The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-03-28

They have been successful, then, %
far. They have taken those five half
dead creatures into the blessed lifeboat.
Surely, II the rpscuers could 60 through
such sea in safety, they can return.
A blessed relief comes to her, so sharp
ly, so unpreparedly, that she almost gives
way beneath It. The good ship indeed,
Is gone! Where the black, indistinct mass
stood a minute since, now all Is bare
there Is but sea and sky, and the memory
of It'll But the hfeboat still lives.
Every onward dash Of the tempestuous
waves drives the lfeboat the more sure
ly into shelter, until at last it touches
ground. A hundred eager hands are
stretched out to prevent the returning
wave from carrying 1t backward, some Of
the men, more adventurous than the rest,
rush into the surglng tide up to their
waists and seize the boat and drag II for
cibly into safety.
Dysart, springing to land, helps out the
rescued men, now exhausted by fear and
exposure-one OF them, indeed, has faint
ed-but there are kindly arms open ia
receive them and kindly voices to bid
them welcome-and to praise the God OF
sea and land for their delivery from
death this night.
With a hurried wave of the hand he
turns abruptly away from the cheering
crowd and the dancing torchlights, and
makes his way through the heavy dark
ness toward the small pathway that viii
lead to the road above. Stumbling, un
certain, and feeling altogether exhausted
he nevertheless finds it, and puts out bill
hand to grope for the rock that he knows
stands at the right side of it, where thu
beach commences.
Good heavens, what Is this1 HI
starts violently, and then his fingers fast
en- with almost convulsive energy owe
the small cold hand that has been thrus
into his. A sharp little cry break
through the darkness, and then the col,
hand Is hurriedly withdrawn, and tw
arms are thrown round him, and cling t
him with passionate vehemence.
ut is you-youI And you are safe
Oh. Seaton! Oh, thank heaven. than
heayen"
Whose voice Is it? Not Vera's? Vera
and yet the clinging arms are warm, liy
ing, and genuine: the sobbing voice
real; small disheveled head Is very clos
to him--very! What has happened? Ha
he gone madf
He is ghastly pale, white as the deaf
from which he has but just now so nal
rowly escaped, and across his right ten
pie there is a slight streak Of blood, sti
wet. This adds to his pallor. Vera, SEE
ing It, shudders violently, and inYoluI
tarily, almost unconsciously, lifts he
hand. and presses her handkerchief I
the wound.
Speak says he, and now the wor
is a command. 1t rings sharply. Their
Is very anguish of doubt in his ton,
, and his eyes, burning into hers, are S
full Of desperate question, that they u
terly unnerve her.
The strain of the past terrible hour
has been too severe, and now she sink
beneath it. She bursts into tears.
"Oh, yes, yes, yesr' she cries, givin
him thus vaguely the answer he require
In a moment his arms are round he
crushing her against his heart. To hi
: those incoherent words are full Of swee
est meaning. Yes, she loves him. WI
, shall tell the joy this knowledge bring
him-joy that is almost pain?
Darling, darling" whispers he, softl
And then after little while, Il am tC
: happy. do not know what to say.
r cannot speak" And then again, MA
] kiss your
0 He does not wait for permission, bl
presses his lips to hers-dear lips, thi
+ kiss him back again, with honest, hear
J felt gladness.
s THE endA