The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-06
A. PERILOUS RESCUE.


she was sweet angel. But the packet
will go to pieces in half an hour, and SO,
you see, there's no hope
The father heard the speaker in silence.
Then he turned and looked out to sea,
where few minutes before the outline of
the stranded packet might have been seen
through the approaching twilight, almost
buried in the whirling foam that howled
over the bar on which she lay. But now
darkness had shut her in from view, and
the only knowledge of her position was
derived from the sounding of her minute
guns booming across the sea-
The old man groaned, and, sinking upon
a board, buried his face in his hands and
rocked his body to and fro, occasionally
pausing to listen to the guns or to gaze
seward, and then resuming his position,
moaning continually.
Five minutes might have thus passed,
when a young man burst through the
crowd, and shaking the old man by the
shoulder, said: "Mr. Sterling, they say
your daughter is on board the packet. Is
that sop
Eyes, good youth. And you have come to
rescue herl' he exclaimed, starting up
with eager joy. But when he recognized
the speaker, he said in a tone Of disap-
pointment: "It's Harry Martin Oh, sure
ly, young man, you have not como to tri-
umph over my distressS''
Heaven forbidr' was the fervent reply.
81 come to aid you, If, indeed, mortal
man can, in an extremity like this. Let
bygones be bygones- Only answer me one
question, for no time is to be lost: VIII
you give me your daughter if succeed In
rescuing her?''
There was momentary pause, and the
muscles of his face worked convulsiyely.
All pressed forward to hear his answer, for
the fury with which the old miser had pur-
hi Ia doOIa
ton that he would rather see her dead than
married to the young man were known to
every listener.
A length he gasped:
eyes, yes. But go at once. Only save
her, and she shall be yours"
The youth paused no longer, but dashed
through the crowd. In q minute his boat
was af1oat, and accompanied by solitary
individual-for but one fisherman, and he
under great obligations to the young man,
could be persuaded to risk his life with her
lover-he set forth.
The boat rose gallantly on the waves,
shaking like a duck the spray from her
sides, and for a few minutes was seen
cutting the outline of the gloomy sky
as she attained the summit of the bill
low. Then she gradually passed into the
darkness and was seen no more. For more
than an hour the crowd remained on the
beach, almost incredulous of the lovers
that he might return with his precious
freight. That he had the good wishes of
all was evident from the eagerness with
which they strained their eyes into the
gloom to see if he was returning, and the
audible prayers for his success which were
breathed by more than one of the women.
Apart from the general crowd stood the
fisherman whom the miser had last ap
pealed to- surrounded by a few kindred
spirits. who were discussing with him the
chances of the young mans return.
cit is madness to attempt it, said the
fisherman. "But when 1 found he would
go, insisted that he should make his con-
ditions with the old man before he ven
tured, for, you see, if his daughter was
once restored to the usurer's arms, mighty
little gratitude would he have for her pre-
server, and Harry would stand as bad
chance as ever. Between US 1 think she
thought as much of the young man as he
did of her. and if her father sent her away,
as l more than suspect, to drive Martin
from her thoughts her present danger
seems something like the retribution of a
higher power as punishment for his con-
duct. But, harkl Was that not halloo?"
Every eye was turned seaward in the di-
rection the fisherman had indicated that
he heard the hail. But nothing could be
seen except the white foam of the breaker;
in the foreground and the lowering clouds
behind forming a chaotic mass of dark
ness. Nor was any sound save that of the
roaring tempest borne to the ear
''Harkl'' at length said another one.
"There it is again!"
Every one listened. Now halloo was
heard family through the thick gloom
seward One of the fishermen shouted,
and a reply was quickly caught in the lull
of the tempest A few minutes of breath
less suspense followed, during which every
eye was strained to the utmost.
"There it is-there it ISL at length cried
one. 'tSee-just rising on yonder wavel'
81 see itI' shouted another.
"Here they come. Huzzal A miracle, q
miraclei' "Ah, how CALAMITY she breasts
the surgel' were the EXPLANATIONS that
followed from the crowd.
All rushed to the edge of the surf. But
now the fear arose that the boat would
swamp in the breakers, and many a heart
trembled as she rose and fell frightfully on
the surge, showers of spray flying over her,
and the water continually pouring into her
sides. The crowd watched her struggles
with silent awe.
A few moments removed all doubt and
saw the hardy crew and their lovely freight
safely landed on the beach. The Iniser had
started from his seat at the first intima-
ton of the approaching boat and stood
tremblingly gazing at her as she buffeted
the waves, and no sooner did she touch the
grGund than he rushed into the retiring
stef, and, clasping his daughter frantically,
hung around her so that the fishermen
were forced to carry them both to dry Land.
There they would have separated the two
for moment, but when they spoke to the
old man they found he was lifeless. The
emotion of the last two hours had been too
much for his enfeebled frame and he had
died in the revulsion from despair to joy.
The good folks of that seaport town can
yet tell you how, after the accustomed pc
Rod of mourning had passed. the miser' s
daughter gave her hand to Harry Martin,
who received her with fortune the ex-
tent of which even the most sanguine con-
fessed to be beyond their expectations.
/ TS11r tbic bo 1oac+ mort Of bo