The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-06-07

was irving to stlfie the names ne Threw
, her on the door, rolled her over and
over in the quilt, like mummy, and ex
tinguished the flames at once-hnggeo
her, too She was not very badly burn
ed. after all; and her face was not touch
ed hy the flames; so that she remained
as pretty as ever
Remarkable sensible girl, said Mr.
Harrison afterward. 10 a group that clus
tered about him in the parlor Most
girls would have rushed headiong into
the hall. screaming like,-ae looked al
me-.Hke mad. he added with quiet
smile. '.If I ever marry, SAID he,
(Which | probably never shall, l shall
marry sensible woman-who would
not set up a scream if our youngest
should fall into tub of hot water, bat
would pull the child out as quickly as
possible, and send for doctor.
Somehow, l was vain enough to think
this sarcastic speech was intended solely
to rebuke me- l knew should certain
ly scream, in such a ease 1t was my
nature to scream, and how could l help
my nature!
As for that poor little Nellie Wells, |
hated her, and almost wished it had been
my own dress that had caught ire-only
I should certainly have burned to death
before Mr. Harrison would have come
and wrapped me in quilt and hugged
me.
From that day forward, some power
full influence was at work upon me. l
struggled hard after that cool manner in
danger which Mr.. Harrison possessed in
so eminent u degree. | even ventured,
in the pursuit of perfection, to ask him
how he could do it.
II SUPPOSE said he, lit is because
naturally have such an extreme terror OF
/ danger in every shape-such lively
sympathy with those IN perll-that feel
very strongly the necessity for being
I calm when others are excited. l think
/ that whatever excuse a laiy my have for
/ losing her wits-a MAN has no excuse
whatever l always try to keep my wits
/ about me-
To be calm, then. said I. with the
withering irony common to girls OF from
/ fourteen to eighteen, 'one only needs to
have his wits about him
Exactly said he; 'or, to change the
sex, her wits about her
Just as added, the secret of
wealth is to get money
And to keep it., said lie.
On one thing l was fully determined
he never should hear me scream again.
However, he left the school soon af-
ter; and l did likewise in abo-t six
months.
had effected a great change in my
self before | met him again.
1t WAS in the summer of the year
which saw me pass my twentieth birth
ratI
was there with his cousin, my dear friend
Belle Harrison, and I with my sister
and mother.
On a certain dtv we MI were taking n
walk on Goat Island, when mother drop
ped her parasol, and it slid down the
bank some fifteen or twenty feet, and
out of reach Mr.. Harrison descended
the bank after it. but though he used
proper caution. his foot slipped on tie
trcacherous soil, as he was returning,
and he slid rapidly down, to the very
verge Of the precipice. | expected moth
ing else than to see him go over, and lie
dashed to pieces on the rocks a hundred
feet below; but though the three other
ladies screamed loudly, | did not. You
see, l was pretty thoroughly drilled 10y
this time. However, as Mr.. Harrison
neared the edge of the precipice, he
threw out his right hand-still holding
the parasol in his left-and seized the
upturned roots of a tree which leaned
out over the chasm. The tree shook
violently under the sudden shock, and
the roots began to tear themselves oat
of the thin soil slowly and steadily, un-
der the influence of this superadded
weight. In few minutes more, it would
give way, and then Mr.. Harrison would
be killed. l know my face was pale, and
was terribly frightened; but l leaned
forward aud spoke to him:
Tell me what to do
Take all tie ladies shawls. skirts.
and any other articles OF dress that you
can spare, and which are strong; cut
them in wide, strong strips; tie them
firmly together and make q rope.
| oheyed as calmly as I knew he
would have done, but none the less ex
pediously on that account, be very sure.
He continued speaking to me at intervals
while was doing his bidding, and he
spoke as deliberately as if he stood IN
safety hy my side
:" Your calmness is quite charming.
Miss Monroe said he. BE sure and
make the knots tight. Judge that this
tree may be relied on with perfect conf
dence for ten or fifteen minutes yet.
Your rope is long enough now, / think.
Tie . stone to the end, and let that end
down to me That's il. All right
now. Do nothing but hold fast and
stand still, ladies, and l will come up to
you
He drew himself up. hand over hand,
with extreme caution, aud was saved
NY mothers parasol was restored to her
IL 10 =, ha.1
dust from his clothes and walked away
with US. / walked by his side; but he
made no reference to the peril just pas
sed.
That evening. however, as we sat on
the piazza of our hotel, where it over
looks the river-how well l remember
the rushing sound of the waters down
below he said:
I'VE are alone now, Miss Monroe,
and l can thank yon for saving my life,
without offense to the other ladies'