The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-02-24
jamie Thompson's Lovers.
CONCLUDED.

The guests looked at each other in
silence At this moment stagger
lug blow sounded on the door. and
Henry Foster, with drenched clothes,
no hat, and with hair streaming with
water, pale, even, as poor Mrs.
Thompson, speechless in her chair,
reclcd into the room. All pressed
around him, while he gazed vacantly
upon them
"Stand off, friends" said John
Graham. "anl give him space to
breathe Where's jamie Thompson,
FoSter?'
40, God! Graham, don't ask me-"
he replied, with difficulty, speaking
almost in u whisper, and passing his
hands hurriedly across his eyes,
"The hridge has gone down stream
in the roar, and we were 'mong the
timhers when the crash came"
"IIush mot 50 loud! said Gra.
ham, quickly glancing at Mrs. Thomp-
son. "Mildie, dear, some of you get
her up stairs-anywhere, out Of hear.
ing
With white frightened faces enougl,
some Of the women helped poor Mr.
Thompson ont OF the room She
was quite passive, apparently having
lost all consciousness OF what was go
ing on.
Now, for Heavens sake, tell Us
all : broke in Tx Bryson, in q
strange, sepulchral voice, while TIL,
great drops of sweat stood out on his
forehead.
Foster struggled to speak, but til,
words came with din ,ulty.
"Janie and | were on the bridge
we were out-her wlim for the moon.
light-a quick ride---when fash--ir
our very cyes-and wagon, Prince
timhcrs, all went out OF sight.
graspcd her, but lost her. and Prince
dragged me ont by the rcins tangled
round me. o God! but
"Did you see her or hear her afte
yon lost your grasp?' broke III Tx.
"No-hear! why the rivers run
ming mountains - gasped Foster.
Lanterns, quick! Come, men
' perhaps the dams chokcd. jamie,
a brave girl, and there may he hop,
e yet. Qnick's the word" and Tx Dry
! son vanished in the darkness.
j. Leaving Foster, who, shivcring il
his wet clothes, seemed entirely un
nerved, to the care of some of tn
women, the men hastily followed -.
by the time they reached the rive
bank the black cloud darkened anc
: muttered in the east, and the mool
y was breaking through the thin after
drift Of the storm The bridge wa
not all swept away, but whit RENAME,
threatened every moment to go dow
in the whirl OF waters that, seething
kissing and foaming, dashed wildl.
, along.
TX Bryson with straining eye
scam ed the whirling mass of water
Suddenly scizing John Graham
arm, so tightly that he almost cring
ed, and pointing along midway Il
where the food leaped the dam, III
said, under his breath,
Look right in the very middle
: Don't YOU see something white
John ?"
There's timb. + caught there TX
and ! guess it's the white birch yo'
see glistening."
| Tx cast his eye upward.
"Ope minute and we II have a sec
ond Of moon clear"
A few moments and the moon rod
out unclouded.
"By heaven, it's jamie, sure as In
q sinnerH cried TX.
II think it's her sure" said Farm
er Squircs. "By all that's merciful
me. quick, and let's have as big
fire pile as wood can make"
II was not long--lor ready hearts
and ready hands were now at work
ere a glowing, lurid flame shot up o
the river bank. Brush and old board
Amy thing that could BE- fonnl t.
add To the glow were cast upon til,
flaming heap, AMI soon fool an,
shore glowed alike a light as noon
day, And by the first, strong, viviC
glare the men saw how matters stood
1t was a fearful sight, indeed, tina
met their eyes Ont milw V in tn,
whirl huge debris OF tree trunk:
and diff had grounded on the well
known shallow just opposite the cen,
tire OF the dam and half sitting on
half clinging To, an immense OLD
stump that had stuck its long root.
far down and ',jammed, was jamie
Thompson.
And, brave girl that she was, as thu
fire illumed the waste, she united tn.
white kercliet from her neck, and
waved it to them--waved it almost
with an air of joy She had evident
~ gone down stream, striking tn,
matted, tangled mass, and, cIineine
for dear lite had finally found TEN.
porary resting place. But what. !,
situation, and what scene! TIL,
waters foamed and leaped By he,
wildly, dashing almost above he,
head; aud Just beyond her uncertaiL