The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-10-11
HIS DEVOTION.

uron IN punch, as III were, because III
takes too long to say Sue and Lou.
They were spoken of as the twins by
every one, and every one knew them.
Their personality was particularly ia
miliar to Fannie would be suitors, for
they were always upon the spot just at
a moment otherwise opportune for mat
rimonial proposals Fannie was not
marrying girl, and she used to say that
no one but herself realized how much
In the way of relief she owed to those
blessed twins The suitors also were
wont to bless the twins, but in some
what different spirit One Of these suit
ors was on the boat that very day, and
he had Fannie "cribbed and confined, 7"
as it were, in one corner Of a deserted
quarter Of the deck. The twins were
out Of range for once, and he thought
he was making good Roadway. But real
ly in her heart Fannie was despising
him for fop His immaculate clothes
came first, she thought; his viands
next, probably, and, lastly, with what
11bOl6 was l0lb VI LIS O11dAeAOSOAs
That particular day he walked up his
avenue Of approach undisturbed by
bark of dog or remark of twin. He was
nearer the delectable mountains than
ever before, he realized, and his heart
thumped madly against the irreproaoh-
able waistcoat as he opened his mouth
to ask the decisive question.
,et1..f l
pierced the sultry July air. Then a hur-
rying and scurrying Of feet was heard.
Instantly ray of knowledge flashed its
way into Fannie's brain. Zone of the
twins is overboardl'' she said to her.
self as she sped down the near stairs
and along the lower deck.
Just as she reached the bow of the
boat she saw little skirt drawn in by
the suction of the water between the
barge Ton which most of the excursion
lists were embarked) and the boat that
drew it. Another moment and the same
little skirt and a child's face, half hid
den in her long, wet hair, was borne by
the swift waters out and down the
river
Lou had 1allen OverDOaru
There was chaos for a time. Every
body was running to see. Some one
chung to the mother, who wanted to
leap after her child. Little Sue was
wailing and Fannie wringing her hands
and thinking how this would never
have happened had she not been engaged
by that hateful dude.
From the pilothouse two men leaned
and watched the child-the pilot and a
sort of long legged handy Andy, !"
known on board as Spider.
"Why don't you save her, SpiderP'
said the pilot. Jump in, man. What's
the use of your swimming prizes if you
can't save kid now and thenS''
1t hadn't occurred to Spider before,
but at the word of command he leaped
from the pilothouse down into the wa
ter and struck out after the dark spot
that was quite distant now.
"He's too late. He can't catch her, !"
said passenger.
ooh, get outl" said the captain.
''That cuss could overtake the boat that
started yesterday and beat her to New
| Orleans. p"
The man so disrespectfully alluded to
was well along on his way when the
crowd of passengers, who were straining
their eyes down the river, saw the dark
something on the surface 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 a speck-
rose again, but Spider was still at q
distance. He was nearer now, but it
had sunk once more. Again it rose-if
only he could get there in time But
what seemed to the watchers waste OF
waters separated him from that little
floating frock.
The captain had his feldglass out
now, and he silently passed it around.
Spider was nearing the child, but before
he could reach her she sunk for the last
time Down he went, and think that
hardly breath was drawn until he
rose-without her
80 God p walled Fannie.
The dude put his arm around her Oh
she would have fallen.
Don't leave herl'' shouted the cap
tain through his speaking trumpet
Don't turn back Get her Get her =
But Spider was swimming for the
nearest point ON shore.
With one accord the passengers-al
but the few who staid with the mothel
rushed from the boat, which wa
moored just there. Down the bank O
the river they ran till they stood oppo
site the struggling swimmer. He wa
having hard fight to get ashore. Evi
IDENTIFY he was badly spent. They coulC
understand then why he gave up hi
search. He was obliged to get to shor
or to abandon himself as we'll as tn
child.
The passengers had felt angry witt
him-especially those who had don
least-for turning back alone, but whel
they realized his condition they becam
anxious lest the swift current shout
claim him too.
Slowly he worked his way along IN
til he neared the shore; then stron
hand laid hold of him, for the dude ha
waded out up to his very neck and wa
bringing the exhausted swimmer II
Two or three other men laid hold whe
he got to shore and helped drag hir
ont of the water. He was powerless
help himself.
"What pity he had to turn back
said one
"He couldn't help it, )" said anothe
1.-THE poor chaps half dead himself. ="
Great heavensr' shouted a sto'
man. "Hes got herF"
Sure enough, there held between b
knees, with O deathlike grip, was a Ii
tie figure shrouded in wet calico ar
long wet hair.
You'd have thought the people h'
gone mad if you had heard them. II
dude was working over Spider al
cheering and yelling as he worke
Fannie was Oh her knees, and the CIV
ran back and forth, from Spider to e
other twin, who was standing on b
head, while they slapped and pump
her without mercy.
There was nothing equal to the
during quality of those twins
couldn't kill one of them. mat ga
even before Spider came to himself, L
was on her feet again, walking back
the boat, escorted by an immense boo
guard of rejoicing people
The next thing ON the program
was to reward Spider. AS he would
touch cent of money that was a oil