Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-05-30


ged their babes to their hearts, repulsing
their maids as intruders.
At the ominous sound-the hiss Of in
furiated steam--the eyes Of William Grey
and Helen Harrison sought each other as
It BY simultaneous attraction. And then
just as the terrible detonation followed,
fortunately injuring neither, both actuated
by common impulse moved close togeth-
er. But as the still more hideous cry of
"fre!' thrilled through the trembling
wreck, Helen, with pallid cheeks and
wild looks involuntarily bounded forward
into those arms which just then expanded
to meet her.
81 will save you or share your fate -
said the heroic youth, bearing his self
committed charge down the steps TO the
lower deck and then supporting his pre-
cious burthen, boldly sprang into the wa
ter. -.-.....-. .....-.....
An exceedingly expert swimmer, Will
liam Grey for while nobly contended
with the dangers Of the stream. But the
waves and sky were both unfavorsble 1t
was opposite the mouth Of the Missouri,
and that river was much swollen by flood,
| and shot its sweeping mass Of waters with
a cross current reaching quite to the other
bank, causing numerous small whirlpools,
or 'boils,' as the boatmen call them, capa-
ble Of forcing even vessels from their
path. ...... .-. ..s .-.....-
Black columns of cloud, broken and
fragmentary, like the scattered troops of a
defeated army, scudded before the moon,
mostly vailing her radiant face, but oc-
casionally, through riffs, letting out her
magic light, which however, only served
to render more deep the succeeding dark
ness. And so onwards, through darkness
and whirlpools, the youth bore his beloved.
But whatever might be his strength or
| sgility as swimmer, the situation was
| critical, and the chances for life slender.
1t was impossible TO make land on the
| Missouri side, so violently rushed the
other current and the fitful flashes of the
moonlight revealed on the Illinois shore
seemingly perpendicular cliffs. William
Grey, however, hoped that some opening
might be in these, or at least they might
terminate short way down the river.
At length his strength began 10 fail, as
he neared the precipitous bluffs, and that
variable moon lus,re showed to his be.
wildering gaze no place for landing. As
Helen also discovered the fearful fact, she
spoke for the first time
"Dear one, leave me. For Gods sake
risk not your safety TO secure mine! !"
| Her voice was low, but sweet as the
silver chime of bells. Good Heavens
how could he think of losing such music:
| He could not articulate--he was almos
choking. Cor breath hnt he answered BY
putting forth all his power, which barrel,
sufficed to touch the shore-a natura
rock, steep as the side Of house. Moth.
ing could scale that without wings
Then they both gave themselves up 70,
lost, and clasping each other in love-,
fond embrace, sank back into the chilling
wave.
Just then another gust of misty moon
light revealed to Grey's eye log not ia,
off, drifting with the current. By almos,
super-human exertions he reached the
merc,ful agent of Providence in the same
breath. Then both thanked God. They
felt that he alone had saved them. After
floating on this frail support for some dis
tance, they arrived at the lower end Of the
bluffs, where the Great Bottom com.
mences. By using his feet and his hands
as paddles, William Grey pushed ashore.
AT this instant the full moon poured down
a flood of splendor. The last clond Of
night had darted from her disc. and it was
nearly light as day. Then William and
Helen fell OF their knees together, and
with joyful, streaming eyes, first pledged
the proper gratitude to heaven, and then
gave themselves 10 each other for ever
more. Neither said, Il love thee!"-
There was no need for that, where their
hearts had beaten together in dreams OF
death and holy trance.
They purchased the beautiful "prairie
off the bluffs" where their lovely cottage
catches the glance Of every poetic tourist
who glides by the aid of iron and fire
along the matchless river. There the
"lovers at first sight still reside, grate-
ful and happy, in full view of the scene of
their first adventure.
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