Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-09-24

she dld not see that the man s race
was tense with fear; that his lips were
white nor that his eyes were fixed be
yond her where a gray black fin cut
the water,
She did not see the ugly fin of the
shark either.
How the thunder of waves roared In
her ears-how drowsy she felt!
She was sinking-sinking- She
could not even muster cry for help,
though help was near. Edith closed
her eyes against wind and waves and
staring blue sky.
Strong arms grasped her and pulled
her up-up out of an abyss of water
into the blessed sunshine.
Edith opened her eyes and looked
into the dark ones Of her rescuer. Then
his gaze was diverted and she saw the
pupils contract and the black brows
bend. His breath came heavily.
"Can you support yourselfT he
shouted close to her ear and for answer
she slipped from his embrace and took
the end of the leather belt which en-
circled his waist. Hold on for dear
life, there's a shark around here"
Sudden horror blinded her vision for
an instant. Then she saw for the first
time that ugly gray fin and the cruel
jaws Of the monster. The man had
brought long ugly knife from some
where and he lunged forward to meet
the sea brute.
Then the waters were thrashed into
fury-a red fury Of blood as the shark
drove down, down into the depths to
hide his mortal wounds until death
should send him again to the surface.
A boat load Of men had reached them
the lifeboat from the station beyond
the red bathhouse. They pulled In
Edith and her heroic rescuer and re-
turned to the beach, telling In low
tones how sharks always appeared in
shore when the sea was high at Sea-
haven.
Marty Dupree met them at the wa
ter's edge and insisted on carrying
Edith's unconscious form up to the
Wayne's cottage.
"Tll see you later, Montford," he
nodded at the man who had saved the
girls life at the risk of his own.
MontfOrd made no reply but lent
shoulder as the life guards ran the
boat upon the sand. Then he disap-
peared with them toward the station.
Edith Wayne was not permitted to
come down stairs until the second day
after her adventure in the surf. Her
mother, who was ambitious and who
saw in Marty Duprees millions a gold.
en- life Of welded bliss for her child,
prattled ceaselessly Of Martyrs anxiety
concerning her welfare; she told and
retold how Marty had warned Edith
not to go into the water and when she
had disobeyed he had called a life
guard to go after her.
$50 1t was one of the guards who
saved my life?" asked Edith dreamily.
Il am very glad"
"You should thank Marty" reproved
Mrs. Wayne.
81 prefer to thank the man who did
the work, not the one who sent a sub.
stitute," retorted Edith.
Nonsense. You forget that Marty
Martyrs a-a'-- Mrs. Wayne cast
about her to find an excuse for her ia
vorite.
81 forgot that he was a coward"
finished Edith Mother, will you
please send Ellen in to me? l believe
| shall walk over to the station and
thank my life guard"
"Marty will take you," protested
Mrs. Wayne.
81 will go alone" said Edith.
Now, the sea was very peaceful un-
der the late afternoon sunshine. Edith
drew in deep breaths of the invigOrat.
ing salt air. 1t was good to be alive; it
was good to almost lose ones life and
then regain it through the valor of
man who looked like a Greek god
Edith blushed hotly.
In the distance was the life saving
station. There would be a group of
neil around a table playing cards per.
haps or telling stories, waiting for a
human call for help.
She began to wish that her life guard
might be out on the beach; then she
saw him sitting on an overturned boat,
his gaze fixed far out at sea.
Good afternoon" said Edith timid
ly, and he turned his head with a start.
To, t,,ct !,
very giant of man, his dark eyes
eagerly searching her face as If in that
brief period when he had rescued her
from watery grave he had discovered
something desirable in her charming
features and was now trying to find II
again.
81 am glad you are quite we'll again."
he said in deep voice that thrilled
her. But you must never go into the
water at Seahaven when the waves run
high"
mo; l won't" said Edith meekly.
THAT Is why the station is estab-
nshed heie," he went on, leading the
way to the boat and finding a seat for
her. ITS a tricky bit of water here
hbouts'
"You belong to the life saving crew."
asked Edith
He hesitated. Not exactly; I've in
vented new lifeboat and I've been
down here trying it out. spend lot
of time with the boys at the station.
a fine lot of fellows they are, too"
"Mr Dupree said you were one of the
guards" blushed Edith, annoyed at