Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1898-11-24

saw the dark someting on the sur
face Of the water, sink.
The mother uttered cry and was
borne, half-fainting, into the nearest
cabin. Fannie's face was white and
strained, but she said not word.
The dude stood near her as silent and
almost as white as she, Indeed, there
was no noise on board just then save
the sound of little Sues sobs.
The speck--it had become q speck--
rose again, but Spider was still at 0
distance. He was nearer now, but Il
had sunk once moro. Again 1t rose
II only he could get there In tinel But
what seemed to the watchers q waste
of waters separated him from thai
little floating frock.
The captain had his field glass out
now, and he silently passed it around.
Spider was nearing the child, but be
fore he could roach her she sunk TO,
the last time. Down he went, and
think that hardly o breath was drawl
until he rose without heri
10 Godl" walled Fannie.
l. The dude put his arm around her ol
she would have fallen.
"Don't leave her" shouted the cap
tain through his speaking trumpet,
Don't turn back! Get herl Get herr
But Spider was swimming for the
nearest point on shore.
With one accord the passengers-all
but the few who stayed with the
mother rushed from the boat which
was '.moored just there. Down the
bank Of the river they ran, till they
stood opposite the struggling swim
per. He was having hard fight tt
get ashore; evidently he was badly
spent They could understand then
v; why he gave ga 70. up p bis search Io W.,
himself as we'll as the child,
The passengers had felt angry with
him-especially those who had done
least-for turning back alone, but
when they realized his condition they
became anxious lest the swift current
should claim him. too.
Slowly he worked his way along uii.
til he neared the shore, then strong
hand laid hold Of him, for the dude
had waded out Up to his very hecl
and was bringing the exhausted swim
mef in. Two or three other men lait
hold when he got to shore and helpe(
drag him out Of the water--he was
powerless to help himself.
"What pity he he'd to turn back,
said one
Gle couldn't help It," said another
sthe poor chaps half dead himself. .
'Great heavens" shouted d stout
man; "he's got herl'
Sure enough, there, held between
his knees, with deathliko grip, was
q little figure. shredded in wet calico,
and long wet cir
You'd have fbs ght the people had
gone mad if yoa had heard them. The
dude was wo, king over Spidei a., az q
cheering and yelling as he worked;
Fannie was on her knees, and the twin
ran back and forth, from Spider to the
other twin, who was standing on her
head, while they slapped and pumped
her without mercy.
There was nothing equal to the en-
during quality Of those twins; you
couldn't kill one Of them. That day,
even before Spider came to himself,
Lou was on her feet again, walking
back to the boat, escorted by an i'm
mense bodyguard of rejoicing people.
The next thing on the programme
was TO reward Spider, As he wouldn't
touch o cent OF money, that was Diff
fcult matter. After some inquiry
Mrs. Trencher learned that, although
Of good family and well educated,
Spider was by nature and habit wan.
derer. She ahd her family were
about to go out to Colorado for trip,
and in lieu Of anything better offered
the man the chance Of going with
them. Somewhat to her surprise he
joyfully accepted, and ere long they
and he were under way. On their
return from the mountains he petit
toned to como with them, promising
to cook or do anything else that was
useful, and oil for q small wage If
only they would keep him with them.
aWhy, Spider" said Mrs. Trencher,
yOuuS uluh iiho JOu, cOAtt NAANt
educated for something better, ought
not to fill such a position"
eff didn't I'd be in worse one
it's in me to go down, not up. I've
led straighter life with you folks
than I ever knew before"
The upshot of it all was that for ten
years Spider was one of the family
an invaluable member, too-cook,
housekeeper, laundress, caterer, sec
retary, nurse-everything.
He had plenty to do just now, for
family wedding was on footr. Sue was
still scraggy, but Lou had blossomed
into lovely, roundabout, softly
tinted girl--and some one had discoy-
cred this las men willy and made love
to her, and she made love back, They
were to DO married tonight, and
Spider was getting ready for 1t all,
Fannie was helping Oh every side.
She was Mrs. Dude now, and was re-
markably fastidious about her dress,
as became one of that name.