Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-08-24

ter Ruth and 4 were enjoying the sea
air, and 1 especially was enjoying the
sea water. My aunt had charge Of US
girls and considered herself RESPONSE
BILE for us. She used to sit on,the beach
watching us
was wading one day In water up
to my waist. I wore little gold
cross about my neck and had lost it.
While looking for i'll could have seen
1t On the bottom-I went down into
deep water.
had been swimming a good deal
and was tired. They say that swim
ming is the hardest exercise one can
take At any rate. in trying to swim
back to shallow water | found that I
didn't move at ALL l got frightened,
and this made matters worse The
tide was settling down TO the south
and was moving me with it-nDt far.
but proximity makes little difference
when one is powerless. called 10 my
aunt, but she did not hear me OF was
not aware of my condition, l,r she
made no move TO help or call on any
one to help me.
What an awful thing lit is to be in
danger of drowning andasee some one
looking at you. thinking you are
enjoying yourself!
But there was one of more expe-
rience I'm such matters who did see
me. Near by was a pier extending
out into the ocean, and on that pier
vas a man. He was standing over
deep water some twenty feet above
the surface He was in shirt waist
costume. | saw him jump feet fore
most and swim for me. l went down
before he reached me- but only for q
moment l felt his hand under my
arm We rose TO the surface. and Il
few strokes carried usIto shallow wa
ter
One would suppose thatmy first feel
ings would be gratitude 10 the man
who had helped me. Siugularly enough,
what ! thought about was my lost
cross, little gold trinket not worth
So. As soon as l got my breath l said;
"Oh, my crossl / fear / shall never
see It again"
your cross2'
Eyes. l droppeds1t near here. was
looking for 1t when l stepped beyond
my depth"
He cast his eye about him and, sud
denly thrusting his hand down for
an object clustering in the sunlight
picked up my cross and handed it to
me,
1t was impossible for me, dressed as
the man was, 10 tell to what class he
belonged. He might be a boatman OF
a fisherman or follow any calling per-
tanning to the water lie certainly
swan Ike duck l hesitated a mo
ment about Offering him money for
having helped me out Of deep water,
but finally as we walked up on to the
beach | said. IF you win call at the
Arlington hotel ! shall have something
for you"
AT what hour?'" he asked.
"Well, say directly after luncheon.~
He took off his hat to me and walked
away. doubtless To; get on dry clothes.
After luncheon went to my room
for rest. which Ilgreatly needed. ]
was falling into a dsnze when waiter
raped at the door and said that a
man was below who,said / had asked
him to call went to my trunk,
where l kept my money, took out
ten dollar bill and told the waiter to
give it to the man below The waiter
went downstairs, but soon returned
with the bill
He says il isn't enough uiss."
/ was rather taken aback; but, going
again to my trunk. l got out another
ten dollar bin and sent it with the
first But the waiter came back, as be
fore, with the message, mot enough"
] kept sending additional bills until l
had sent $50, but they all came back
with the same message. At last told
the waiter to ask the man what would
satisfy him. The reply came back:
THE little gold cross.
My surprise at this was greater than
before. The man had declined $50
and asked for a gold cross which. as l
have said. was not worth s.. I had
no especial attachment 20 the trinket.
SO l handed ii to the waiter and told
him TO give it To the man below
] may have been stupid about it. but
couldn't understand the matter at
all Why man who would take n re-
ward for saving life should decline
a substantial one for a girls ornament
couldn't imagine But l was very
tired and went to sleep thinking about
It.
Well l didn't see the man Gny more
on the beach. nor anywhere else for
that matter. One evening ,.e went
over to the Bellevue for the dance
there. One Of the girls said that
yachting party Of young men were to
be there, and we M got our prettiesr
costumes. When we reached the Belle
vue the hop was In fun swing. hut
the yachtSmen had not appeared
Presently they came in
We'll, declare" exclaimed, turn.
ing red rs beet on seeing one Of them
there. IF that isn't the man who took
my cross as a reward for saving me"
That" said a lady standing near.
is the yachts owner he's triple mil
iiOnaire."
lie law me and came right up TO
me tried 10 Slii away. for NV
checks were daming. but he was too
spry for me. Holdiue out my cross.
he said.
Il won't keep It any .c'.1cr as re.