The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-07-12

- ~ nio lips. ne hung one nand
up wildly in the air. 'Foundv' he
shouted, and rushed out to the beach
before any of the men present could
stop him.
Mrs. Crawford put her arms round
Clara and held her UP. She had not
made movement; she had not spoken
a word. The sight of Wardours face
had petrified her.
The minutes passed, and there rose
a sudden burst of cheering from the
sailors on the beach, near the spot
where the fishermen's boats were
drawn up. Every man left his work.
Every man waved his cap in the air.
Inc passengers, near at hand, caught
the infection of enthusiasm, and
joined the crew. A moment more. and
Richard Wardour appeared again in
the doorway, carrying man in his
arms. He staggered, breathless with
the effort that he was making, to the
place where Clara stood, held up in
Mrs. Crayfords arms.
Saved, Clarav' he cried. saved for
your
He released the man, and placed him
in Clara's arms. Frank! Footsore and
weary, but living! Saved-saved for
herl Nov, Clara" cried Mrs. Cray
ford, (which of us is right? I, who
believed in the mercy of Color you,
who believed in dream?"
She never answered.; she chung to
Frank in speeches. ecstasy. She
never even looked at the man who had
preserved HMM the first absorbing
joy of seeing her lover alive. Step by
step, slower and slower, Richard
Wardour drew back and left .nem by
themselves.
II may rest now," he said family.
II may sleep at last. The task is done.
The struggle is over"
His last reserves of strength had
been given to Frank. He stopped, he
staggered, his hands wavered fee
bly, in search of support. But for
one faithful friend he would have
fallen. Crawford caught him. Cray
ford laid his old comrade gent
ly on some sails strewed in a corner
and pillowed Wardour's weary head
on his own breast The tears streamed
over his face. Richard! Dear Rich
ard" he said. tRemember-an for
give me-"
Richard neither needed nor heard
him. His dim eyes still looked across
the room at Clara and Frank.
IT have made her happyp' he muir
INJURED. "I may lay down my weary
head now on the mother earth that
bushes all her children to rest at last.
Sink, neart! sink, sink to resti Oh,
look at them!' he said to Crawford,
with burst of grief. "They have for
gotten me already"
1t was true! The interest was all
with the two lovers. Frank was
young, and handsome, and popular.
Officers, passengers, and sailors, they
all crowded round Frank. They all
forgot the martyred man who had
saved him-the man who was dying in
Crayford's arms.
Crawford tried once more to attract
his attention-to win his recognition
while there was yet time.
Richard, speak to me! Speak to
your old friend!
He looked round; he vacantly repeat
ed Crayfords last word.
"Friend?" he said. ''My eyes are
dim. friend; my mind is dull. l have
lost all memories but the memory OF
her. Dead thoughts-all dead thoughts
but that one! And yet you look at
me kindly! Why has your face gone
down with the wreck Of all the rest?"
He paused. His face changed; his
thoughts drifted back from present to
past. He looked at Crawford vacantly;
lost in the terrible remembrances'tha
were rising in him, as the shadowstrise
with the coming night.
clark We, friendw he whispered.
'sNever let Frank know it. There was
a time when the fiend within me hum
gered for his life. / had my hands
on the boat. I heard the voice of the
Tempter speaking to me: Launch 1T,
and leave him to diev waited, with
nv hands on the boat and my eyes
on the place where he slept. Leave
him! leave him.! the Voice whispered.
Love himY the lads voice answered,
moaning and murmuring in his sleep.
Love him, Clara, for helping me! 1,
heard the morning wind come up in the
silence over the great deep. Far ands
near. I heard the groaning of the float