The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-03-13
swnmned br torrents Of water. be.

Swamped by torrents of water. be-
fore Hugh could reach out to seize
the boat, as he rose from his sud-
den plunge in the raging current,
the skiff was already far out of reach.
Whether its wner was clinging TO
it or not Hugh could not make out.
Far away the lights of the great
tramp ship shone in the mist, and
cleaned in the b%lackness of night.
\ mar may be a good swimmer,
and yet hampered by a thick o%vercoat
well buttoned up and thick walking
shoes. when swept along in the fierce
current of the Mississippi, his fate is
practically sealed.
Swimming desperately, Hugh had
a distinct mental vision of a 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,
and 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 soil
tary little house, the monotonous
beat of the boat on the steps as it
rocked on the wind-tossed undula-
tions 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
was u faint but reiterated call, and
running to the door Delphine opened
it and looked out, listening intently.
Some n is in distress. Marie, out
there. Look" The cry was re-
peated. s%natching 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 fsherwoman's daughter, telling
Marie she would not go far.
1t was not long when returning she
sprang out. fastened the boat and led
a tall. thoroughly drenched and en-
hausted young man into the bright
little Don where Marie crouched by
the fire wailing and lamenting.
"Allcns, Marie. You see I was
right. I saved him." she said. bright
", forcing Hugh to sit down and
drink from Jean-Pierre's silver flask.
Slowly Hugh revived from the
deadly exhaustion his long buHetins
by h waves and winds had oc-
casioned. It was very late. When
sufficiently recovered. he stood hold
ing Del's hands before leaving.
You are an angel. The bravest
woman in the world. You saved NV
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 a fashion on the
batture. The door closed and he
was gone. But to Delphine that tall.
handsome
constant presence.
No. Del v forgot him.
Old Marie grumbled.
"Oui. oui. Save a 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 un-
dying gratitude.
Two days later Hugh and his
tiancee. in the handsome drawing
room discussed the wonderful in.
mate of the house OF the batture.
1t was a splendid,
thing to do; the storm was teriffc.r
Hugh said.
"Is-she-goodlooking?" eueried
Dorothy, slowly.
Beautiful" Hugh answered, and
Dorothy would have moved her fair
head from its resting-plaee, only
Hugh pressed it back with a laughing
tenderness.
They always do you a deadly
harm-those you ave from drown
ing Old Marie reiterated.-New Or
leans Tmes-Democrat.