Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-06-06

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previous year, and he had much to re-
/ late of an adventure that befell the
party Of which he was a member. He
told the story modestly enough. but It
had the invariable ending. A child
had fallen from one Of the rocks into
q deep, silent pool he, Pearson, had
plunged into the icy depths and restor-
ed the child to its mothers arms.
'4This Is the very spot" said Pearson,
pointing before him.
Daisy looked. She glimpsed the
dark blue water, still and icy. A glance
over her shoulder showed that the 9th
er members of the patty had gone on
to another grotto. Only her mother
and Hal Denison were near. Daisy
turned her head toward Pearson, and
her lips parted In dazzling smile.
At that moment her foot slipped, and
with little cry Of terror she caught
herself, stumbled and then plunged
down into the icy pool.
As she disappeared Ben Pearson
rushed frantically up and down the
brink Of the pool and roared for help.
Mrs. Howard swooned away, and
Hal Denison, tossing aside hat and
coat, poised on the edge Of the pool and
then dived down. When he came up
he brought the girl with him, dripping
wet and shivering with cold, but quite
conscious.
+ Hfps face was white and stern as
he disdained Pearson's hastily offered
assistance, and somehow he scrambled
upon the rocks and bore Daisy to
safety. -
His shouts brought the guide and
other members Of the party, and, hav-
ing administered restoratives and bor-
rowed a steamer rug from rheumatic
old gentleman, he wrapped Daisy in It
and, lifting her easily In his arms, bore
her to fisherman's hut on the shore.
Mrs. Howard, having been restored
to consciousness, followed on the arm
Of one of the men, and soon she was
assisting her daughter to dry her gar
ments before roaring fire In the fish
erman's cottage.
Daisy was very pale and silent and
Hal Denison was equally retcent.
Mrs. Howard, noticing that Hal was
dripping wet and shivering with cold,
insisted that they return to the tourist
steamer at once, 30 that the young
man might be put under the care Of the
ships doctor. As for Daisy, she ap-
peared in her normal health when she
was arrayed in the picturesque gala
attire Of the fisherman's daughter. AS
for Marta, the slim, dark eyed girl, she
wept with delight over the gold pieces
which Mrs. Howard had given her in
exchange for the garments and de-
clared that they would buy her wed
ding clothes.
Once on board the Celeste, Mrs. How
ard placed Hal In the care Of the doc
tor and was relieved that he would
suffer no more than a severe cold as
consequence Of his heroic deed.
As for Mr.. Ben Pearson, he had quite
disappeared from the view Of the How
ard party, and it was several days aft
erward that Mrs. Howard espied him
gloomily patrolling the deck alone.
Daisy was below In the library, read
ing to Hal Denisop.
Presently Ben Pearson approached
Mrs. Howard with unusual dimdence
In his manner.
II beg your pardon, Mrs. Howard"
he said quite humbly, "but would
like to make an explanation"
"Yesr asked Mrs. Howard coolly.
"About the other day at the grotto."
"Indeed?
II SUPPOSE you were quite surprised
that did not jump In and rescue Miss
Howard at once. You may have OBJ
served that I'm hard hit with Miss
Daisy. 1 think there's no one like her,
and I'd like to believe that she owed
her life to me. But He Redeemed
uncomfortably and looked over the
side at the swiftly rushing water.
"But" prompted Mrs. Howard
kindly.
"But, you see, can't swim stroker
he confessed.
"Oh-h-hr' It was DaisyS voice In
horrifed wonder. She had come up
just In time to hear his confession.
ut is true" he said doggedly.
'Then the eight lives you saved that
summer-and"-
"An bunkoismp he interrupted, turn
ing on his heel and walking away.
Daisy's eyes filed with tears. "Moth-
err" she said humbly, "he's not only Q
coward, bpt he is liar as well! I
tumbled into the pool to prove to You
and Hal that my hero was hero In
deed. But what poor hero! When ]
opened my eyes and saw poor Har:
face and felt his arms bearing me out
Of that icy water realized that here
was my hero, modest and unassumings
but ready when the supreme moment
came"
"Wnere is your hero now, deafr
asked Mrs. Howard quietly.
"Down In the library, mother. wait
ing. have promised to be bis wife,
and he is waiting for your blessingr
sUnsls Sam"
The application Of the term uncle
Sam to the United States had its be
ginning In Troy. N. T.. during the wai