The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-05-18


J "a 70 abide the desperate plunge the bridge
would give the moment she dropped,
: In the last extremity OF fear and nope, =
shouted in q voice that stirred my own heart
Too:
"counss. brave girl courage one mo
Ju.t then 7 was within six feet OF her,
stsnding on six inches wide Of . deal plank
frat bent like whalebone, my only hold the
loo. swinging cord from rock TO rock across
Az o,,i,, bslow a black, walled chasm OF
r,.ssJ ,ock,. with dizzy whirl OF roaring
fos1 hetween. Judge, then, my dismay and
s.son;.hment. when | saw this girl, as |
.roLs leave hold of the hand-rope, and walk
nra.s;.ted toward me along that narrow
shaking path, hung out in the air, i could
NOT credit nv senses il was too daring II
was impossible for any human being. Be
fore could recover or decide how to act, she
6ad fnno herself upon me, her arms about
nv neck, her whole weight resting upon me
like lead; could scarcely retain my bal
ance, and could not attempt to relieve my
self. I felt she was about 70 faint; ieit,
for. from her position, could not see {; l
knew no human power could save us II she
did. Moved. then, for my own life, rs well
a. hers, whispered in that stern, strange,
inward tone which arises In the extreme OF
anxiety and peril: 4,
"If you faint or give way, we are both
LOST"
The effect was wonderful. Bravely the
Door frail creature fought with her weak
ness, beating back the fiintncss there on the
thin quaking plank, with the fierce eddies
rushing far below, and their hoarse voices
filling the wide air about US only my arm
round her waist, to stay her against the
swaying ropes beneath.
Snow, are you ready 70 Try itf"
"I am ready" said the brave girl.
Gently and gradually loosed her hold OF
my neck and arms: put the hand-rope in-
10 her grasp, with directions to let 1t slip
through her hand, merely resting ON il as
she walked. and with her left hand clasped
tightly in NV left, which was stretched out
behind, for her hold. inch by inch, and foot
by foot, without single sigh or hutter, she
reached the platform, where her friends
stood, like, statues, waiting US in breathless
awe.
I had only time TO lift her from the bridge,
when she gave way in sad earnest, and for n
long time she lay, pale and rigid Us drown
ed corpse, on the black rocks.
Whenever symptoms Of recovery began TO
appear, her friends were profusc in their ac-
acknowledgements one old gentleman-the
Paterfamilias, suspected, -cyeing my rough
shooting coat and worn leggings, began
something about "any enumeration could
fairly ask" fumbling, at the same time, in
his pocket. fear | consigned him rather
abruptly TO the tender care off certain I'M
mentionable parsonage, and in great dudgeon
with what conceived much too large par
ty of heartless crayens. | called old Taso
from adniring and nosing about the young
girl had assisted, and stamping up the lad
der with him in my arms The could never
climb up il, though he always got down
splendidly, poor old fellow,) reached the
top. A very sweet faint voice followed me
"0h, cir. wish to thank YOU" This sound
cd soothingly and real but stay my hot
lashful young blood would not. remem-
her dimly taking OF my hat and replying
with many bushes, ''Not at all don't mem
ton il, beg" and moved away.
suppose you think the above named
young lady Is now Mis-. Ii should
have been so, perhaps, but II never was, or
is likely to be, unless she turns up and re-
wards me after this long delay. l never
heard her name or anything Of her beyond
this adventure at the swinging bridge; and
a. am far out Of the worlds notice, il Is
improbable we will ever know more of each
other now.
But let no one disbelieve the simple truth
of our strange meeting on Carrick-a-rede, to
which have added nothing.