandages. hung
down over the mems shoulders, but his
face was almost like star. All. there