Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-11-11
AN AWKWARD PREDICAMENT,

an ccident of so frightful character took
place as to put the matter entirely out of the
question. was young undergraduate, spen-
ding the summer with a reading party at the
Irish lakes, when 1 met with-with Lucy, and
| got, in short to be accepted. She was resid-
| ing with her mother, in the same hotel in Kill
larney ourselves, and we all met every day.
We boated on the lake together, and fished,
| and sang, and read. We landed on the wood
ed islands in the soft summer evenings, to take
our tea in gipsey fashion, and to sketch; but
| she and mostly whispered-not about love at
| all, as l remember, but of the weather and the
rubric; only it seemed so sweet to sink our
voices and to speak low and soft.
Once, in party over the moors, while was
leading her pony over some bosgy ground,
caught her hand by mistake instead of her bri-
die, and she did not snatch it away. 1t was
the heyday and the prime of my life my friend,
and that youth of the spirit which no power
can ever more renew. 1 knew what she felt,
and what would please her, as soon as the feel
ing and the wish themselves were born. Our
thought-my thought, at least-'slept out to
wed with thought, ere thought could wed itself
with spcech.'' She took a fancy to a huge
mastiff dog belonging to fisherman and l
bought it for her at once, although it was ter
ribly savage, and except for Lucy's liking it)
not either good or beautiful. It's name, also
the only one it would answer to, and sometimes
it would not to that-was Towser not name
for lady's pet, ,and scarcely for gentleman's.
There was little secluded field, hedged in by
coppice, which sloped into the lake, about
| ILL l. IL
(for the first time) to meet me alone. was
to be there before breakfast, at eight O'Clock
in the morning, and you may be sure 1 was
there at six-with Towser.
Perhaps 1 was never happier than at this
particular time. The universal nature seemed
in harmony with my blsstul feelings. The
sun shone out bright and clear, SO that the
fresh morning breezes could scarcely cool the
pleasant throbbing of my blood, but the blue
| ripping waves of the lake looked irresistably
tempting, and could not resist swim. Just
plunge and out again, thought 1; for though
had such plenty of time to spare, 1 determin-
| ed to be dressed and ready for the interview
an hour at least before the appointed time.
Lucy might, like myself, be little earlier;
and at all events, with such an awful conse-
quence in possible apprehension, I would run
| no shadow of risk. ssMind my clothes, mind
them,'' said l to Towser (who took his seat
thereon, at once, sagaciousy enough,> for
| had heard of such things as clothes being sto-
| len from unconscious dippers be fore them with
results not to be thought of; and in went. l
| remember the delight of that bath even to this
day, the glow, the freshness, the luxurious
| 20 CT ba
last view which his eyes rested on is painted
| on the memory of one who has been stricken
blind, or the last heard melody is treasured in
that of a man struck deaf by fall; it was my
last perfect pleasure land succeeded by a shock
that shall never, think, quite get over.
When had bathed as long as judged to be
prudent, / landed and advanced towards the
spot where my garments and Towser lay /; as
did so, every individual hair upon his back
seemed to bristle with fury, his eyes kindled
with Goals of fire; he gave me notice, by
| low, determined growl, that he would spring
on me and tear me into fragments if l ap-
preached nearer; it was evident that he did
| not recognize me in the least without my
clothes. "Tow, Tow, Tow, Tow" said plea
sanity, ssgood old Tow, you remember me; !"
but the brute, like the friend we have known
in better day, and appealed to when in indif-
ferent apparel, only shook his head in men
acing manner, and showed his teeth the more.
ssTowser, be quiet, sir; how dare you-Tow,
Tow, Tow-Towser-(her he nearly had bit
of my calf off)-you nasty, brutal dog; go a.
way, sir-go amt you ashamed of yourself ?''
Drops of foam oozed through the teeth of the
ferocous monster as he stood up with tail e.
rect at these reproying words, but he manifes-
ted no sign of remorse or sorrow. Ny situa-
tion became serious in the extreme what if
he chose to sit there, on my personal apparel,
! until -
At this idea, too terrible to be concluded, a
profuse perspiration broke out all over me.
Presently feeling a little cold, went back in
to the lake again to consider what was to be
done, and resolved the fell design of enticing
Towser into the water and there drowning him.
Abuse and fattery being thrown away upon
him, tried stones; l heaved at him with all
my force the largest pebbles could select,the
majority of which he evaded by leaping from
side to side, and those that struck him render
ed him SO furious that believe he would have
killed and eaten me if he could, whether L
was dressed or not, but he would not venture
into the water after me still.
At last. the time drawing on apacc for the
appointed interview, which had once looked
forward to with such delight and expectation,
was fain, in an agony of shame and rage, to
hide myself in dry ditch in the neighboripg
copse,where could see what took place with