The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-09-06

( iOlt llCf NOiiI bC ItEtCttNA- lL1t
young mercantile clerk touched the
/ collector on the shoulder, beckoned
! him aside, and handed him the prop
er sum.
"All right said the boat officer.
with a peculiar smile and wink, that
might, under other circumstances
cost him a broken head
"All the rest OF that day the young
clerk kept his eye upon the afflicted
girl, who sat apart, buried IN her own
misery. the most wretched and des
pairing of human beings He would
have addressed her, only that the in
tensity Of his feelings made him hest
tating and timid, and he feared the
attempt would only end in annoying
her and embarrassing himself
When night came, and most Of the
deck-passengers had betaken them
selves to rest-some in the few mod
ern bertbs, that would Enot hold a
fourth of all, and the greater number
upon bales. boxes and barrels, the
freight OF the boat, wherever they
could find a sleeping place-the
young girl arose. with a deep sigh,
and went out upon the guards. There
was something in her manner that led
the young clerk to fear she meditated
harm to herself. and so he followed
and stationed himself where he could
watch her without her knowing it.
He saw her kneel down and appear to
say her prayers, and he was in hope
she had only gone out there for pri-
yate devotion. But suddenly she
arose, as if by a violent impulse, and
the next moment, before he had time
to arrest her, she had plunged over
lutO the dark waters"
oh, poor girl broke III the ex
citeu listeners. And so she was
drowned, papa"
Listen, my children, and you shall
here, Scarcely had she touched the
water, when the young clerk, govern
ed by an impulse as sudden and pow
erfui as her own, leaped into the river
to save her. Fortunately, though
dark, he succeeded in getting hold Of
her dress, just as she was in the act Of
sinking, and, sustaining both himself
and her. he shouted for help. The
boat was going fast, and it did not
stop. Some on board doubtless heard
the call; but as none Of them knew
that any of their number were in the
water, they might have supposed the
cry to proceed from the shore. At
all events, the steamer went on, and
left the two to their fate.
The young man was a good swim
meT; and with one arm around the
girl. who, suddenly repenting, as it
would seem, Of her rash act, now be
gan to cling TO him also he made
his best efforts to reach the nearest
shore This he might never have ac
compli5hed, but that he got hold OF
some drift wood, just as his strength
was failing. and this thenceforward
sustained them both till the bank was
reached.
Nv hen at last they were both safe
on shore, aud had sonewhrt recovered
from the exhaustion caused by being
nearly two hours in the water, the
young clerk. in Il low, tender tone, pro
ceeded to tell his fair charge Of the
| deep interest and compassion she had
excited in him, aud how he had secret
ly and silently watched her up to the
moment Of her attempting terrible
crime against her own soul. At this
she burst into tears, and wept long and
sobbingly: and then said, with a chok
ed utterance. that she hoped God
would forgive her. and that her graf
tude to Ger human preservor would
never cease while life remained.
And will you, in return for what |
have done, give me your sacred and
solemn promise, that, under no circum
J stances hereafter, however dark and
trying they may be, you viii ever at
/ tempt your life again. he inquired.
''Isacredly and solemnly promise, as
hope for Heaven" she sobbingly re
piled.
Now them" he reioined, tell me
frankl Y who you are, and what IS the
cause Of your great distress -
Alas" she groaned. Il am a poor
orphan, without home or friends with
no one in the vide world vino cares for
me. whether | live or die.
There Is one HOIc who cares-you
forget mew said the young man with
deep feeling, at which the poor girl
Wept afresh.
My father she resumed, died
when | was quite young, and left my
poor mother. with NE as her only sol
ace, to struggle with poverty, And
nobly did she struggle, living obscure
Iy in the city of st. Louis. As soon
as | was old enough to assist her, [
joined my labor to hers, and for a few
years we got along III comparative com
fort But at last she sickened and
died, and [ followed her to a humble
grave, the only real mourner, Then L
felt as if my heart would break if |