The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-22

| Ille living. l. percelNeu, uOHSNerj d Shih-
ing substance opposite me, which turned
out to be a boy covered with brass buttons
the page of the establishment whose
dreadful business it was to descend in
company with subaqueous amateurs. He
had a rope in his hand that hung down
from the top of the bell and which fond
! ly imagined communicated with the scien-
tiGc authorities, so that we could be hoist
ed up again at a moments notice, by sig
nal; but this confidence was misplaced.
A round spot with number of little holes,
like the rob of a sink, was the sole orna-
ment of the apartment in which we were;
and through this was to come the air we
breathed. To say that would have glad
ly got out again, and sacrificed my shil-
ling, is to give very feeble idea of my
state of repentance. 1t is true that there
was yet time for me to do SO, for the di-
rector was still footing for passengers, but
/ had not the moral courage for such
step as this. | perceived the same feel
ings were actuating two other individuals
who now joined us. They, too, cast wist-
full glances at the mouth of the bell, and
wero evidently, like myself, contemplating
| III buClI IlG nlOob SdlGub pOlnLo III
their past wicked lives.
"You had better put your legs up, gem
tlemen," observed the page, Gas there will
be less danger of falling out at the bottom,
when we get under water"
"Less chance !" gasped I, as I hastened
to obey this suggestion. "Do you mean
/ tta say thore is any chance 2"
p" Well, you must sit quite still, or there's
no ku2wI1ng what may happen You will
he safe enough, however, like this"
We had ali gGtt our feet into each others
laps, forming quite a retiSplatlon OF legs
beneath us, so that if we fs!l at all, 1t must
have needs been all together, when the
director suddenly exclaimed 'ihere $
lady coming"
"a lady coming? Where on earth is
she to come to?" inquired 1. There was
no room for pins head to make its way
among us, and far le.s lady's.
" Is there no room ?" inquired one OF
the sweetest voices ever heard in my
life.
"Plenty of room, Miss ?" cried the con-
ductor.
Then bonnet appeared with one of
| the most lovely faces in it you can imag-
inc, and look of tender appeal upon it,
az finding the bell full of masculine legs,
| which it was impossible to resist [ sidled
nearer the page, and made room for this
charming creature on my left hand. She
wore some expansive gaudJ garments
which, as she took her seat, flowed over
all the others, and seemed to leave her
alone with me and the page, who, except
| as a scientific assistant, considered as no.
! body.
'Is there any dangerY" asked she, In
soft, low tones, and putting her hand upon
mine, in order to steady herself-for she
had very little to sit upon. 81 almost re-
gret ventured to come"
ooh, say not SC" said L "Hold on to
me. You may squeeze my hand as tight
as you please that is the only way to
keep you from falling"
Even in the bottle-green' light, | saw
lovely blush steal over her damask cheek,
but she, nevertheless, did take hold Of my
hand, and held it pretty tight, too
What an oppression l feel on my
forehead" said she; "my brain seems on
fire."
$50 does mine, my dear young lady,"
replied | "and my heart goes pit-a-pat,"
$50 does mine" said she. II am told
the phenomenon happens in all these sub
marine excursions"
"Why, we amt off yet" said the page
contemptuously, who had been (most un-
justi6ably) listening to our conversation.
[ should perhaps have reVuked him, but
the awful bell then swung out from terra
firma, and we beheld beneath us the cold,
treacherous wave.
"What terrible situation" calculated
my fair companion.
" Not altogether" returned I, with a
pressure of the fingers.
"We are leaving all behind us-or at
least above us" added she, for even in that
awful moment her native correctness did
/ not desert her. Heaven preserve us,
what was that Z"
A cannon appeard to have gone off inn
mediately outside my ear, and then it
went on firing a royal salute, and didn't
stop then.
trembled like an aspen leaf, but not
so much as the beautiful being who relied
upon me for succor. We leaned up against
one another for mutual support. With
my left arm mechanically encircled her
waist, and with my right hand grasped
half dozen of the pages buttons. SOn
one side of me was Poetry; on the other,
Science. .1a
"What are those dreadful guns ?" in-
quired the young lady.
"Guns p cried the page, laughing a
laugh peculiar to- water kelpies. "That's
only the tinpanieum of your ear burt
ing, bless yer. It'Il get wuss and wuss,
and the top of yer ed will be likely to fly
off, as it seems to you, before we get to the
bottum. A-coming up you will like it
much better"
Dear girl" whispered |, in tones of
comfort, "you will perhaps find it some
relief to lay your head upon nay shoulder" ."
She did SO, and caught her broken
tones inquiring what was that dreadful
thing that kept beating up against the
bell, as though it wanted to get in amongst
us, II hope and trust, my good boy,v