The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-08-28

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Three days before the expiration OF
their leave of absence Sam White pro-
posed 10 take them up the shore to
point from which they could get good
view of the New York yacht regatta.
which was TO have race.
Alick Freeman. still declaring he
wanted 10 see nothing that might re-
mind him of the world he had left un-
Ill he returned 10 il, decided TO remain
back
Alex did not long enjoy the part OF
hermit which he volunteered TO play. |
lie strolled along the shore with ms
fishing pole on his shoulder ana cast
many an anxious glance in the diree-
ton where he had often seen the young
ladies. but they did not gladden. his
sight. No doubt they had gone OF TO
look at the regatta.
About three o'clock in the afternoon
AlicL Freeman put on his bathing dress
and went down 10 the beach. lie was
good swimmer, though until this sum
mer all his practice had been in tide
less, fresh-water lakes or streams
He boldly plunged through the rim OF
surf and swan out for hundred yards,
rising and falling on the swells that
rolled in and broke on the white shingle.
'I'll lie on my back and let the waves
wash me in" Suiting the action to the
though, Alick threw himself on his
back--ae could float without moving
a muScle-and, closing his eyes, he was
Il rocked by the swells, which he imagined
were bearing him nearer and nearer
10 the shore.
Five, ten, fifteen minutes passed, and,
wondering why he was not thrown
among the breakers, as he expected,
Alick Freeman turned over on his face
and rubbed the water from his eyes.
Instead of being near the shore he
was half mile out, and the tide, on
which he had not counted, was bearing
him rapidly to the sea.
He took in the situation in an instant,
and, though realizing the danger, he did
not lose his presence of mind. His safety
depended on his GOODNESS.
lie struck out for the shore, half
throwing himself from the water by
his powerful strokes, but all in vain.
The tide still dragged him out farther
and farther toward the foaming bar,
y on whose white crest tossed the black
buoy.
lie took Off his wide-brimmed straw
I bathing hat and waved il in the hope
o that some one might see him; then, anN-
I ious to reserve his strength, he again
threw himself on his back and drifted
n with the tide i'm the line OF the buoy
T I'll / can reach that" he thought,
can cling TO the chains till help comes
q If il ever does"
? Before entering the line of Breaker
i. that marked the bar. he again waved
n his hat, then threw IL away.
k He reached the buoy, but the chaini
n that kept IL anchored were Shiny anC
y covered with seaweed, yet he so PLACED
% his body across the chains as 10 keel
n from drifting farther 10 sea, and Their
h he hung for what seemed an age.
he The sun was setting, and he was los
ing all heart as well as all strength
re when he heard "A shrill voice above tn
i, thunder OF the breakers.
sc lie tried 20 reply.
The next instant boat with singl
)" occupant girl-at the oars, shot pas
a him and turned toward the buoy.
he "Where are you?" she shouted.
h "Here! Here!"
Alick let 90 his hold, and, with ne
OF strength, made for the boat.
lir The young heroine caught him an
ks helped him on board, and the momeI
N he was safe he tainted.
re When he came to he was back on II
L q, 4
n, who had come up, were chatting hi
re, with the aid of a gentleman who
Alcl recognized as Julia Fletcher
NY father.
2" "Take him up to the house." said NJ
-ht Fletcher "and then go to your cabin Il
az his clothes Poor fellow, he had a hal
tussle for his life!"
am But the heroine? Well, as the fat
les would have IL. Mr.. Fletcher, his wi
YER and his niece, Dora Weldon, had gol
ne of 90 see the regatta, and Julia. actin
under a within, as the others suppose
rs. remained at home. She saw the swii
oes mer i'm distress, and interpreted his 81
)ut nails. though she knew not at the til
ted who he was. She ran to the inlet, 3
n boat and boldly started out with [
en- result already shown.
We Next day Alick was himself, and
nee sent word TO the bank about his nc
ich dent. the result being that he and @
ich per had an extension OF another wee
i'm How the time was spent we need .
old say. Alick owed II to his fair preser'
ing TO become her servant, and so he "
Z. with her nearly all the time, stroll
hat on the sandy roads and salt-marshy
lrs ways.
sea "Never had such pleasant SUNNI
nth in my life as at Whites Inlet" -
p. AliclS 10 friend some years after. Il
,sh- so nice and quiet there. Casper AM
to were unmarried and clerks then, but
lies roughed IL and enjoyed IL, Ell, Casper
and "Wc met our wives, or rather, we