The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-05-14
Ills answer was to turn angriy away.

"Snsy, for three long years have beer
Your suitor, without either confession Of low,
"rpromise of marriage on your part. OF
ten as | have demanded to know your scnt
mcnt> towards me, YOU have always coquet
ti>hv refused me an answer. This state o
things must cease. love you better than
my life; but will no longer be your play.
thing. Tomorrow you are going away to
Il distance, to be absent for months, aud if
you cannot, this very day, throw aside your
co4uetry, anl give me IN honest yes" for
my answer, shall consider that have re
cevel Il 'no,' and act accordingly"
Gan how would that be? What would
you d"?' asked Miss Sn>v, curiousy.
'B gin by tearing Your false anl worth.
less image from my heart cricl Charles
turiou>!v.
at would y. curioas piece Of business,
Charlrv; and You would not succeed either"
said Su>v.
Il should and would succeed" sail
Charles, ",s you shall See, if you wish, cruel,
Icar,lcss girl ~
But ! don't wish, Charley. drar-I love
dearly to have YOU love me-" sail Su>v.
"Why, them" cried the foolish youth,
quite won over again, "why, then deares:
Susy, will you not conSrn,?'
"Rcmembcr. said liked to be loved"
replied Susv II did not say anything about
loving But, pray how long did you say
You had been courtiug me, in that pretty
little speech oiyours."
"rhree long years." replied Charles
Neatly aud accurately quoted, Charley
But you know my cousin Rachel WAS only
won after five years cour,ship. You don't
suppose am going to rate myself any
cheaper than she did, do you? Suppose we
drop this tircsome subject for two years
perhaps hy that time may be able to work
myself up to the fs!liug-in.lovc point
there is 10 knowing what wonders time
may effect"
"lf you are not in love now, you never
will bc," returned Charles, sturdily; "and
will have my answer now or never"
Never, then," laughed Susy. But she
had gone step too far. Her often severe.
ly tried lover was now too much in earnest
to bear her triiling any longer.
Never, be it then !" he cried AMI seiz
ing his hat, he strobe from the room.
Susy listened to his receding footsteps
with liSmay. Had she, indeed, by her in
corrig'ble love Of coquctry, lost him =? 1t
s'note her to the SOUL to think 30. As she
heard him open the trout door, impelIc,l
by Il feeling Of despair, she raised the win
dow.sash, and, leaning forward, whispered
"Charley, Charley! YOU will he a, the
boat to morrow TO bil ne g,o,l-bv, won't
yon? Surely we are still friends 2"
As she spoke, she tore rose from her
hosom and threw it to him. 1t lodged on
his arm, but lie brushed it away, as though
it had been poison, and passed on without
looking up.
snsy spent the rest Of that day in tears.
Early the next morning the hustle of de-
parture began. Susy was going to accom-.
pany her widowed and invalid mother on i
| trip for health.
AS they reached the warf and descended
from the carriage, Susy's eyes made them
selves busy searching for one wished for
face; but it was nowhere 10 be seen.
The steamboat lay painting and pulling,
seemingly impatient to be let loose. Susy's
mother, aided by the servant.man who ac-
conpanied them, had already crossed the
gangway which lay between the wharf and
the boat. and Susy was reluctantly follow
| ing, when the sound of voice behind her
the very voice she was longing to hear
startled her. She turned to look round,
and, missing her footing. fell into the water.
Another instant, and Charles had thrown
off his coat, and, calling out loudly, ''rell
tho captain not to allow the wheel to stir,
and to lower me ropc!" lie sprang into
the river. But Of her whom he was ri>king
his life TO save, he was unable to perceive
any trace.
Judging that the current of the river
might have carried her little forward, he
swan around the wheel, but still he saw her
not, and despair seized his heart Ms he con-
iecturcd that she might be under the bont.
lie strained his eyes to see through the wa
Ter, and at length disoerned, far below the
surface, whnt seemed the end Of floating
garment lodged between the wheel aud the
rounded bottom Of The boat,
If this were indeed The unfortunate girl,
the least movement of the wheel must inevi.
tably crush her, and Charles, in his terror,
fancied it WAS already beginning to turn
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