The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

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matter of serious earnest, A sudden
flaw, unnoticed in its approach by the
two practical jokes, capsized their boat,
and the three were, at blow, spilled into
the water.
Robinson's first and only thought was
for Edith. Fleeter than the winged
lightning is the activity of thought in a
moment of extremity As he madly
plunged, unaware of what course to pur-
sue, or whittier to look. the whole life,
the whole love of the gentle Edith pass
ed through his mind. He felt that he
was murderer; and as he vainly buff
fetted the wave, the deep damnation of
of eternity seemed his lot in the few
short moments that were spent by HIM
in frantic struggles. He strove to cry
al nd, and the salt water Knocked all his
attempts at utterance. Despair became
despondence; fatigue paralyzed his limbs
and mocked his skill as a swimmer !;
cramps seized him. and the light was
shut out from his eyes as he thought
forever.
When he recovered, it was as though
heavens whole artillery were pointed at
his branin. Thunder rung in his eers,
and the first gasps for breath were in6n-
itely more painful than when that breath
departed. With returning consciousness
his memory did not immediately return,
and he looked about him with vague
surprise, at the crew ofthe ballast droger,
who had been his deliverance from a
watery grave. Incident by incident
events came to him. He remembered
the most distant first till, thought by
thought, the excursion and its circumstan-
ces came to him. For a moment still,
all was indistinct, till the last sad event
of his lie fell upon his heart, with an
echo like the damp sod on a coffin ln
moment more he started wildly up"
Edith ! Edith I! where are you Ny God
My God I! IT WAS ONLY A JOKE !"
No Edith answered-nobody answered
The sailors knew nothing of Edith-they
knew only that they bad saved drown
ing man. They could suggest nothing
could say nothing Robinson sunk to
the deck lnsensb!e, and while the hu-
mane mariners strove TO restore him to
animation, their vessel sluggishly plough
ed its way to the city. Slow as its pro-
gress was the return of Robinson to con-
scousness. Upon his arrival at the city
lie was at once carried home and when
his messengers could bring him no in
'elllgence of Edith, again he reIapsed
into insensibility.
Better tidings awaited him upon the
recovery Of his senses, the third time
Edith too bad been saved by another
vessel; and though Robinson's deliverers
knew that some one had been picked uo,
the circumstances of wUmans being
in such boat had never once occurred
to them; and the rawlings of Robinson
seemed but incoherence. Her safety
was better than any physicians pre-.
scnption could be and very few days
canied him to her house, to tenden his
subdued congratulations that she had
noL been drowned all in Joke"
Edith did not reproach him. 1t was
net in her nature to dissemble it was
not in her heart to offer rAproof to Onc
with whom she could only mingle con-
gratulation. After the first meeting,
the affair of the boat was never alluded
to.
One day-it is strange how a narrow
escape enjoyed together, or community
of misfortune, or of good fortune, will
endear two people to each other-one
day, Jack bluntly asked Edith to fix a
time for the nuptials.
"One year from this date"
"Surely you joke"
"T mever joke-and it is to give you
chance to prove your reformation, that
I set day more distant than-to tell the
truth-my own heart prompts"
The time of probation has Just expired.
The pair are just married; and there,
after the fashion of all story-tellers, we
shall leave them to enjoy their honey
moon.
CI,o 20 xorx