The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1897-09-10
die. Someone surely would go down

Who shoul1 1t be?
TON! Tom Marshall! Tom will
go!" cried several voices. "Where is
TOm?"
But Tom, after one look, drew back,
pale and trembling.
II couldn't" he said. mo man
could. and live to return"
"You told Jessie you'd go," cried
Johns cousin, M0llie Freeman,
through her sObs.
II knew she didn't mean It," said
Tom, flushing iery red. II can't 20.
l dare not"
"Stand back there" cried a firm
voice, as Win Enderley stepped to the
edge Of the cliff. I'm going down."
"Not you!" exclaimed Jessie, who
stood close beside him. "YOu know
you cannot!"
Stand back, l say" was Wills an.
swer, SO sternly given that Jessie
shrank back, utterly abashed. With.
out even giving her a glance, Will
threw of his coat and bis shoes. The
others, recognizing the master.spirit,
watched his motions In silence.
Bring the rope from the swing
here, quick" he ordered. And, while
strong youths flew to his bidding, he
threw himself fiat upon the ground,
reached his head over the gorge, and
shouted, cheerily:
"HOld on there, John! III be with
you in a minute"
Hurry! / can't hold on much long.
er," came up the faint answer.
"Aye aye! I'm coming" shouted
viii. He sprang to his feet as the
rope was brought up, and knotting
one.half the long cord firmly about
his waist, had the center passed round
a stout young tree near the brink of
the cliff, and taking the loose end in
his hand, lowered himself over the
edge. Obeying his rapid orders, four
strong fellows let him down the face
Of the precipicc, until he could reach
poor John. Then he shouted "IOldm
to those above.
There was u moment OF deathly
stiffness. Those who dared, looked
over the edge Of the cliff, watching
the scene below, where Will was rap
idly knotting the rope about the help.
less form Of poor John. Those who
dared not, stood back with pale lips
and clasped hands, waiting breath.
lessly for the shout from the gorge.
Ready! pull" came at last.
They pulled at the word. Slowly,
cautiously, lest the sharp rocks should
cut the frail rope, and the figure they
were lifting be dashed to pieces far,
far down the abyss, they pulled, until
at last willing hands reached out to
lift the fainting John, and he was
laid safely upon the ground with only
u disl0cated shoulder.
But his brave rcscuer yet dangled in
the chasm below, and, while some
brought water to restore John to con.
scienceness, the rest gave themselves
up, with bated breath, to the task OF
drawing Will up. He was much
heavier than John, and II the rope
should break, what then? Carefully,
gently, yet firmly, they drew In the
CORD, hand over hand, until he could
grasp the edge Of the rock. Then,
with garments torn, bruised and
bleeding from the sharp faces Of the
stones, he was dragged in and laid
scnseless and exhausted beside John.
At this moment q little figure in
blue came flying up. 1t was jessie
knecling by his side, she caught his
bruised hands, and bathing them
with flowing tears, sobbed out pit.
eOusly:
"Oh, VIII, Will, speak to me. For.
give me! Oh, forgive poor foolish
Jessie, my dear, brave viii.
There seemed to be a spell In the
fearful words, more potent than the
cold water with which the Others had
dashed his brow. For presently Will
opened his eyes, looked up into the
sweet anguishcd face bending over
him, and said:
kiss me, Jcssic?"
And Jessie stopped before them all
and laid her soft lips to his.
But she did not care now. She had
found her hero, and all the love and
gratitude she could shower upon him
would hardly make amends for the
taunts she had hurled at him earlier
in the day.
Tom skunk away. There was NJ
chance for him now, he knew. Jessie
would never be his, and Fern Gler
must ever remain q bitter memory IL
his mind.
Jessie blamed herself for the nearl!
fatal occurrence. II was In leaning
over to look at the flower which hat
been the cause OF the quarrel tina
John Freeman fell, and she thought !
Incumbent upon her to show boil
John and Will every attention unit
they we're fully recovered, to whicl
they certainly had no objections. B
the time he was quite we'll, VIII ha
won from Jessie a promise to take hir
for life. She had found her hero.
An exchange aptly says. 18th