A Little Florida Lady

ing t

ng surrounding the boat house made a safe bathing place for them,-safe at least from the alligator

vey was a very willing teacher, but did not kno

ou just have to start out li

re as he said. Their feet grew unaccountably light so that their head

ver ready to do the children's bidding, and ever kept a watchful eye on his char

to swim. He plunged out into deep water, and then looked pe

It's reall

he venturesome one, an

wharf doing some fancy work and at the

eful or you'll g

ma, I am

uddenly, she was startled by screams from the child

on, sav

It was as she expected. She saw her beloved Beth sinking. She

th, but made no ef

screamed Mrs. Dave

aithful Don. He had no idea of letting his beloved little mistress drown

t think you'd be frightened. I

ally saved Beth's life. He did not know that she was

struggled to learn to swim,

ed the log across their chests, and under their armpits, and then made their hands and feet go. Thi

for a wonder, was not with her that morning. She

t, but somehow, she got beyond the range of the walk. In trying to paddle b

mind to keep her hands and feet going. To her surprise, she did not sin

ildren came, she

I can swim,

derful accomplishment. She was di

fashion. You claw the water just l

rms as he bid, but could not swim

mming dog f

Davenport came

like to go down to th

us?" excla

t was in a t

you, I must find out first from mamma if any bad girl has

reath for her m

d an unusually good girl here for the

ig in the inten

e we goin

outh of the St. Johns. We will leave to-morrow

uess

's desire to start at a moment's notice. He

itation, she was allowe

the boat for Fort George's, Beth was

come down to see us off, but h

o Fort George, too. Your papa was over las

y, goody

her. They made friends with the captain and those under him. They went up even to the pilot house and help

ill and watch the St. Johns as it curved and widened on its course

as wafted to them by the breeze. Great s

hell roads. Magnificent palms lined the way on both sides. All the foliage, in fact, was extremely l

he island had once been visited by Talleyrand. He said it had been owned

plained that for many centuries the Indians had congregated on the island in oyster season, and

to Julia and Beth. They got into very little mischief, al

hing. Beth was always one of the party. Mrs. Davenport did not care

er mother much anxiety. She was very venturesome

h as he did fresh, and therefore he

e sport. Mrs. Davenport was unusually anxious, and she warned Beth to stay near shore with the other childr

to come in," ca

head and spurted

mma, I'm

out," and Mrs. Davenport spran

swimming as har

esperate efforts, she was slowly but surely drifting out to sea. One of those tr

f the boys, rushed to th

own unless some one saves her. A boy

swim and she knew that personally she could not re

er, and rushed frantically up and down t

ch desperate energy that soon she felt her strength failing her. Terror

screamed, "

r child? Must she stand helpless and see her drown? No, no,

out," she cried; "

avenport's eye rested upon Don lying fast asleep in the shade. Her

go to Beth,

d not realize the danger. He

, cal

farther and farther

n,

icked up his ears. The

n,

ppeal, he bounde

like falling on her

't give up.

sufficiently for her to struggle a

around Don who swam

ll while her anxious eyes kept watch on

ems to be failing. Will she be able to hold out? On, Don, on. Supposing he cannot make it. Supposing the

awful undertow to work against besides the extra precious burden he carries? How heroically he struggles. Oh, noble, noble Don, you will save her yet, and keep a mother's heart from breaking. Ye

by her watery experience, and rushed straight to her mother's o

mediately as they had done before when he rescued Beth. Really, it was enough to ruffle the patience of any dog. He ba

ow you are, and love you with all our hea

ppreciation as best he could by licking Beth's hands

early love you all, and am thankful that I saved you. Life with yo

he said she would not stay with the children where the water was treach