Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-01-08
CHAPTER XIII.
MADELINE GkAHAM.
new her in a moment

MADELINE GRAHAM.
Yes; | knew her i'll moment.
Th" lurid light of the tempeotuOuS morn.
ing sIlone full upon her face and the cling
ing dress and cloak, which more expressed
than hid her lovely form Her eyes were
wildly fixed. her face pale as death: but in
her features there WAS a splendid Selt-pOS
session tar removed from common fear.
Though 50 many years had passed since
we had last met, she was still the same; only
taller and more W0manly. and even more
strangely beautiful than when she had first
shed love and rapture on my boyiSh heart
She was fastened to the mast by rope.
Her feet were bare, and / saw, to my horror,
that all she wore save the great fur cloak
was Il night-dreSs of white cotton, reaching
to her feet. Her hair fell over her shoulders
in loose and dripping folds, descending al
n}.,St to her waist. peering more closely. |
perceived that her lips We're blue, ard her
f,Gn Shiverng with cold; indeed it was a
miracle that She had not persisted in the chill
OF that cruel night
From that moment ! saw nothing but that
one figure: all others were blurred and prac-
tically unseen. III my wild amazement and
eagerness to reach her, could have sprung
into the tossing waves.
The vessel lay sidelong, her decks turned
toward the shore; and fierce pillows, strik-
ing her Seaward Sides broke with a thunder
Gus roar and a cloud of spray. aud then came
surging down the slippery decks in a thin
sheet of foam, boiling round the naked feet
OF the solitary maiden.
We hung off for minute, to let one great
sea go by; then we swept alongside. What
followed was more like dream than wax
ing reality. But with an eager cry leaped
r,t.,t
Madeline Graham.
Twice | slipped to my knees, and was
driven back and bruised against the bull
warks; but the third time l succeeded, and,
reaching her side, chung to the mast, and
-aZcd into her face.
',Madeliner' | cried.
Her eyes met mine, but she gave no sign
OF recognition. 1t was clear that what l re-
mcmbered so wildly she had utterly forgot
ten.
Drawing my clasp-knife, l cut her free,
and put my arms around her to bear her
back to the boat. The decks rocked and
split beneath us; she clung to me, as il III
terror. Then | watched my chance, and
Rising her bodily i'll my arms, carried her to
the vessels side, and handed her to the men,
! was about to follow her, when | was at
tracted by wild scream, and, turning, | per-
ceived the figure of another woman crawl
ing on the deck, close to the cOmpaniOnWay.
She was dark-compleXiOned,l like mulatt0,
and almost naked. Without a moments heSIta-
ton | ran to her, and half lifted, half drag
ged her to the vessels side.
now perceived that we had saved in adj
ditiOn to the two women, two white Seamcn
and a black man, who afterward turned out
to be the ships cook. [ chung to the bull
warks and looked round, searching for any
4ther signs of life.
Come, lad, Gomez cried my uncle.
Quick the ships breaking upV
L looked at the strange sailors, who sat
shivering in the bottom of the life-bOat.
Are there no more souls abOard?' | cried.
Not one" they answered. All the rest
had persisted in the long-boat, in the fatal at
tempt to reach the shore.
There was not moment to be lost The
vessel was evidently doomed, and every
shock of the sea threatened to complete the
work of destruction. The black funnel, al
most wrenched out of the bursting decks,
was leaning over terribly, and threatening
every moment to crash down bodily and de-
stroy tie life-boat.
| leapt in, and scrambled to my place in
the stern. On the seat close by me was Made
line, her eyes half closed, her neck resting
on the gunwale; and at her feet was the
colOred woman, moaning and crying.
1t was but the work of a moment to strip
off my pilOt-coat and wrap it round Made
lines half-naked limbs; but while l did so
the men cried impatiently and pushed off.
Give way, ladsT' | cried. Nov! Pull
for your liyesF'
Away we went through the surging sea.
Not minute too soon did we leave the YES
sci: for ere we were thirty yards away the
decks were rent asunder, and the huge Tun-
mel toppled over and fell like battering-ram
upon the bulwarks, which broke like finder
beneath the blow.
With wind and sea to urge us on, we flew
shoreward, and the strength of the oarsmen
was needed rather to break than to increase
our lightning speed. Again and again the
great seas rose behind and threatened to in
gulf us; while gripping the steering-oar
watched them and guided the brave boat.
At last we approached the shore, and saw
a great crowd waiting upon the single and
swarming upon the cliff. Tossing like
cork upon the waters we waited our chance,
and then, after one huge wave had spent IT
self, and there was a momentary surcease OF
the waters power, | headed the boats bow
for the creek and we rowed in.
As the keel struck the sands, a dozen men
rushed in waistdeep to seize the boat; ouI
men Joined them, and then, with long pull.
and great ringing cheer, the boat was haul
ed high and dry, and we were safe.
My first thought was of Madeline. / lifted
her out in my strong arms, and carried her
into the shelter of the boat-house. Her face
and hands were cold as ice, and she was still
swooning. l called out for brandy; and,
thank God! man handed me full flask.
Supporting her head upon my shoulder, 1
moistened her lips with the raw spirit, and
once more, in my wild anxiety, breathed
her name.
Once more she opened her eyes and look
ed unon me: still there was no sign what