CHAPTER III.
TEMPEST-TOSSED LAKE GEORGE.
For three days Belle Hamblin remained in her room attended by her mother.
The cruel words of her father sank deep into her proud and sensitiveheart, and obstructed a great fount of joy, for during her shortacquaintance with George Alden she had become greatly interested in him.A young man of irreproachable character, he had obtained a collegiateeducation, had never contracted bad habits, and was called a model manand brother. His sister gave music lessons, but that was not a sin inthis land.
With Belle, who had often wished herself differently situated in life,the idea of self-dependence was strong. Having all that wealth couldgive, she envied those who day after day toiled at some honest labor.
Poor, unsuspecting girl, with every comfort at her command, she knewlittle of the sorrows of female toilers. Admiring the music teacherin the abstract, she knew nothing of the hardships attendant upon herlabor. Looking upon the factory girls in her native town with somedegree of envy, she was ignorant of the pangs of suffering so manyundergo to make their scanty earnings sustain helpless loved ones athome.
During her seclusion, Belle had been greatly missed by her companions.One morning a note received from Camp Cleverdale, accompanying anelegant bouquet, gave her much pleasure, and she exclaimed:
"Oh, mamma, I _must_ go out to-day. I feel better and think the air willdo me good. Will you consent?"
"Yes, my child, if your nerves have become quiet. Your father writeshe may be absent a week longer. He has gone to Cleverdale and seemsto be having trouble about political matters. Just what they are I amunable to say, for he always says 'women have no business meddling withpolitics.'"
"I agree with him, and only wish _he_ would also give it up. Politicsmake men unmindful of everything else. Papa is so absorbed in it heforgets the feeling of his own flesh and blood, believing everythingmust play a secondary part to his detestable politics. His mind is inconstant ferment, while the companions it brings him are not such asthose with whom we like to see our loved ones associate. His only desirenow is that I will bestow my hand upon some man who can strengthen himpolitically. Yes, it is too true that when a man becomes absorbed inpolitics, he is willing to barter away his birthright to gain his point."
"Belle, you are getting to be as incorrigible a hater of politics asI, but I cannot blame you. If George Alden controlled as many votes asthat man Miller, or was as ready to do such editorial work as Rawlings,I believe your father would look upon him with favor. But never mind,child, go out to-day and enjoy yourself. Do just as you have doneheretofore."
Having thus obtained the mother's consent, Belle arose, put on herhat--having previously arrayed herself in her flannel boating suit--andleft the apartment. Her appearance was the occasion of many friendlygreetings.
In a few moments a boat bearing four white capped young men left thelittle island at the south, where Cleverdale Camp, named in honorof Belle, was located. The lake was beautiful, the waves runningsufficiently high to make rowing pleasant, and it was not many secondsbefore the boat with its jolly crew shot into the bay. In an instantBelle was face to face with the quartette, the first to greet her beingGeorge Alden, whose tender looks betokened his joy at again seeing her.
"Ah, Miss Hamblin, we have missed you at Camp Cleverdale, and as soon asyou are able to bear the excitement you must come. We have postponed theentertainment on account of your sudden illness," said Alden.
"I shall be well enough in a day or two," the girl replied; "the lakeair is my good physician."
The meeting lasted but a moment, the quartette departing together, butBelle suddenly felt like herself again.
One morning, a week later, the sun arose with more than its usualmajesty and glory, and the cool air laden with the sweet odor ofblackberry and pine came down from the mountains. The water of the lakewas ruffled with little ripples, whose tops rose and glistened in thesun and then flitted on toward the shore, foreboding a pleasant dayfor boating, so the tiny boats riding at anchor in the bay were put inreadiness for excursions or fishing expeditions. Belle, expecting herfather, concluded to remain on shore and enjoy the children's society.About ten o'clock, Geordie asking permission to go on the lake, Bellegave consent, when Willie said:
"Tan't I do too? I wants to wide with Geordie--may I do?"
"Yes, but Jane must go with you."
The three were soon pushing off from shore, the little shell driftinginto the bay where Geordie had permission to row around a rock about aquarter mile distant, and backward and forward the craft danced, theoar-blades rising like sheets of silver, dripping diamonds into thecrystal waters.
Slowly over the north-west hills began to creep a black bank of clouds.It grew larger and larger, a half hour later spreading overhead likea dark ink-spot on a beautiful robe of blue. Belle, although absorbedin a pleasing book, occasionally looked to see if the children were insight. The wind blew in little puffs, but she had never seen one ofthose gales that spring up so suddenly on Lake George. Suddenly she rosefrom her seat and laid down her book. About a mile from the boys' boatshe detected an angry sea, and as her keen eye glanced toward the hills,nearly half a mile away, she saw the boat dancing on the rising waves.
Wildly advancing to the extreme edge of the dock she beheld the angrywaters running in toward shore, each wave seeming to push the precedingone as if intent upon running down and absorbing it.
Beckoning to the boys, she waved her handkerchief, and called:
"Geordie! Geordie! come in--quick!" but the winds only dashed by her,while the waves seemed to laugh her to scorn. Drops of perspirationstood on her brow, her cries attracting the attention of her motherand a number of ladies. Only three or four men, employes at the house,came down, and when Belle implored them to go for the boys, they onlyreplied: "Ah, Miss, we are no oarsmen; the waves would swallow us up."
Looking again, the almost distracted girl saw the waves with theirgreat white heads, like ghostly capped spirits of evil, rushing aboutthe boat. Mother and daughter were like maniacs, for the boys would bedrowned unless aid was sent them, the little arms of Geordie being tooweak for such powerful antagonists. The yawning mouth of each sea seemedto engulf the boat, which, riding for an instant upon another crest,would suddenly dive into the trough of the sea.
"Oh, mother!" exclaimed Belle, "I cannot stand this! I must go to theirrescue, or they will be lost. I will save them."
Quickly jumping into her own boat--a perfect little craft, made to ridethe waves--she seized the oars and shot forth into the bay, only to bebuffeted about by the angry elements. Unable to go straight to the lovedones, she gradually pointed her boat toward the north, and by greateffort ran along the dock. As she worked against a chopping sea, banksof water struck the craft and sheets of spray rose above to break andfall over her. The wind dashed down upon her head, clutching at herbrown locks. Still she pulled like a little giant. Occasionally catchinga glimpse of the three, she beheld Geordie at his post heroicallyworking his way to the rock.
The winds howled madly at her, and with all their force tried to pushthe brave girl back. Seconds were like hours, yet she pulled on untilabout ready to reverse her boat's position, when the waves seemed to say:
"Ah, my fine lady, when you turn, then we will swallow you."
Watching her opportunity--the sea lulling for an instant--she gave aquick pull, and as a huge wave approached, her boat turned and shebreathed a sigh of relief as the water passed by her boat's stern. Itwas an awful time to her; one of those inspiring, grand, but cruelmoments when Lake George, so beautiful in all its quiet glory, suddenlybecomes transformed into a thing ugly, wicked, and furious.
Within a short distance of the little boat and its precious load,Belle saw a huge wave, looking like a dozen ordinary billows combined,sweeping down upon her brothers.
"Geordie!" she screamed, "put your prow to the sea!" but the wordsscarcely left her lips before the boat was caught up and the two boysand nurse thrown into
the water. Belle unconsciously closed her eyesfor an instant; on opening them she beheld Jane standing on the partlysubmerged rock, with Geordie and Willie clasped in her arms. South ofthe rock was the island on which Cleverdale Camp was situated.
The frantic girl saw the waves go headlong over the rock, submergingthe faithful nurse nearly to the waist, but how dare she approach them?The children were as brave as the nurse, Geordie standing on the rockclinging to Jane, while little Willie was clasped in her arms.
In the distance could be seen the smoke of a small steamboat, but not aman was visible in the locality, all having gone for a day's pleasure;and Cleverdale Camp was deserted.
Belle's strength fast failing, she knew she could hold out littlelonger. Suddenly the cloud broke and in an instant the mad seas werepartially quieted, as if the flood of golden sunshine that burst throughthe murky canopy had appeased them. Belle hastily ran her boat on therock; Jane and the children were quickly seated in the stern; the sundisappeared behind the dark curtain of cloud, and the waters resumedtheir reckless sport. But the boat was turned toward Cleverdale Camp,and in a few moments shot into the little bay, and ran upon the sandybeach out of all danger. Belle rose quickly, jumped ashore, beckonedJane and the boys to follow, staggered, and fell fainting upon thegreensward.
The Cleverdale Mystery; or, The Machine and Its Wheels: A Story of American Life Page 5