The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-11
a PERILoUs RESCUE.

=
tempest like this It's hard lot-you've
got to bear. and pity your daughter, for
she was sweet angel. But the packet
will go to pieces in half an hour, and 30,
you Soc, 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 wi irling 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
q board, buried his face in his hands and
rocked his body to and fro, occasionally
psusing to listen to the guns or to gaze
seaward, and then resuming his position,
moaning continually.
Five minutes might have thus passed,
when 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 so9"
Eyes, good youth. And you have come to
rescue herp he exclaimed, starting up
with eager JOY But when he recognized
the speaker, he said in a tone of disap-
pointment: "It's Harry Martini Oh, sure
ly, young man, you have not come to tri-
umph over my distressP"
'tHeaven forbidp' was the feryent reply.
II 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: Will
you give me your daughter if succeed in
resouing herr"
There was momentary pause, and the
muscles of his face worked convulsively.
All pressed forward to hear his answer, for
the fury with which theold miser had pur-
sued his daughters lover and his declara.
ton that he would rather see her dead than
married to the young man were known to
every listener.
At length he gasped:
Eyes, yes. But 60 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 aaoat, 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 CALAMITY 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
success, and yet lingering in the faint hope
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 II 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 few kindred
spirits. who were discussing with him the
chances Of the young mans return.
ut is madness to attempt it," said the
fisherman. "But when found he would
Co. insisted that he should make his con-
ditions with the old man before he VEN
tured, for, you see, II 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 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 LANCER
seems something like the retribution Of
higher power as punishment for his con-
duct. But harkl Was that not halloo9"
Every eye was turned seward in the d.
reotion the fisherman had indicated that
he heard the hail. But nothing could be
seen except the white foam Of the breakers
In the foreground and the lowering clouds
behind forming q chaotic mass Of dark
ness Nor was any sound save that of the
roaring tempest borne to the ear.
"Hark |" 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,
md reply was quickly caught in the lull
If the tempest. A few minutes of breath
ess suspense followed, during which every
'ye was strained to the utmost
There 1t is-there it s!' at length cried
me. "See-just rising on yonder waye!"
II see it'll" shouted another.
Here they come. Huzzal A miracle, a
"Ah, how calamity she breasts
he surge!" were the EXPLANATIONS that
ollowed from the crowd.
All rushed to the edge of the surf. But
low the fear arose that the boat would
wamp in the breakers, and many heart
rembled as she rose and fell frightfully on
he surge, showers of spray flying over her,
nd the water continually pouring into her
ides The crowd watched her struggles
With silent awe.
A few moments removed all doubt and
aw the hardy crew and their lovely freight
afely landed on the beach, The miser had
tarted from his seat at the first intima-
lon of the approaching boat and stood
remblingly gazing at her as she buffeted
he waves and no sooner did she touch the
FOUND than he rushed into the retiring
M, and, clasping his daughter frantically,
ung around her so that the fishermen
'ere forced to carry them both to dry land.
here they would have separated the two
,r moment, but when they spoke to the '
ID man they found he was lifeless. The ,
motion Of tho last two hours had been too
luch for his enfeebled frame, and he had !
led in the revulsion from despair to joy. i
The good folks of that seaport town can
ct tell you how, after the accustomed pc. I
cd of mourning had passed, the miser's
,ughter gave her hand to Harry Martin,
no received her with fortune the ex- {
mt Of which even the most sanguine con-
ssed to be beyond their expectations. I
ut this was the least part Of the treasure
ought him by his wife, and in her vir-
les he had ample recompense for the long 1
ars of opposition on the part Of her par t
It.--New York News. '