The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-28

| beyond the cliff and disappeared in its
dark, foamy depth. When he arose to
the surface he saw just before him
gigantic wave. but he had time to
breathe and before II reached him
he dived below its centre. 1t broke in
passionate fury upon the rocks, but
Jones was far beyond It, mighty
cheer from the men on shore reached
him, and he now began In good earr-
est to put his Pacific axp pa,ience into
| practice.
Drawing continually on the men for
more rope-whch they paid out with
deafening cheers-he net wave after
| wave in the same manner, diving un-
der them like an otter, and ge' ting
nearer the wreck with every wave,
really advancing, however, more below
the water than above 1t.
Suddenly the despairing men on
board heard a clear, hopeful voice:
Help at hand. captain Throw me
a buoy"
And in another minute or two Jones
was on her deck, and the cheers from
the little steamer were echoed by the
cheers of the crowd on land There
was not a moment TO be lost; she was
breaking up fast; but II took but a few
l
rope and draw it on board, and then
a second cable and the communication
| was complete.
There is lady here, sir" said the
captain, I'VE must rig chair for her;
she can never walk that dangerous
rope"
But we have not moment to waste,
or we may be lost. Is she very heavy?"
"A slight little thing; half a child,
sir"
Bring her here"
This was no time for ceremony;
without a word, save a few sentences
of direction and encouragement, he
took her under his left arm. and,
steadying himself by the upper cable,
walked on the lower with his burden
safely to shore. The crew rariily fol-
lowed, for in such moments Of eX-
tremity the soul masters the body and
all things become possible.
There was plenty of help waiting for
the half dead seamen; and the lady,
her father and the captain had been
put in the carriage of Braddon and
driven rapidly to his hospital hall.
Jones amid the confusion disappeared
he had picked up an oilskin cap and
coat, and when every one turned 10
thank their deliverer he was gone No
one knew him: the sailors said they
| believed him to be "one Of the m,li-
tary gents by his rigging" but the in
| dividuality of the hero mad troubled
no one until the danger was over. In
an hour the steamer was driven c. the
rocks and went to pieces, and it being
| now quite dark every one went home
The next day the hunting party re-
turned from Gwynne hall, the storm
| having compelled them to stop Ill
night, and at dinner that evening The
wreck and the hero of II were the
theme of every ones conversation.
Such plucky fellow" said Ensign
| Powell. Il wonder who he was?
Gwynne says he was a stranger, per-
haps one of the crowd staying al the
Abbey"
Perhaps" said Captain Marks, "it
was Jones"
"Oh, Jones would be too afraid Of his
mother"
Jones made little eatirical bow
and said pleasantly: perhaps it
was Powell" at which Powell laughed
and said, Not if I know it,"
In a week the event had been pref
~ well exhausted, especially as there
was to be a great dinner and ball at
Braddon, and all the officers had invi-
tations. The ball had a peculiar in
terest, for the young lady who had
been saved from the wreck would be
present. and rumors Of her riches and
beauty had been rife for several days.
1t was said the little steamer was her
fathers private yacht, and that he was
a man of rank and influence.
Jones said he should not go to the
dinner, as either he or Saville must
remain for the evening drill, and that
Saville loved a good dinner, while he
cared very little about it. Savile could
return in time to let him ride over
about 10 o'clock and see the dancing
Saville rather wondered why Jones
did not take his place all the evening,
and felt half injured at his default.
But Jones had a curiosity about the
girl he saved. To tell the truth, he
was nearer in love than he had ever
been with a woman, and he wished in
calm blood to see if she was as beau
tiful as his fancy had painted her dur
ing the few minutes that he had held
her high above the waves.
AS he passed, the squire remembered
that he had not been to dinner and
|
| and introduced his companion.
Miss Conyers."
Lieutenant Jones"
But no sooner did Miss Conyers hear
Lieutenant Jones' voice than she gave
a joyful cry and clapplng her hands
together. said:
II have found him! Papa papa! I
have found HIM"
Never was there such an interruption
to a ball. The company gathered i'm
| excited groups, and papa knew the
/ lieutenant's voice. and the captain
knew it, and poor Jones, unwilling
enough, had to acknowledge the deed
| and be made a hero Of.
1t was wonderful, after this night,
what change took place in Jones'
| quiet way. His books and boat seemed
to have lost their charm. and as for his
walks, they We're all in one direction,
and ended at Braddon hall. In about
a month Miss Conyers went away, and
then Jones began 10 haunt the post
man and to get pretty little letters,
which always seemed to take a great
deal Of answering.
Before the end of the winter he had
an invitation to Conyers to spend a
month, and a furlough being granted
he started off in great glee for Kent
Jones never returned to the Eighty
| fourth The months furlough was M
definitely heightened; in fact, he sold
| out and entered upon a diplomatic
| career under the care of Sir Thomas
| CCnyers.
Eighteen months after the wrecl,