Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-07-01
Gay, ay, sir, SEQ now what you arc

to see that there was plenty to start with,
and saying: 'Now, friends, stand out OF
the way, aud let me have clear start, "
he raised his bare head toward heaven,
and, taking short run, leaped, as from
the spring board of plunge bath.
Such an anxious crowd as followed
that leap! Great numbers, in spite of
the dangerous wind, lay hat on their
breasts and watched him. He struck
the water ut least twenty-five feet beyond
the cliff, and disappeared in its dark,
fosmy depths.
When he rose to the surface, he saw
just before him gigantic wave, but he
had time to breathe, and before it
reached him he dived below its center.
1t broke in passionate fury upon the
rocks, but Jones rose far beyond it. A
mighty cheer from the men on shore
reached him, and he now began in good
earnest to pu. his Pacific experience into
practice.
Drawing continually on the men for
moro ropc-which they paid out with
deafcning chcers-ho met wave after
wave in the same manner, diving under
them like an otter, and getting nearer
the wreck with every wave, really adj
vancing, however, more below the water
than above it.
Suddenly the despairing men on board
heard clear, hopeful voice:
"Throw me buoy'
And in another minute or two ones
was on the deck, and the cheers on the
little steamer were echoed by the cheers
nf fhn crowd IN fhn 1nnd
not d moment to be lost; she was break
ing up fast; but it took but few min.
utcs to fasten strong cable to the small
rope and draw it GU board, and then a
second cable, and the communication
was complete.
"rhcre is lady here, SIR" said the
Captain. eve must rig up chair for
her. She can never walk that danger
GUS road"
"But we have not moment to waste,
or we may all be lost. Is she very
hcavyt"
ga slight little thing; half child,
SIR"
bring her here"
There WIS no time for ceremony.
Without word, save few sentences Of
direction and encouragement, he took
her under his one arm, and steadying
himself by the upper cable, walked on
the lower with his burden safely to the
shore. The crew rapidly followed, for
in such moments of extremity the soul
masters the body, and all things become
possible.
There was plenty of help waiting for
the half-dead seamen; and the lady, her
father and the Captain had been put in
the carriage of Squire Braddon, OF Brad
don, aud driven rapidly to his hospitable
hall. Jones, amid the confusion, disap-
pcarcd. He had picked up an oil-skin
coat and cap, and when every one turned
to thank their deliverer. he was gone.
No one knew him. In IN hour the
steamer was driven on the rocks and
went to pieces, and, it being by this
time quite dark, every one went home
The next day the hunting party re-
turned from Gwynne Hall, the storm
having compelled them to stop all night,
and at dinner that evening the wreck and
the hero OF it were the theme of every
ones conversation.
"Such plucky felow!" said Ensign
Powell. ~ wonder who he was.
Gwynne says he was stranger; perhaps
one of that crowd staying at the abbey"
Perhaps" said Captain Marks, sit
was Jones'"
"Oh, Jones would be too afraid of his
mother"
Jones made little satirical bow, and
said, pleasantly:
"Perhaps it was POWELL" at which
Powell laughed, aud said: "Not if 1
knew it."
In week the event had been pretty
well exhausted, especially as there was
to be great dinner and ball at Brad
don, aud all the officers had invitations.
This ball had peculiar interest, for the
young lady who had been saved from the
wreck would be present, and rumors of
her riches and beauty had been rife for
several days. 1t was said that the little
steamer was her fathers private Yacht,
and that he was a man of rank and In
fiuence.
Jones said he should not 20 to the
dinner, as either he or Saville must re-
main for evening drill, end that Savi!le
loved good dinner, while he cared very
little about it. Saville could return in
time to let him ride over about ten
O'Clock and see the dancing. Saville
rather wondered why Jones did not take
his place all the evening, aud felt half
injured at his default. But Jones had
a curiosity about the girl he had saved.
To tell the truth, he was nearer in love
with her than he had ever been with any
woman, and he wished in calm blood to
see if she was as beautiful rs his fancy
had painted her during those few awful
minutes that he had held her high above
the waves.
She was exceedingly lovely, just the
fresh, innocent girl he had known she
would be. He watched her dancing
with his brother officers, OF talking to
her father, or leaning on Braddon's arm,
and every time he saw her she looked
fairer and sweeter. Yet he hal not
courage to ask for an introduction, aud
in the busy ballroom no one seemed to
remember that he needed one. He kept
/ H. Al I