The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-08-18
SAVED BY A convict,

~, Mrs Rowland wife OF Colonel
Howland, quartered with his regiment
near Port Jackson, Australia. where
she was going to Join him, aud her
little daughter Grace, beautiful child
Of six years.
As Mrs. Rowland was assisted up
the gangplank she noticed Mark Mold
and shuddered.
"You need not be afraid, ma'am,"
said the captain. THE criminals viii
be kept in the hold chained. They can
do you ~ harm"
"Can you not send them away from
heref ! wish you would"
n regret that cannot as have
agreed to take them"
AS day after day passed the bright
little cherub Grace spread light and
Joy throughout the vessel
Soon she noticed on deck the con.
Wet, Mark Mold, who, having been
taken 81 In the confined air below. had
been relieved Of his chains and led up
10 breathe the fresh air. pleased
look crossed bis haggard face as be IN.
hailed the pure breeze and looked out
on the broad, blue. rolling ocean.
Wont you have some? Here, take
II. You may have It all, fell a child.
ish voice on his ear, aud. looking down.
be saw Grace at his knee holding up
her cake.
He seemed about 10 put his hand on
her head when Mrs Rowland gently
but quickly drew the child away
The man showed no emotion at this
action Of the lady.
You must never SO near that bad
man again, said Mrs. Rowland.
just as she spoke heavy squall
struck the ship. hurting Der down and
almost on her beam ends and driving
her through the water with everything
humming.
Suddenly there was 4 wild shrek
from Mrs. Howland as little Grace,
who had attempted to run into the
cabin. was literally blown to leeward
into the sea.
"My childi o God, save my childw
screamed the distracted mother, whose
voice. however. was nearly drowned
by the booming thunder Of wind and
ocean, the rafting Of canvas. the Stat
ting Of sheets and ropes and the swash-
ing. kissing noise OF the sweeping
spray.
The sailors looked with appalled,
faces on the form Of Grace as she was
borne along by the merciless waves.
Not one Of them dared to venture over
board 10 that tempest, and. as TO low
erlng q boat. It was simply impossible,
as no boat could live Ia such a storm.
save her! Wili no one save my
chnd?7 screamed Mrs. Rowland, con
fronting the seamen with clasped
hands and frenzied, beseeching eyes.
They looked at each other, and not
one moved. for all felt that certain
death awaited the man who should
plunge into that wrathful ocean, bat
Mark Mold plunged overheard. and
the mother chung to a backstay, eager
" watching for bis temperance; but
seeing nothing Of him, she bowed her
head on the rail- moaning and raving
like maniac.
Still ragged the storm and on tore the
ship farther and farther from the
place where the man and child had
gone overheard. The seamen exehang-
ca ominous glances and shook their
heads
c,nn tt,o sa,ap sv.e,4 4ar axray "a
leeward. the ship righted and the sun
cleaned from clear sky upon
clearing sea.
From the captain, who. having now
brought his ship 10, with main top
sail aback, had run aloft, wild cry
went ringing to the heavens. sending
an electric thrill Of jog to the hearts
Of all on deck
II see something two miles of the
lee quarter God grant it be the man
and chiIdm
His boat was soon down with good
oarsmen in 1t, with Mrs Rowland, fun
OF wild, anxious hope. IN the stern
sheets. Nearer to that distant speck
drew the boat.
There be isF cried the watchfrl
captain at last Il thlnk-T believe
but am not certain = he yes, yes,
thank God-hooray, hooray--he has the
childp'
Yes. there was the convict IN the
water holding up the child that the
mother might see 1t,
Such scream Of joy as burst from
that mothers lips it would have done
you good to hear
A few minutes later Grace nestled
on her bosom, weak and faint, but
showing signs Of rapid recovery. as
the happy woman strained her to her
breast, showering kiss after kiss upon
her face.
Almost exhausted to unconscious
ness, Mark Mold lay In the bottom OF
the boat scarcely hearing the mother,
hardly feeling the pressure Of her Hips
upon his hands, when at length she
turned to him, warmly expressing her
gratitude.
on arriving At Fort jackson Mrs
Rowland related 10 her husband. the
colonel, the gallant conduct Of Mark /
Mold. who thereafter was constantly
befriended during his hard prison life
by the grateful officer
This kind treatment, the first be had /
ever received from human being
since he became an outlaw, had sof- !
tening effect on Marks character, and
he conducted himself SO we'll that the /
colonel at length succeeded in obtain
inc for him q communication 81 hfs non. |