Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-26
DAILY NOVELETTE,
HELEN'S RESCUE
BY EMMA LIBBEY
uELEN RAMSEY presented a fair

. IL
picture as she foated on the pond
in her little skiff. The morning sun
shonc brightly on her profusion of gold.
on curs, and the brisk breeze blew her
. light dress around her in picturesque
confusion. Fido, glossy black of coat,
curlcd at her feet, jumping up at times
to bark shrily at the low flying swal-
lows swoOping along the surface of the
water.
She was unusually quiet and deep
violet shade that crcpt into her blue
eyes showed that she was deep in
| thought. The summon was coming to
a close, and she was thinking Of how
dull it would seem in her city home
without Reggie NandykC. For n year
he had been constant in his attentions
and she was we'll aware that only her
own cOquCttish. cvasions had kept him
from telling of his love in words. And
now he was gone out of her life, sent
away by her in anger because he had
ruifcd the ears of Fido when that PAM
pcrcd canine had cndcavorcd to plant
an affcctionatc kiss on his face.
Letting the oars hang loosely in her
hands her thoughts wandered back to
tn" occurrence. lie was brutal, to be
sure, but then every one did not love
dogs. She sighed as the thought came
to her that now she would never feel
the pressure of Rcggic's lips against
hers, and as she realized the boldness
Of her thoughts flush of crimson crept
over her fair face.
Sh" was aroused from her rcvcrie by
Il sudden blast of cold air that carecncd
her boat until it seemed that it would
rapSizc. \ second gust tore the oars
from her grasp and spun the boat diz-
Hlly around. Fido, in an ecstasy of
fear, crcpt into her lap and tried ia
KISS her face, but the thought was now
r"puI>Ne to her, and as she spushed
him into the bottom of the boat
thoughts of Reggie came to her and
$h" found herself longing for his strong
arms and steady stroke to carry her to
safety.
( Th" beautiful morning had vanished
"A sudden tempest having burst upon
the pond while she had been drifting
along. The gale increased in strength
and the roll Of thunder grew into fer
rifle crashes, while vivid sheets of fire
/ lighted up the black clouds. The for
rents of driving rain had drcnchcd
/ Helen, and her pretty white frock. with
! its flying ribbons, clung in folds about
her chilled limbs. Her wealth of hair
curl"d moro closely to her head and
shonc in the flashes of lightning like a
halo above her pale and terrified face
! The binding sheets of rain had shut of
all view of the shore. and. dcspairing
of rescue, Helen prayed silently and
awaited what seemed like certain dcath
Fido, head upliftcd, howled in terror
sending out spaSms of sound that il
seemed impossible could come from Sc
small body.
Suddenly from behind the veil of rair
came faint "IIaloo," and the colo,
came back to Hclcn's pale face. Safct,
was at hand. She was certain of if
for that was Reggic's voice. She CAV,
no thought of how he Glanced to b,
there in the storm, but was content, a,
she knew she was safe when lie wa,
near. Fido barkcd and howlcd in alter
nation, and soon, dimly seen through
the binding rain, came 4 dOry impcllc,
by RCSgic's strong arms. AS he drew
up to the tossing skiff he threw on,
arm around Helen and lifted her inf,
the dory, clasping her for an instan
to his bosom in an agony of delight
Fido, with a courage developed from
his fear. scrambled into the boat, an,
both maid and dog huddlcd in ,
drcnchcd heap in the bottom of th,
dory. 1t was long and dcspcrat
struggle against the wind, and Reggie
was almost exhausted when score o
willing hands graspcd the boat at tb
shore and Helen fell into her father
arms.
An hour later Helen and Reggie stoo,
at window in the Ramsay cottag
with his arm around her waist and he
fair head resting happily on his shoul
| der. Reggie" she Whispered, Il thinl
. will give FidO away. | never wan
him to kiss me again" With lovin
look at the fair face resting on hi
: shoulder Reggie refused the sacrifice
"No. we will keep Fido, as but for h,
| barking / would not have been able f.
locate the skiff with its preciou
| freight AS he stopped to press n kis
on her upturned lips a glorious rain
| bow shOnc out in the sky, showing tn
| end of the storm and the beginning q
| a life of happiness to Helen and Reg
| gle.
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