Smyrna times., 1919-07-30
HELEN'S RESCUE
BY EMMA LIeREY

AACACh ANtAAAoNJ PAN'NAAbNN a. AteAA -
ture as she flOated on the pond in her
little skiff. The morning sun shOne
brightly on her profusiOn of golden
curls and the brisk breeze blew her
light dress around her in picturesque
confusion. Fldo, glossy black of coat,
curled at her feet, jumping up at
times to bark shrilly at the lOw-hying
swallows swOOping along the surface
Of the water
She was unusually quiet and deep
violet shade that crept into her blue
eyes showed that she was deep in
thought. The summer was coming to
a close, and she was thinking of how
dull it would seem in her city home
without Reggie Vandyke. For a year
he had been constant in his attentions
and she was well aware that only her
own cOquettish evasiOns 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
cuffed the ears of Fido when that pam
pered canine had endeavOred to plant
an affectiOnate kiss on his face
Letting the oars hang loosely in her
hands her thoughts wandered back to
the occurrence. He was brutal, to be
sure, but then everyone did not love
dogs She sighed as the thought came
to her that now she would never feel
the pressure of Reggle's lips against
hers, and as she realized the bOldness
Of % oV.fv
crept over her fair face.
She was aroused from her reverie by
a sudden blast of cold air that careened
her boat until it seemed that ii would
capslZe. A second gust tore the oars
from her grasp and spun the boat dlZ-
lilly around. FidO, in an ecstasy of.
fear, crept into her lap and tried to
kiss her face, but the thought was now
repulsive to her, and as she pushed
him into the bottom of the boat
thoughts Of Reggie came to her and
she found herself longing for his strong
arms and steady stroke to carry her to
safety.
The beautiful morning had vanished,
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 ter
rifle crashes, while vivid sheets of fire
lightened up the black clouds. The tor
rents of driving rain had drenChed
Helen, and her pretty white frOck with
its flying ribbons Clung in folds about
hnr nhf1Iad limbs of hofr
curled more closely to her head and
ShOne in the flashes of lightning like a
halo above her pale and terrified face.
The binding sheets of rain had shut off
all view of the shore and, despairing Of
rescue, Helen prayed silently and
awaited what seemed like certain
death. FidO, head uplifted, hOwled in
terror. sending out spasms of sound
that it seemed impossible could come
from so small a body.
Suddenly from behind the veil Of
rain came faint "HallOo," and the
color came back to Helen's pale face.
Safety was at hand. She was certain
of 1t, for that was Reggies voice. She
gave no thought to how he CHANGED to
be there in the storm, but was content,
as she knew she was safe when he was
near. FidO barked and hOwled in alter
nation, and soon, dimly seen through
the binding rain, came a dory impelled
by Reggie's strong arms. AS he drew
up to the tossing slIiff he threw one
arm around Helen and lifted her into
the dory, Clasping her for an instant
to his bosom in an agony of delight.
FidO, with a courage developed from
his fear scrambled into the boat, and
both maid and dog huddled in a
drenched heap in the bottom of the
dOry. It was a long and desperate
struggle against the wind, and Reggie
was almost exhausted when a score of
willing hands grasped the boat at the
shore and Helen fell into her fathers
arms.
An hour later Helen and Reggie
stood at q window in the Ramsey cot
tage with his arm around her waist
and her fair head resting happily on
his shoulder. Reggie" she whispered,
II think will give FidO away. l never
want him to kiss me again." With a
loving look at the fair face resting on
his shoulder Reggie refused the sac
rifice. mo we will keep FidO, as but
for his barking 1 would not have been
able to locate the skiff with its pre-
ciOus freight" AS he stopped to press
a kiss on her upturned lips a glorious
rainbow shone out in the sky, showing
the end Of the storm and the beginning
Of a life Of happiness to Helen and
Reggie.
Copyright. 1919, by the Mcclure News
| paper Syndicate)