The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1903-03-13

swamped by torrents of water. be-
fore Hugh could reach out to seize
the boat, as he, .Tpse from his sud-
.den plunge in the raging current,
the sliff was already far out of reach.
Whether it's owner was clinging to
lit OF. not Hugh could not make out.
Far away the lights of the great
tramp ship shone in the mist, and
| cleaned in the, blaclness of night.
A man may be a good swimmer,
and yet hampered by thick overcoat
well buttoned up and thick walking
Fshoes, when swept along in the fierce
current of the Mississippi, his fate is
practically sealed.
Swimming desperately, Hugh had
distinct mental vision of beautiful
woman waiting for him by a brightly
burning fire. He saw in the storm
and darkness the CLINT of the light
on her hair and jewels and the hand
some surroundings he knew SO well.
He saw her proud, sweet smile, Of
greeting and a light in her eyes, for
which he worshipped her.
Hugh groaned and fought on,
knowing well the battle was all but
lost.
A dark object came rushing by,
ond with a desperate effort he seized
and chung to it. 1t was an uprooted
tree being whirled down to the gulf
| by the current.
| Delphine was restless and anxious.
| The soughing of the wind and water
in the willows, the beat of the rain
and storm on the roof of their soli-
tary little house, the monotonous
beat of the boat on the steps as it
rocked on the wind-tossed undula-
tons Of the currents made by the
batture seems strangely lonely this
black December night.
Old Marie sat by the fire and
crooned her cantiques, and neither
thought of going to bed. There
i was faint but reiterated call, and
running to the door Delphine opened
it and looked out, listening intently.
''Some one is in distress, Marie, out
there. Look!" The cry was re-
peated. Snatching up her water
proof, .Delphine slipped out, and in
spite of old Marie's wailing remon-
STRANGE united the boat, stepped
| lightly into it, and picking up an oar,
began to scull out in the current
with the skill and strength of a Nor
man fisherwoman's daughter, telling
Marie she would not go far.
/ 1t was not long when returning she
| sprang out, fastened the boat and led
tall, thoroughly drenched and ex-
hausted young man into the bright
little room where Marie crouched by
the fire wailing and lamenting.
Gallons, Marie. You see was
right. 1 saved him." she said, bright
| ly, forcing Hugh to sit down and
| drink from Jean-Pierre's silver flask.
Slowly Hugh revived from the
| deadly exhaustion his long buffeting
| by the waves and winds had oc-
casioned. 1t was very late. When
sufficiently recovered, he stood hold
ing DePs hands before leaving.
You are an angel. The bravest
woman in the world. You saved my
| life, and I have no words to thank
you. / was all but spent when your
boat came up" Hugh said, wondering
at the fine beauty of this girl, who
lived in so strange fashion on the
batture. The door closed and he
was gone. But to Delphine that tall.
handsome stranger continued to be q
constant presence.
No, Del never forgot him.
| Old Marie fy1.umb1ed
| "Oui, oui. Save man from drown
ing, and he will do you harm. Wicked
harm. Everybody in Normandie
knows that"
The handsome gift Hugh sent the
| next day was returned. But Del
| kept the note which expressed I'M
| dying gratitude.
Two days later Hugh and his
| fiancee, in the handsome drawing
room discussed the wonderful in
mate of the house on the batture.
ct was splendid, courageous
| thing to do; the storm was terrific"
| Hugh said.
"Is-she-goodlooking? queried
Dorothy, slowly.
| Beautiful" Hugh answered, and
Dorothy would have moved her fair
head from it's resting place, only
Hugh pressed it back with laughing
| tenderness.
'They always do you deadly
harm-those you save from drown
ing" Old Marie reiterated.-New Or
leans Times-Democrat.