The Grand Haven news., 1865-05-31

c8ll0n on tue upItu" SSe VI "A t''hi oo'iio-
what disappointed with myself, / affected
the solitary. I tried hard to set up the
then impossible character Of foolish mis-
anthropicaI Timen. j soon found, how
eyer, the unpleasanlness and impractibil-
ity Of this. The wild precipices and
mountains Of the grand coast exercised
my demon, and the limltless full Atlantic,
beating resllessly ou its iron bounds,
reused me to action. Presently / drop
ped into the doings and crafts Of the rough
fishermen and cragsmen of the neighbor-
hood, and soon gained their hearts by
some unusual feats, acquired the high
character of being "gay, ventursome
lad, no unworthy fame.
My rather confident address and cour-
age, such as they were, underwent pecul-
lar trial, where and when | least expect
ed. was living in the vicinity ..of the
swing bridge, Carrck-a "a Rede. The troops
of tourists visiting it, reminded me of the
world, from which l was after all an un-
willing exile. The danger Of crossing the
bridge with my dog and gun, afforded
some excitement. The glorious views of
the shore, sea and isles, delighted me;
the deep, messy heather on the headlauds
made a aluxnrous couch for doing upon,
under the summer sun. -
Ore day from my favorite eyrie, ] had
watched a gay party descending the slope
to the bridge, mixing and changing their
colors as they went, like the view in a
kaleidoscope, could distinguish laugh
ter and sweet voices pleasantly ringing
out, and confess | needed the solace of
my favorle book and all my fortitude to
render me contented in my solitude up
among the seagulls.
resumed my lost place and stretched
myself very comfortably on the moss Of
my tall outstanding pillar like cliff, when
suddenly my dog, Tasso, rushed close to
me, and fixed his dark eyes anxiously in
the direction Of the bridge.
We both trembled at that moment, for
q piercing scream smote us. The sea-
birds darted from the rock face, and after
a short flight outwards, cried at their
shrilest and loudest Gould be deceiv-
edG 1t was surely human. 1t was n
woman's voice!
Can il be-" thought, "some Of them
are over the cliff y s34 ..ss
Grasping my gun, | rushed down the
bill as only men can run to save life
Again, and again, as flew over the bro
ken ground, felt the same bitter cry,
striking, it seemed, into my very heart.
A few bounds over the slippery sea-grass
along the edge of the precipce, and |
stood at the head of the LADDER which
led down TO the swinging bridge.
Heavens what sight!
Right in the midst of it was young
fair-haired girl. With her two small white
hands she desperately clutched the slen-
der cord which the fisherman used as a
guide; the pressure Of her whole weight
drove it out from the floating strips Of
boards on which she stood. Sometimes
with her hands stretched out, she swayed,
face downwards, over the abyss, with its
white raging waves hundred feet below ;
sometimes the wind and the double os.
cllation laid her head backwards, with
her hands clenched upon that worthless
cord, and her pale, sharp face strainiug
upwards, as her long hair streamed, point
ing down to the sea. The bridge itself
was shaking and swaying, giving forth
that clauk and moan peculiar to it in
storms wreathing about like serpent
struggling with the poor girls eforts.---
On the platform of rock beneath the lad
der, stood the rest Of the party, each in
an attitude of silent, horrible expectancy,
incapable Of the slightest attempt to res-
cue
AT glance this never-to- be-forgotten
scene was all understood. Another scream,
another look Of wild appealing despair
from the poor girl, and | was out upon
the narrow plank. Under the double mo-
tiou the ropes shook and were depressed,
so that could scarcely walk.
There is no time to think or pause
With rapid strides | went on. / could
hear her praying now. But | saw also
that she was losing her conciousness; Der
courage and strength were fast giving
way under the reaction Of hope; she was
about TO faint. i measured the terrible
vacancy into which she was about to fall
headlong. was prepared to abide the
desperate plunge The bridge would give
The moment she dropped. ssi es
10 The lsst extremity Of fear and hope,
! shouted in voice that stirred nv own
heart too: s R@a ~.
Nooraoo .h~..~ III. --.....-.. ..- -