The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-05-25

ow we three had 50 often sat, chatting in the
very reckIessness OF Joy. Alas its day of pride
was passed. 1t was riven 10 the heart by the
! lightning's unerring bolt One half standing
erect waved its bghted branches menacingly
and the other lay prone upon the earth.
! ian; shudder ran through RutIl's limbs as
she stood by the wreck of her old favorite.-.
| CHANGING toward the stream the color forsook
her cheeks, her large eyes dilated and,
| cold and :igid as marble, she raised her finger
and pointed to a huge tangled mass Of lnterla-
cling branches that were rising and falling in
the rushing whirlpool of water. | followed
the direction Of her eyes, my blood CONCEALED
with an indefinite horror but ! could discern
nothing to excite alarm.
"What ! what, Ruth p | eagerly exclaimed
clasping her qulverng form in my arms.
"Oh, ACnie," she SAID, as the color came
family back to her wrthing lips, 81 thought
saw-but II is too horrible-heli me to dispel
the dreadful illusion Let us return I cannot
! remain hrre'
! did not urge her to tell me the cause of a
larm Hnrrving through the gathering shad-
owS, we spoke no word until we reached the
house. 1t needed all the cheerful aspect of the
comfortable little tea-room, with its genial in
mates, to restore composure both to Ruth and
myself.
As the evening wore on, my uncle noticed
Ruth's restlessness, and asked, IN bis abrupt
way
''Whom are you expecting Ruth Not Hor-
ace, my daughter. He surely would not be
! such madcap as to attempt crossing the bridge
| with the stream rushing at such fearful rate
The waters are subsiding, and tomorrow per-
haPs, h4 will find the undertaking little less
dangerous. Keep up brave heart and don't
take trouble or interest. Such sunny face as
yours was never meant TO be cloudrd by sad
ness. Come into my Office, you and Annie.
and let me see it can't cheer you up a lit
tie ~
We followed the dear old man. He unlock
ed his private desk, and took there-irom two
handsome Jewel cases.
See hereH he said, as he pushed back The
spring, 'what simpleton my two spoiled pets
make OF me- Hartman insisted upon nv uur-
chasing these while | was IN New York. three
months ago, as bridal presents for you both.
Now you saucy rogues, he continued, as We
both fell into extacies of admiration over The
exquisite pearl ornaments--neckaces braces
| and brooches-I verify believe YOU would sell
me, If you were offered such gimcracks in eE-
Z J
my present before all others, will pull the ears
OF you. You see, Annie, since you are not to
have husband, but are to stay and tyranize o.
yer me, after this ungratefuI girl leaves me. II
am going to bind you by chain of pearls and
if that won't keep you in check, why, will
sell you 10 the first bidder, and think it hap
py riddance,"
We halt-smotherpd him with kisses and
thanks nd gx,
the effect of our beautiful giits.-Very lovely
the white pearls looked on Ruth's scarcely less
snowy throat but'she laid them aside and turn-
ed to the window, looking lngerngly at the
clear, cloudlpSs moon, and thinking OF the NOR
row. We chatted hopefully until the night !
wore on, and knew by Ruth's regular breath |
ing that she slept. was restless, dark thoughts
kept surglng over me, which spite of a resolutt.
VIII, could not sobdue. Finally light sum-
Der was stealing over my senses, when I was !
startled by sudden ring of the Office bell. !
My, cousin, Henry slept in the adjoining room, /
and IN few minutes heard my uncle's voice |
calling to HIM in low, suppressed tone |
SPTang from my bed and stood at the door lis
tening.
Henry Henry, my son. he sald, sget up
quickly for Gods sake Horace is drownedr
LAID my hand upon my heart-ior even
tden came thought Of that silent sleeper. breath
ing so calmly under the very sound of the ap-
paIing words that would fall upon her ear
| like the crash of a thunderbolt! Through an
IN explicable whirl of confosed thought, heard
Henry's bewildered exclamatons, as bis father
said, softly, Get up quietly, my son, and do
not disturb those unhappy children p
heard the sound OF voices below then nv
cousin Henry's cautious step passing by our
door and descending the sairs.-Then, silently
as could, passed through the outer door and
stood at the landing of the stair till they all had
gone and heard my uncle closing the door as
ne re-entered the house. Like a spirit | had
gllded down, and awaited him in the hall. He
came forward holding the lamp in hls hand, the
light falling upon his white bair, and face srrong-
ly compressed. Al sight OF me he started, then
set down the lamp and took me in his arms.
could hot weep-only look at him with a
beseechIng eagerness in my eyes, which be
readily understood.
'My child he said, q will not repeat whatgI
see you know too well. They have gone in
search Of the body. There is no possibility of
his being found alive. But, Ruth. nv poor
darling how Can we break the dreadful tIdings
to her? You must tell her, Annle-I never
can. 1t would be like thrusting a dissectng
knife through her genntle heart .
Then he told me all.
My brother and his friend had left o {
that afternoon, in one horse carriage. Upon
reaching the stream they found it very much
swollen, but anticipated no difficulty IN crossing
the bridges which stood some few feet above
the water, with gradual ascent from The bank '
90 either side. On urging the horse through
the stream towards this ascent his feet became
entangled IN some drifting branches, and 10 stri-