Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-08-27
of encouragement.

word of encouragement.
johnson was at work near by, and
stopped to chat with him, while
watched the boat move slowly north
ward and turn at last into the inlet.
Miss Gray, sitting on the midship
thwart, was managing the sail, while
Mrs. Loring, at her old post, held the
steering lines. She was leaning over
the side, noticed, catching at bits of
driftwood floating in the current.
ITS n ladies' breeze, Johnson" said
!, barely enough to give the boat steer
age way"
"Ain't much of it, he answered, land
what little strength there's in it comes
in puffs. D'you notice 'em?"
YES. but they're baby puffs; no
weight in them"
"Not much, sir, that's true" said he,
going back to his task.
took my time in reaching the spot,
about 100 yards from the house, where
the boat was to touch; but so slow had
been its movement that when looked
back it was yet opposite the knoll. Mrs.
Loring was amusing herself as before,
while Miss Gray was exchanging friend
ly mods with the fisherman. On the
water just astern Of the craft was
dark line, advancing rapidly toward it
and marking the coming of a gust a lit
tie stronger than any of its predeces-
sors. \ few seconds later the sail filled
with the breeze, and the boat keeled
sharply, just as Mrs. Loring made an un-
usually reckless grasp at the driftwood.
saw her, under the combined impetus,
lose her balance and pitch headlong
over the side, struggle wildly in the
water, and then disappear beneath the
surface.
| ran at top speed toward the knoll,
but long before l climbed its slope
johnson had lcapcd into the stream. He
had som" little distance to swim. how
ever, and, though once the drowning
woman's dress showed above the water,
she had sunk again before he could
reach her. He divcd, but missed her.
Dorothy, with rare presence of mind,
had lost no time in bringing the boat
about, and when Johnson rose to tn,
surface the little craft was close to
hand. Climbing into it, he stood for
few seconds searching the water for
glimpse of the unfortunate woman, and
then .livcd again. When l reached the
rocks above him, he rcappealed for the
second time, and ] saw that he had
been successful at least in finding the
body. He was powerful swimmer,
and almost as soon as | could Chamber
down the ledgeS he had brought his
burden to the base of the lowest of
them. Between us we had little diff
Guilty in raising her from the watera and
bearing her to the level ground on the
top of the knoll Close behind us was
the girl, aiding us when she could in our
sorrowful task. l knew what that
moment meant to her, and was amazed
at her self-control, Notwithstanding the
evidences she had given Of her ability
to maintain it in emergencies. There
was little likelihood, though, that 1T
could avail aught in the present in
stance.
Johnson's life along shore had IA
miliarizcd him with such cases, and
had seen several in which resuscitation
had been attempted, but neither of us
had anything in his experience to war
rant much hope for Mrs. l.oring, in
spite of the brief time she had been in
the water Nevertheless. we labored
over her long after we realized that our
efforts were in vain. With that pale
faced girl struggling with the agony
which possessed her, yet working with
us unrcmlttingly. it was harder task