Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-05-10


ITS ship ON the sands" she faltered.
They'll want you. Paul Shall you goy"
"Shall, lassy There's no question Cf
shall. Must is the word. Hark -
Footsteps were staggering up the road,
The handle of our door was turned and
Peter Ericsson entered.
"Thcres ship adrift on the sands,
Paul You're wanted for the lifcboat."
Right Peter; I'll be with her in two
minutes. Hand down the oilskins again
lass. ~
The sea was running so high that we
were thrice beaten back before the lifcboat
was launched. Launch it at last we did,
and there was n wild cheer from the folk
who had gathered on the beach as we put
off
Heaven knows we needed cheering of
some sort, for the bowling Of the wind
around us and 10 swirl of the waves as
they dashed against us made the sturtlicst
veteran in the boat feel a bit uncannylikC.
But we pulled with a will and at last
came in sight OF the sinking vessel. The
iibboom. with the masts. had gone over
board, and she was fast settling down.
When we reached her side. there We're
only four solitary beings clinging to the
taffrail
"Jump forit" shouted our captain, Hal
MoXon.
Even as he spoke big wave came and
swept away two of the four The other
two sprng over the side and were dragged
safely into the lifcbOat.
"Anybody else on boards asked Hal
MCxon
There's sick man in the cabin, with
a little girl who won't leave him" said
one of the half drowned seamcn.
My God. you don't say so! We can't
desert them Will anybody volunteer to
boards"
Il willr
"You. Paul Allison: There's no time
4 to lose then. God be with you!' he cried
The boat was again swung round to re
/ sinking vessel, and leapcd upand caught
its side. had clambcicd to the deck in
the twinklng of a handspike Then |
! staggered down the companion way to the
cabin.
While life is in this old hulk of mine
shan't forget the spectacle saw. There
was a dim light still burning BY it l saw
a man lying in one Of the bcrths. Knccl-
ing by his side her head bowed in prayer,
was II little girl She looked up quickly
as l entered.
"Save papa she cried, running to me.
THAT Just what We come for, my lit
tie lass, and heaven willing to save you ~
well. Come l said to the man, lifting
him up
save Elsie" moaned the man. "Nev-
er mind me-
Elsie! Even in that moment Of peril
the name cut at my hcartstrings as with
knife. l looked at the sick man Il bit
closer. II was the scoundrcl who lad rob
bed me of my greatest Observation-Disclosures
by Scaton.
l did not stop to barley with him. 1
put u lilcbclt round the girl and made it
firm with connecting cord to my own
Then | wrapped blanket round the man
and carried him to the deck. Little Elsie
clutchcd firmly TO my jacket
Tho foam dashed UP into my face. l
could not see the iifcbcat, but above the
roar Of the storm heard the voice of Hal
MoXon:
".Jump!'
lcalcd hlindly forward. The waves
struck me with terrific f5rco as l fell.
heard the cry Vt Il man. the shriler cry of
a child l seemed to be tossed up to the
clouds and then to sink. sink, sink, until
could SIM, 30 farther. The mighty sea
rolled over my, and knew 10 more
When | cume out of that awful pit. it
was to find uysclf in bed in my own snug
home. a pair OF loving eyes were looking
anXiousiy into mine.
"Do you feel better now, PAUL." asked
my wife tcndcrly.
Il don't know exactly how l feel, my
lass, but how did get hove, and-ah, now
l rccolicct! That man I tried to save last
night -
Last night! Its three weeks ago.
"Thrce weeks? Surely not; But was
he saved;'
Alas no. He was washed away wher
you jumped from the sinking vessel
Here's one who was saved however"
\ pretty golden haired eirl entered Il
was Elsie. ne came 10 NY bedside hci
face radiant with a smile when she saw
that l was conscious
"You-you saved my lifcn she said.
Then she leaned forward and kissed thi
rough, weather beaten face of mine. II
that kiss the treachery of the mother wa
forgotten.
soon learned her story. Her mother
she little guessed knew hcr-had died il
Bombay. Her father had lost ali his mon
ey in sugar plantation over there an'
was returning to England in the Rum
t nuggar to commence life afresh when 1t
, was stricken down with fever Then tn,
storm came which wrecked the ship.
f Well, to cut IL long story short | got t
love that girl, though in a different wa,
from the love had for her mother When !
came to IA question of parting with her
Maria and me put on our considering cap
and talked the matter over.
: Well we didn't send her away. l wa
to her II father Maria was To her II moth
o er, and shc-heaven bless hcr-was to II
the best of daughters But she's left L
i now
"WhyS" you ask Can't you see how t
) all was? She's now Paul's wife.-Londo
l Answers.
!. Mule and His Mortgage.