The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-20

toward the lake. Once OH this body OF wa
ter and she could do nothing with that
craft. The nearer TO the lake the roughcr
WAS tho water, and soon the waves beat in
Mt such Il rate that the skin filed carccncd
over to one side, bobhcd and rocked and
driftcd on.
She lad Host all hope of being saved
when in turning around the point at tho
mouth OF the lake she saw Il large growth
If rushcs. If she could run the boat into
chem and the wind did not rise, it would
stay there lodged until morning at least.
She made the attempt, struggled with all
her strength but tho skiif was too nearly
sunk, too far down in tho water, to DO
made to glide over this thick bed of high,
tough rushcs. But she reached out aud
held tightly to the stalks.
This WAS very good-so long as her
strength lasted 1t held tho skiff much
more steady and made her feel safer But
what situation TO be in! Soon after sun
set tho air became quito chilly, and
Georgia up to her waist in watcrl BY
dark sho had perfect aguc, and then fol-
lowed u drowsy numbness; she lost her
hold and the old skiff splashcd off. But
She knew not when or where, nor in fact
anything, until she awakened IS or moro
hours aftcrward down in tho cabin of n
schooner and found the good old captain
and his wife in anxious attendance. They
told her that whilo crossing the lake, just
before entering tho gulf the light from
ono of the sailors lanterns flashed on
figure over the water, and Immediately n
boat was lowered, and she was brought
aboard more dead than alive.
Naturally tho girls first thought was Of
home and Edgar, and she wanted to return
at once. But that was out Of tho question.
This schooner was laden with lumber and
Gu1VDSfnN having
tho gulf now over two days and nights
there was no going back. OF course it was
very hard on her, but moro SO on those at
home However, sho tried to be patient,
and so soon us they reached Galveston she
telegraphed home, and tho captains vito
mailed bulky letter, feeling sure that
would explain everything and set all
minds at ease until she could take the girl
home
Various things, though, delayed her
homecoming First tho captain WINS sent
to Corpus Christi, and during tho trip en-
countercd such rough weather that he lost
many days. Then he was sent to various
other points, all opposite routes to tho ono
Georgia had to take. In those days there
were no railroads from Texas through
Louisiana rs there arc now, so it was nee
cssary to come by water. The girl was not
willing to trust herself with any one but
abide her time. In the meanwhile she
mailed letters regularly to her friends, but
what good were they?
Tho Grove WAS 40 miles from the telc-
graph Office and the operator mailed tho
telegram, and of course it shared the same
fate as the lCttcrs-staid there until tho
postmastcr weary of looking ut them
bundled them all up and sent them to tho
dead letter Office The people ut tho Grove
and surrounding country rarely went into
town, never got any letters, never looked
for, ANY, and so the posto1lico was tho last
place these people would ever dream of
hearing from Georgia. They were con-
WINGED of her fato and knew nothing to
the contrary until that morning when sho
stood before them. Tho old couple wcpt
over her as though she was their child,
and there was great rejoicing among her
friends
But the one Georgia wanted most to SEQ
was not there, SO her homecoming was,
after all, very sad one. But, like many
woman had done since the beginning of
time, she bore her burden patiently.
AS tho years went by old Mrs. Lawrence
was left widow. But Georgia, who had
put the question of marriage away from
her, still lived with her old friend and was
now her mainstay. The old captain and
his wife went to see them on every trip
made for Louisiana cypress, and these
visits were by far the most pleasant things
that came into the lives of these two wom-
en-. The old captains schooner anchored
off Spanish lake, and the green yawl com
/ ing down stream with him and his wife
had grown to be II common sight now
But one evening there were anchored
two schooncrs, instead of onc-thc old
captains and another, IL white one, such
as these people had not seen before. Then
white ylwl came in by the side of the
green one y sailor handled tho oars,
while man sat bnck in the rear his arms
folded and his, face turned toward the
Grove Georgia walked down to tho shore
to welcome her old friends as was her
custom, but her eyes were on the ono in
that white yawl.
Something in his attitude made her
heart beat violently. She tried to quiet it,
but that WAS useless. The blood rushed in
and out of her face. and her quick, short
breathing made her bosom rise and fall in
| quick succession.
The two boats landed, and Georgia ran
forward to meet Edgar. He took her In
/ his arms and held her there rs though ho
never intended to let her go, and he didn't
either Mrs Lawrence grew historical
Indeed wet eyes were plentiful, but SO
| were smiles.
! That evening, sitting out on the porch
! at Mrs. Lawrcnce's, Edgar Geland enter
tanned the whole population with an ac-
count of himself from the day he left the
! Grove to the time he came back He had
straightway taken up life ON the sea, be-
| ginning humbly and working himself I'D
to captain. And then, having made a
good name, he had built vessel of his
own ard, as his own captain, was taking
his vessel OH its initial trip when he met
tho old captain, to whom he told his story
and from whom he heard of Georgia..