The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1860-12-06

gan to make for the shore, which b,
gained.
Two days after, the following an
nouncement appeared in the village Ga
zette
a most lameutable occurrence tool
place on evening. A young law
student named Clifford, we'll known ia
this vicinity, accompanied young man
nan ed Wilson in boat ride up the river
A sudden gust upset the boat and both
we're plunged into the water Wilson
made his escape BY swimming, but his
companion found a watery grave"
The dream of happiness of Helena
Heath was now at an end With all the
poignant grief that the susceptible heart
can feel, she lamented the sad fate of her
lover, while she could not repress the
chagrin she felt at the idea that some
adventurous favorite Of her father would
usurp the emiuence that she had
given him. ..
Nearly two years passed, and Helena
Heath still remained unmarried Old
Heath had selected young Wilson for his
future sonin- law, and he sought to com
mend him to his daughter but, meeting
with indifference and denial, he resolved
to select from among the large circle of
hardy and athletic young men the one
whose feats were the greatest, and com.
pei her to receive him as her lord
At last the day came for the allotted
trial and to the spot marked out for rem.
devious many an eager aspirant came.
Among these was tie newly arrived set
tier, who had often made the sinewy aud
bold, look pallid with envy at his success.
The first trial was that of leaping.
One by one the competitors Joined in,
until perfect Ajax in limb reached
seventeen feet This settled the quss
tion; still, Notwithstanding this proof of
his prowess, the old hunter seemed dis
satisfied at the idea of marrying his
daughter to such stranger He resolv-
ed to become better acquainted with his
strength and skill, and suddenly turning
to his rivals, he said:
"Come boys let's have a little rife
practice, two shots apiece. remember"
A painted nail was driven into tree.
The heroes Of the other exercises made
trials, but were wide from the nails
head. The stranger rubbed his hands,
and seizing rife, took rapid aim The
nail was driven into the tree.
The unknown marksman once more
fired; the nails head was bent double.
This was more than the rival-who was
no more than young Wilson could bear,
and he walked of.
All congratulations were offered the
lucky victor. Old Gabriel Heath placed
the hand Of tie reluctant Helena in his
but she still treasured the memory of
him whom she had so admiresaL apd who
had had opened l; her T;Tfse demonstrated against
her fathers choice to no purpose.
For some time the victor visited the
abode of the old hunter, chatted with
him, and walked with the daughtcr.-
They talked long and ferveptly together,
and he spoke in glowing terms of his
love for her. She started at this, for the
image Of her lost lover seemed to arise
and rebuke her.
You love another, then ?" he said.
Remember that | won you by my PROV
ess.'
These words in some tones might have
made her indignant. but now they only
tended to dissipate her reserve, as sh G
replied:
''Wnat you have said is true owe
the richest and deepest debt to another,
who translated for me the mysterious
teachings of nature I ought to love
him. and though he is forever lost to me,
yet while exist, | will live for no other
but him"
While she was thus speaking, the hun,
ter was regarding her with the same Gu
rious expression, which hardly became a
rejected lover. She was turning from
him. when he detained her. and said:
This was the young lawyer, Clifford,
was it not ?"
d" 1t was,' she replied, looking in his
face, where the smile had settled into
anxiety
Blessings on you for that word" he
cried. 81 am the long lost onc--the
rescued and the rcdeemed."'
1t was indeed young Clifford, who.
through an unseen and mysterious prov
idence, had not been drowned. but was
saved from watery grave BY fisher
man, whose kind care had restored him
to life and strength.
He told her how he had returned to
the village in time to hear OF the wagers
of prowess for her hand and, confident
that he should be brought to her again,
he dissembled himself and gained the
victory.
1t is needless to say that the JOY Of
meeting him whom he supposed himself
the murderer, was so great that Wilson
thought but little of the refusal that he
ultimately received from Helena He
could hardly believe his eyes until the
generous Clifford took bis hand and faith
fully promised never to reveal the cir.
cunstanccs Of the boat ride, aud forgave
him for his rashness
The two rivals were rivals no longer,
and Clifford lived with the lovely daugh-
tr of Gabriel Heath many years of hap
piness, and. successful in business aud
generous in thought, he was the pride Of
the village.
Age tempered the rashness of Wilson,
who, after the decease of old Gabriel
Heath, was the quotation Of his pioneer
friend But Thomas Clifford never re-
vealed the secret until his dying day