Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1858-07-29

Charles mechanically approached the win
dow, and looked out.
"Don't you think, Charley" said Susy
laying her hand on his arm, and looking ul
eagerly in his face, ''don't you think yor
can manage to-
"What, Susy dear?" asked Charles, al
his tenderness awakened by her manner
"What? p
''Drop pinch of salt on his back" re-
turned the provoking girl, with an afecta
tion of simplicity; .'for then, you know, yor
can easily catch it,
His answer was to turn angrily away.
His walk this time was no longer as be-
fore, and his cognitations were more more
earnest; for he did not heed any of Susy' 5
artfully artless devices to allure his notice:
At last he stopped abruptly before her.
''Susy, for three long years I have beer
your suitor, without either confession o.
love or promise of marriage on your part
Often as I have demanded to know your
sentiments towards me, you have always
epquettishly refused me an answer. This
state of things must cease. love you bet
ter than my life; but I will no longer be
your plaything. Tomorrow you are going
away at distance, to be absent for some
months: and if you cannot, this very day,
throw away your coquetry, and give me an
honest yes for my answer, shall consider
that have received no. and act accord
Iingly."
''And how would that be? What would
you do?" asked Miss Susy, curiously.
"Begin by tearing your false and worth
less image from my hearth cried Charles,
furiously.
cit would be curious piece of business,
Charley; and you would not succeed, either, D
said Susy.
Il should, and would succeed" said
Charles, ''as you shall see, if you wish,
cruel, heartless girl!!''
s'But [ don't wish you to, Charley dear
[ love dearly to have you love me-" said
Susy.
"Why, then," cried the foolish youth,
quite won over again, ''why, then, dearest
Susy, will you not consent?"
Remember, I said I liked to be loved,' %
replied Susy Il did not say anything about
loving But, pray. how long did you say
you had been counting me, IN that pretty
little speech of yours.
''Three long years." replied Charles.
"Nearly and accurately quoted, Charley.
But you know my cousin Rachel was only
won after five years courtship; you don't
suppose am going to rate myself any cheap
er than she did, do you? Suppose we drop
this tiresome subject for two years perhaps
by that time I may be able to work myself
up to the falling-in-love point-there is no
knowing what wonders time may effect"
eff you are not in love now, you never
will be-" returned Charles, sturdily; s'and
I will have my answer now or never"
"Neyer, 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 trifing any longer.
''Never be it, then p he cried and seiz-
ing his hat, he strobe from the room.-
Susy listened to his receding footsteps
with dismay. Had she, indeed, by her in
corrigible love of coquetry, lost him? 1t
smote her to the soul to think so. AS she
heard him open the front door, impelled by
a feeling of despair, she raised the window
sash, and, leaning forward, whispered
Charley, Charley! you will be at the
boat tomorrow to bid me goodbye, won't
you? Surely, we are still friends?'
AS she spoke, she tore rose from her
bosom, and threw it at him. It lodged on
his arm, but he brushed it away, as though
it had been poison, and passed on without
looking up.
Susy spent the rest of the day in tears
Early the next morning, the hustle of de-
parture began. Susy was going to accom-
pany her widowed mother on trip for her
health
AS they reached the wharf and descend
ed from the carriage, Susy's eyes made them
selves busy in searching for one wished-for
face but it was nowhere to be seen.
The steamboat lay painting and putting,
seemingly impatient to be let loose. Susy's
mother, aided by the servant man who had
accompanied them, had already crossed the
gangway which lay between the wharf and
the boat, and Susy reluctantly following,
when the sound of voice behind her-the
voice she was longing to hear-startled her
She turned to look round, and, missing her
footing, fell into the water.
Another instant, Charles had thrown off
his coat, and calling out, loudly, ''Tell the
captain not to allow the wheel to stir, and
to lower me rope!" he sprang into the riv-
er. But~of her whom he was risking his
life to save, he was unable to see 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 as he con-
jectured that she might be under the boat
He strained his eyes to see through the wa
ter, and at length discerned, far below the
surface, what seemed the end of a floating