The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-09-09
PA, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8. 1896.

personification of cheerful submis-
sion.u
.'Only talking, Helen, as people will
sometimes. But Is it not time to re-
turn ?n
An, half reluctantly, they turned
from the moonlit sea toward their cot
tage home.
AS they neared it, Albert fingered to
speak the words Helen had evaded a
long time.
"You must have known" he said,
show much you are to me. Can | not
hope that l have not loved you in
vain ~
"Oh do not ask me now. Give me
more time to know my own mind"
she said.
Tomorrow then, tomorrow / shall
come to know if | may not claim you
as my wife"
What was there in the tone that jar
red upon her? Was it an assurance of
what he desired? An impossibility Of
refusal ?
The morrow came-another day of
clear, bright sunshine, and gay parties
were crowding the beat h, for il was
bathing time. Such IA motley crowd
''Is it possible this is you ?" was
heard more than once, as those unac-
customed to their bathing costumes
encountered friends.
"How few look well who bathe,
Helen," said Mollie. "Some are 50
cold and blue, and all their lively
roundness of figure has become limp.
Now, there is lady like to watch.
She swims finely and has such a lovely
color after; she seems to ME veritable
nymph of the waves"
"And the bright little boy you We're
admiring so yesterday is her child.
See, he i swimming near her."
"Here comes our party-are you
ready ?'
But just rs they were about entering
the waves, shrill cry of terror rang
through the air. The boy had appar-
emily been carried beyond his power of
control, and the mother vainly strove
to reach him.
"Can no one save him ?'' inquired
Helen.
Her face was pallid-her beautiful
eyes dilated with pity and fear.
"No one without endangering his
own life," was the quiet, measured an
swer of her lover.
But there was prompt reply near
/ her.
'Do not forget me, Nellie, if am
lost" and with quick, strong strokes
/ Edward Barnes was beating the waves,
and far away from the crowd Of bath
ers strove to rescue the child. Farther
and farther he is borne by the merci-
less current VIII he never reach him
And lips unused to prayer murmured
appeals to Heavens mercy, and ali
hearts beat with apprehension for the
two lives so far away from shore.
"He has thrown away his own life
uselessly," said Albert, 'the madman.'
But Helen gave him no reply.
Was this the man who claimed hei
heart? For whom she wavered in III
decision; who had filed her thought:
of late to the exclusion of old childish
friendship and love? Now fall vel
she knew who was the strong man in
times of calamity-he who could peri
his life for another. And all the quiet
unvarying love, the truth and tender
ness of heart, the unselfishness OF char
acter, which she had never fully ap-
preciated before, burst upon her like s
revelation. She was the unworthy
l one. She had never deserved this love
if she could have been so attracted by
another, who could not even pay due
homage to the heroism his eyes beheld
How she endured the moment
which seemed ages she never knew
But at last glad hurrah rent the air
and she scarcely saw-she felt he mus
have saved the boy. But exhausted
faint with the long distance he ha'
SWAN, the heavy waves with which h'
had struggled and the burden he bore
he fell senseless upon the shore, an'
needed all the kind ministrations-th'
care so ready to greet him. Helpfu
hands were there in abundance, how
ever, and skillful aid, and when even
ing came he was amply repaid, a. re
clining in the cottage parlOr, Helen
smiles, tears, bushes Were all for him
No more doubt or indecisiOn for heI
bat the quiet content Of perfect trust
of entire reliance ON the strong, tru
heart of one whom she might find
staff of support in time of need.
'But, Helen,r said Mary, mischiey
ously, 'what about those dreadful dir
ners and possible calico dresses ?"
"Don't speak of them- have grow
five years older and wiser since thi
morning, and l think | would liv
T with Edward in . log cabin"