The morning times., 1895-10-06
Worth Half Drowning.

tory OF rock which jutted out on the sea
at place which was a favorIte resort
for summer boarders. -
The two girls were friends, who were
having an outing; they were members of
an art institute, and were sketching all
available points, making studies OF sun
sets and moonrises and drinking in the
tonic OF the sea air
Just now they were idle, rela king into
moods OF idleness where Delsarte could
give them no instruction Theirt tongues
were by no means idle or at rest
Connected, arrogant and egotistical,"
had been the final summing up of Jessie
Lincoln's estimate of the little man.
But" urged her friend. Marcella No.
BILE, ''some OF the greatest men in the
world have been little men"
THAT may be all true, but / have
noticed that as rule small men have small
minds" answered Jessie
You are thinking of one man, while
can recall many who would put your
theory to confusion"
perhaps the one man interests me
more just now than any other-and for
that reason my theory asserts ITSELF"
said Jessie, breathing sigh on the
summer air. ''If Vincent Rolf were one
of the exceptions 1 could perhaps make
up my mind to give my happiness into
his keeping-but, Marcella. be has not
a single one of the qualities that heroes
possess"
Fidelity" suggested Marcella.
Eyes; the fidelity of the lower animals
the fidelity of dog"
Don't Islander the best friend of man"
said Marcella, lifting herself on her elbow
and looking up and down the beach far
below them. what Is that red speck
moving down there by the water? l had
no idea we were so high. The world and
our feliow-creatures are belittled by
distance"
$50 you defend Vincent Rolf from my
aspersions?" said Jessie, ignoring her
friends remark.
Eyes; l rather like him, even IL he
does belong to the ranks of small men.
For one thing, 1 like his devotion to his
mother and sisters-and the open frank
ness of his nature, and my judgment
ought to be good. for l am not blinded
by love-"
"Nor l." retorted Jessie, quickly. II
am not sure that love enters into my es-
liIildtt dt dllr toi II ~ uiu WouAo nave
more excuses for him.
"There is that red spot again. Give
me the glass, Jessie. Why, ii is child,
and there is its nurse flirting on the
rocks. Now, II wave should happen to
run up the beach that little fodder
would be in danger. And, o! Jessie,
there's chappie in lawn tennis suit"
"Vincent?" suggested Jessie.
"Ohl Jessie-quick!-qui child
will be carried off. Great Heaven, girl!
scream or do something to attract their
attention. There, it is too late-they can
not hear us. o, Jessie, Vincent has jumped
In to save it."
Jessie Lincoln was waving her white
handkerchief and shouting to attract at
tention, when suddenly her voice and
strength both failed her, as the little red
spot that was baby girl in wee red
frock floated out on the awful abyss of
water. ~
But when she saw her lover, her little
man," as she had laughing called him
many a time, jump ins after the child and
swim till he caught the red skirt and then
bear it back to the frautic maid, who re-
ceived the little one from his uplifted
arms. and then-and then+=go down him
self into the deep waters like q stone
then she tainted, and for long time was
beyond the horror of this sudden tragedy.
When she opened her eyes Marcella was
tanning her, and the tears were rolling
down her friends faae.A
"Oh," said Jessie, Il thought it was bad
dream! 1t is true, then-Vincent is
drowned"
Then she was conscious of an odd-Iookng
figure that stood beside her with drenched
clothes and wildly struggling locks. who
did not in the least resemble any hero of
whom she had ever read or heard.
''Then you were not dro wned, Vim
cent?"
mo. deah Miss Jessie; I'm awful wet,
don't you know but there was some bwave
fellaws got there just in time, by Jawve,
but must look like q goose, don't you
know"
"Vincent. dear"
That was all Jessie could say, but the
chappie who would have given his life for
an unknown child sank down on his knees
by her couch and pressed her hand to his
lips with reverence.
Mareella told the others that Jessie need
ed air, and led them away, and when she
went back her friends cheeks were rosy
red again, and vincent's eyes were full of
tears.
''She has promised to be- my wife," he
said. 20. Miss MarcclIa. this is worth be-
Ing half drowned for-it WEAKLY is.','-De-
troit Free Press.