Smyrna times., 1896-04-01
EDWARD CARSTON'S TRIUMPH.
BY ED. I. TORIALLE.

The long spell of dry, cold weather
had made an abundance of good, thick
ice. The big red ball had called thOus-
ands of New Workers to Central Park,
and the lakes there are musical with
the merry throngs of skaters. 1t was
a bright December afternoon, and in
the swift-mOving crowd might have
been noticed young man, strongly
built, and an expert skater. AS he
glided over the frozen surface an on
locker might have thought that his
heart was as light as his steel-clad feet
but such was not the case.
Edward CarstOn had been in the
office of Fairbanks & Co., the large
dry goods firm, up to a fortnight ago.
There had been for several months
theft of money in the Office. Traps
had been laid to catch the guilty party,
but he could not be apprehended.
Finally the cashier volunteered to do a
little detective work after business
hours, and, from his reports to the
firm, suspicion seemed to point to
Carston as the guilty party, and he was
discharged. He boldly proclaimed his
innocence, but Mr.. Fairbanks thought
it best for all concerned that he should
sever his connection with the house.
| 1t was not an easy task for him to
secure another position, and Carston,
after two weeks vain search, became
terribly discouraged. Coupled with
his loss of employment was the crush
ing accusation which had been made
against him that he was a thief.
"Go, my boy" said his mother; ''yOu
need the exercise, and the fresh air will
do you good"
'But, mother" he replied; 81 have
no heart for skating or any kind of en-
joyment.
But she prevailed upon him to go,
and the bracing exercise and the merry
company made him, for little time
forget his troubles.
Passing danger-post on the ice, he
noticed two fashiOnably dressed young
girls skating very near to the treacher
Gus spot. He was about to warn them
when he heard the ice crack, and in al
instant the one nearest the danger
post was precipitated into the lake
Carston Immediately started in the di
rectiOn of the unfortunate girl, but tn
cracking ice warned him to be cautious
The girls companion stood wringin;
her hands and shouting for help. TIL
crowd gathered, and the gray-coate,
police officers came, but no one cOul,
reach the poor girl. She had enougl
presence of mind to cling to the ragge
edge of ice, but how long she would b
able to hold on was a question.
"Get a rope!" shouted Carston; an
! off some of the gray-coats started.
: CarstOn saw the girls strength wa
', giving out, and he knew somethin
r must be done at once. He had free
+ himself from his skates, and he worke
= his way around to the opposite side {
: the large opening in the ice. Seein
s she was about to let go her hold,
boldly stepped forward and was him
n self plunged into the icy water. A fe'
strong strokes and he was by the sid
of the exhausted girl, whose hold +,
laxed just as his strong arm caught ht
about the waist. Her head fell bac
limp, and, seeing a pocket-handke
chief in the breast of her coat, l
caught it and wet her forehead with
to revive her.
The men came with the rope, an
after considerable exertion Carstc
= and the girl were brought out of Il
water and taken to the shore. A ca
riage had been summoned, and in
the exhausted girl and her companiC
were placed and driven away. CarstC
Y was hero, but very cold one. T
\ was quickly borne to shelter on Il
shoulders of half dozen men, and dl
D. clothes were furnished him. Aft
thanking his benefactors, he tied
wet clothes and hurried home.
"Why, my sonl What has happen,
I to you?" exclaimed his mother, as 81
" saw her boy, still shivering, enter Il
house.
"Only a little ducking, mother
said Carston, between shakes, al
TX then he related the exciting scene
the afternoon.
+. "And you did not learn who &
. young lady WASP"
p ''No, mother; there was so much G
element, and everything was done
quickly, that there was no time to a
any questions.
'Well, Edward, you have perform
y noble deed, and you have the CO
sciousness of having done your dui
- l hope, however, that you have
N taken eold;" and she drew up a CHI
\ for him by the pleasant fire-pla,
" made him hot drink, and gave h
every care.
But, for all that, Edward had tax
cold, and very bad one, to; and
was months before he could go {
$, again. Doctors services are not h
for nothing, and to man out Of e
ployment they seem doubly expense
ie- One day, when he was well enou
to go about the house, he got out
suit Of clothes he had worn the day
the accident. In pocket of the G