The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-14


erous boat, rocked 1t md dashed tho water
in las fast as sho tossed 1t out. Then, to
her dismay, She saw tho skill was going
toward the lake. Once OH this body of wa
ter and shc could Ito nothing with that
craft. Tho nearer to tho lake tho roughcr
was tho water. and soon the waves beat in
ut such n rate that the skiff filed, carccncd
over to ono side, bobhcd and rocked and
driftcd on.
Sho had Host all hopo of being saved
when In turning around the point Mt tho
mouth of tho lake she saw n largo growth
st rushcs. If she could run tho boat into
Them and the wind did not rise, it would
stay there lodged until morning at least.
Sho made the attempt, struggled with all
her strength, but tho skiff was too nearly
sunk, too far down in tho water, to DO
made to glide over this thick bed of high,
tough rushcs. But sho reached out and
held tightly to tho stalks.
This was very good-so long as her
strength lasted. 1t held tho skiff much
moro steady and made her feel safer. But
what n situation to DO in Soon after sun
SGT tho mir bccamo quito chilly, and
Georgia up to her waist in waterl By
dark she had perfect ague, and then fol-
lowed n drowsy numbncss; she lost her
hold, and the old skiff splashed off. But
She knew not when or where, nor in fact
anything until sho awakened 4S 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 while crossing the lake, just
before entering tho gulf, the light from
ono of tho sailors lanterns flashed on u
figure over the water, and Immediately n
boat was lowered, and she was brought
aboard more dead than alive.
Naturally the 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
bound for Galveston, and having been on
the gulf now over two days and nights
there was no going back. OF course it wns
very hard on her, but moro so on those ut
home. However, she tried to DO patient
and so soon ms they reached Galveston she
tclcgrnphed home, and the captains vito
mailed Il 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 the captain was sent
to Corpus Christi, and during tho trip on
countcrcd such rough weather that he lost
many days. Then he was sent to various
other points, all opposite routes to tho one
Georgia had to take. In those days there
were no railroads from Texas through
Louisiana, as there are now, so it was nee
cssary to come by water. The girl was not
willing to trust herself with any one but
the captain and his wife, SO she had to
abide her time. In the meanwhile she
mailed letters regularly to her friends, but
what good We're they?
The Grove was 40 miles from tho telc-
graph office, and the operator mailed tho
telegram, and of course it shared the same
fate rs the lcttcrs-staid there until tho
postmaster, weary of looking at item.
bundled them al up and sent them to the
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 postoilicc was tho last
place these people would over dream of
hearing from Georgia. They were con
WINGED of her fate and knew nothing to
the contrary until that morning when she
stood before them. The 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 sec
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 the years went by old Mrs. Lawrence
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 sec them OH every trip
made for Louisiana cypress, and these
visits were by far the most pleasant things
that came into the lives of these two WON
en-. The old captains schooner anchored
of Spanish lake, and the green yawl com
ing down stream with him and his wife
had grown to be Il 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 yiwl came in by the side of the
green one a sailor handled the oars
while II man sat back in the rear, his arms
folded and his face turned toward the
Grove. Georgia walked down to the shore
to welcome her old friends, as was her
custom, but her eyes were on the one in
that white yawl.
Something in his attitude made her
heart beat violently. She tried to quiet it,
but that WAS useless. Tho 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 Gcorria ran
forward to meet Edgar He took her in
his arms and held her there rs though he
never intended TO let her go, and he ditln'
either. Mrs. Lawrence grew historical
Indeed wet eyes We're plentiful but so
were smiles.
That evening sitting out on the porch
at Mrs. I-awrcnccs, Edgar ICELAND enter
tanned the whole population with an nc
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 up
to a captain. And then, having made a