Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-08-03

rushed past them down to where the
boats were moored, and, Selling one OF
them, called for help to launch il. It
was Con Heffernan, and none stood in
his way, since who had better right
to save Phil Martin than he?
Thrice the boat was driven back
again to shore by those waves. but at
last, with a mighty effort, she was
launched, and Con sat in her, holding
the oars and with smile on his lips.
Never had Con rowed as he did now.
for. though the sea and storm were
against him, he rowed for his honor
and to Danish the curse.
Then came another binding gust of
spray, and for several minutes their
eyes could see nothing. When the
mist cleared away again groan burst
from them, for now but one boat lived
in the sea. Then suddenly the saw
Con rise and leap from his boat into
the water. A wall came from the lips
Of the women, but Eileen cried out
that Con Heffernan would swim to
shore and bring Phil Martin. Hear
IL 14OA, ShC NO11CA Sic" QuISJ dSdlu,
for she spoke as though she knew
what would happen.
Then again cry of joy and wonder
broke out, for the black head of Con
and the yellow head Of Phil were seen
together for moment as they rose
upon the wave.
Now the fishermen could no longer
restrain themselves, but binding a rope
about them went into the water. the
bravest and strongest going first, so
that they might help to draw the
swimmer to land.
But as they came nearer it was seen
that only the dark head was erect
amid the foam and that the fair head
dropped by its side. The line of men
in the water stretched out to help
him, but the waves carried him from
the eager grasp of the foremost. A lit
tie further down the bay were rocks
sharp and cruel, and thither they were
drifting.
None knew the bay better than
Eileen, and she saw the danger
Swifter than a fawn she sprang down
the beach, clambering over a ridge of
rock which projected into the sea and
calling to the others to follow.
Her voice seemed to reach the swim
mer, for with last effort he swan to
the rocks. The girl threw herself on
her face and stretched out her arms,
clutching, and in her hands gripped
the wet hair of Phil Martin. In a mo-
ment willing hands aided her and
drew out Of the water the lifeless form
Of Martin. Then, exhausted, Con fell
back into the seething water, a sport
of the waves, which dashed him upon
the rocks and bore him away again
like lifeless thing, for the strength
had gone out of him.
Eileen could bear the sight no lon
ger. Hastily casting the shoes from
her feet, before anyone was aware of
her intention, she plunged into the sea
and caught Con as he was being borne
away. Then, exerting all her strength,
she swan to the rocks again. Three
times the waves dashed her against
the rocks and carried her back ere she
COu4b asp CuS 1OpS IudL was IuloW Ii
toher. At last it fell near her, and
Selling it in her strong white teeth,
she was drawn upon the rocks and out
Of the reach Of the waves, still holding
Con fast with her right hand. A shout
Of joy and triumph went up from the
fishermen as she was carried over the
rocks and across the bay, for Eileen
had dared more than the bravest
among them.
But their gladness was soon stilled
in sorrow, for Martin was dead, and
Con as near to death as a living man
could well be. So they bore them to
the nearest cabin and laid them each
upon bed, doing what they knew to
bring back life and strength But
Martin waG beyond all hope. His face
was fair and calm, as it ever had been,
and no bruise was upon his body, only
the scar upon his brow
But Con was sorely bruised by the
rocks and his limbs cut and bleeding,
and for long it seemed that death was
stronger than the life in him till he
began to mend, but his great strength
never came back to him, for that he
had left in the sea when he had strug
gled to bring Martin to land.
When the storm had passed, Cons
boat was found unframed upon the
beach, but none ever saw again the
boat with the white line.
So Con Heffernan freed himself from
the curse that was upon him, and Phil
Martin slept in the churchyard by the
sea, and in the hearts of the fishermen
of Malbay.-New York Times.