The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1896-12-24
biy warm day. 1t excites you too

added, "it might be we'll tc put me
ashore. shall not be gone long; prob
ably not more than ten minutes. Where
shall rejoin you?"
We were abreast of the knoll. and not
very far from it. ran the boat to the
bank and stepped upon IL, Miss Gray
taking my place at the oars.
How will it do" she suggested, "for
us 70 run down to the bay. and then
coast along until we come to that other
inlet, which runs so close to Mr.. La
mars house? We can run up il, and
take you on board very conveniently"
Excellent" said l. "You will find
me little distance landward from the
house. There's some air stirring over
the bay now, and you may meet a real
pleasant change"
Then we can spread the SAIL" said
Mrs. Loring. "Do you know. doctor,
adore sailing, really adore it,"
Her niece bent to the oars, and the
light craft glided on its voyage. While
lcilmbed the side of the knoll could see
the boat enter the bay. A moment
later the girl had ceased rowing, and
had shipped the slender spar which did
duty as a mast There appeared tc be
just breeze enough to fill the tiny sail.
Lamar met me Mt the door.
Here's that book you wanted" said
l. There was an oppoi tunity to de-
liveritt this afternoon, and improved it.
Anything else you would like to have
done?'
Nothing, l thank you," he answered
turning back into the house. The dire
full news he had received so recently
had had no softening effect upon him.
He showed no longing for sympathy,
no desire to seek from his physician
word of encouragement
Johnson was at work near by, and I
stopped to chat with him, while I
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
l, barely enough to give the boat steer.
age way"
"Ain't much of it," he answered, "and
what little strength there's in it comes
in puffs. D'you notice emp"
"Yes, but they're baby puffs; no
weight in them"
Not much, sir, that's true" said he,
going back to his task.
L 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 l 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 q
dark line, advancing rapidly toward it
and marking the coming of gust lit
tie stronger than any of it's predeces-
sors. y 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.
l 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.
l ran at top speed toward the knoll,
but long before | climbed its slope
johnson bad leaped into tho stream. He
had some 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 dived, 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 il, he stood for
| few seconds searching the water for a
| glimpse of the unfortunate woman, and
then dived again. When / reached the
rocks above him, he reappeared for the
second time, and ! saw that he had
been successful, at least in finding the
body. He was a powerful swimmer.
and almost as soon as l could Chamber
down the lodges 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 water 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. | 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 it
could avail aught in the present in.
stance.
Johnson's life along shore had ia.
miliarized 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. Loring, 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 unremIttingly, it was n hapder task
to cease than TO continue our endeavors.
Lamar approached us once, but, after
| glance at the scene, turned away with
| out a word and reentered the house. A
moment later, however, old Martha ap.
peared, bearing stimulants, which she
| placed beside Ine, and then stood watch.
- "a L IL.