Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-07-13
ELLSWORTH, MAINE, FRIDAY, JULY l3, 1866

know my face was pale. and was terribly
frightened but learned and spoke to him
TELL me what to do" @
Take all the ladies shawls, skirts, and
any other articles Of dress THAT you can
spare. and which are strong cut them in
strong wide. strips tie them firmly tOgeth-
er and make rope"
l obeyed as calmly as knew he would
have done. but none the less expeditiously
Oh that account, be very sure. lie contin
ued to speak to me at intervals while was
doing his bidding and he spoke as deliber.
ately as if he stood in safety by my side.
"four calmness is quite charming. Miss
MOnroc," said he. BE sure and make
the knots tight. Judge that this tree may
be relied on with perfect confidence for ten
or fifteen minutes yet. Your rope is long
enough now. think. Tie a stone to the
end, and let that end down to me. That.
it. All right now. Do nothing but hold
fast and stand still, ladies, andI will come
up to you.'' %
IL drew himself up, hand over hand.
with extreme caution and was saved
Ny mothers paras0l was restored to her
with a courtey bow; and he brushed the
dust from his clothes aud washed away with
us. walked by his side; but he made no
reference to the peril just passed.
That evening however. as we sat on the
piazza of our hotel, where it ovcrooks the
rivcr-how well remember the rushing
sound of the waters down below he
said:
1--WE are alone now. Miss Monroe, and
I can thank You for saving my life, with
out otfcusc to the other ladies'
1t was too dark out there fpr him to see
the blush Of delight that went over my
face at these words. How much they
mcnt me-
Il knew was good as saved said h.,
when saw YOU standing with tightly
claspcd hands and your under lip pressed
by your shining teeth, while Belle and the
other ladics were trying to drowned the
roar Of old Niagara with their shrieks. !
never saw one of your sex before who lla d
the control over herself which you nantes
ted to -day.-If had seen such an exh b.
ition any where it would naturally have
awakened my admiration hut when it
happened to be an exhibition in which my
own life or death was concerned, You may
imagine my feelings.
The tone in which he uttered those words
was so tender and true lit said so plainly
that he would gladly devote all his future
life to ne But though tone and manner
said this, his words did not say it; and
konw the reason. lie believe mc already
bctrotlicd.
William Willis was the son of New
York merchant who had been schoolmatc
with nv father. 1t was my fathers wish
that We shonld he married. | loved my
g., L.. L., n II.
his friends son. Iouy Willis had been a
fr"9uont guest with us and MANY consider
ed It's already bctrothed, lie was AN agre-
bic companion in the parlor- good dane
y and all that; hut cared more for one
look of Joseph Harrison ernest, honest
gray eyes than did for William Willis's
whole composition.
/ According to previous appointment
Mr.. Willis came to the Falls duriig our
stay. lie arrived on the evening OF the
day that witnessed Mr. llarrisol,'s narrow
escape from death. lie came ont on the
piazza where we sat. that evening and we
shook hands. The gentleln were slightly
acquainted, but it was plain Mr.. Harrison
did not like Mr.. Willis much: and with
playful 'Lh muss waggchen,' he rose and
went into the ballroom politely offering
his seat tn Mr. W His.
Several days passed. While actually in
the position ofa rival toward MI. Willis,
Mr. Harrison by no means permitted him
slcf to act as if he We're such He was very
courteous to Mr.. Willis, and quietly Weld
ed all preferences relating to he in society
He seemed however. to be studying us
weighing the evidences of regard between
us-trying to form conclusion as to the
probable extent of our relations matrimo-
ward. Oh. it did seem to me as if he
might, 50 brave a man as ho was plainly
put few questions to me on the subject
would quickly have assured him how lit
tie Mr.. Willis was to me.
At last. had nearly made mp my mind
to Il desperate thing nothing less indeed,
than to seek the interccssion of his cousin.
my friend Belle. would tell her how much
loved Mr.. Harrison and beg her to inform
him III sons sly feminine way, that
should never marry Mr.. Willis. and that
we were not engaged Howcv r neg.
lectcd to do this just one day too long.
: 1t was Mongay-the las. day of our in
tended stay at the Falls. Mr.. Willis in,
vited me to ride. had no courteous re,
fus;l at hand and consented to go Will
him. Indeed had half promised him,
some days before. There was New York
) friend of his stopping at the Falls, who had
) with him Il tavOritc horsc-a frey, hand
some animal-anl Mr.. Willis had repeat
cdlv invited ne to ride behind him.
, could put off the ride no longer, OF course
did not much like the vicious manner
in which the horse. at starting. laid bach
, his ears and bounded away; but | sat
nothing, We had not pccn riding man,
minutes. ere the animal chose to take frigh
at the tapping of II line full of newly wash
ed clothing in the dooryard of a house "ca
, the river bank and, taking tho hit in hi,
teeth, he ran away. Our road lay alon:
; the bank-safc enough, certainly. for ;
ride with Il horse under control; but de-
t cdedly not the hest place for runaway
because there was SPOT. not half mll'
distant, where tho chances were ftighttull,
great that we should he thrown over til,
precpicc and killed. At the rate we wcr,
now going, we should reach that danger
Gus place soon. William Willis looked
ahead, comprchended the danger, and hi
face blanched.
Good Cod he cried, it's death :,
With that he threw up the reins, ant
jumped out of the buggy, striking rock
and breaking his collar-bone--as foun,
; afterward.
As for me. kept my scat. If it shoult
become necessary for me to jump, then
would jump; hut was determined not tt