Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-07-27
vi ceilanV
From Beaile', Monthly.
iIlS WITS ABOUT Ui1I.

Il WAS in tie s-E.G.rr of the year whic!
saw me Iass my twoatcth birthday. that ",
met az Niagara Fali> lie was there will
his cousin, my dOa. lli, nd, Belle Harrison
and with my sister and mother
On certain day, we nd were taking d
walk on Goat Island. when mother dr0rTel
her Iaasol, and it lid tuyvn the bank som,
fifteen or twenty feet. aaJ out OF reach. Nj
Harrison descended the bank after It: but
though lie used prorc. canton. his foot slip
Ied on tie treachcrau- -aIl. as be was p
turning, and be slid very RAPIDLY iown To the
very verge of the II,c.ucc. / expected
nothing else than 90 see him 20 ever, and hl
dashed TO pieces on the rocks hundred feet
below but though e., three other ladies
screamed loudly. I dli not. You see, I was
pretty thoroughly drilled By this time
However. as Mr. Harrison ucarcd the edge
Of the Irccipicc. be threw cut BIZ right hand
still holding the pari-Yl in bis lcft-aud
seized the upturned roo-s Of tree which
leaned ont over the chasm The trcr shook
violently under the sudden shock, and the
roots began 10 tear thcus, .,c= .ut oi the thin
soil slowly and steadily. urIc- an. influence
of this -uVeraJici weight Ina few min
utcs more il would gI,e way. md then Nlr.
Harrison would be- killed know any acs
was pale, and vas terribly tIi.at.ntd bat
l leaned forward and = 8ac 90 tlm
"Tcll me what TO il.'
Take all the ladics' ..aci-. skirts. and
any other articles 4i dress th.l you can spare.
and which are strong; cut cm IT, wide.
strong strips 4; tie tn,m firmly to-ett er. and
make 4-fe.
| oboyed as calmly q. knew be would
have done, but none tLe less ,yItlitiau-ly on
THAI account. be very sar.. he continued
Speaking at intervals while Z ua, din. bis
bidding, and lie sTgkg a~ g Ii'1r.t,l. as d
he stood IN safety by my side
Your calmHess Is qGiic eh.uuiue, Ni-s
Monroe. - said tie BE -urs and make she
knots tight. ! Judge that this tite may be
relied on with VeriJct confidence ior ten min
utes vet. Your rope 81 i.., auylgh now.
think. Tie stone 60 r., sI.t. and let that
end down 10 me. Itat's %. All lri-h. now.
Do nothing. bnt hold fast. aui stand still.
ladies, and val. cone up TO you"
lie drew himself up, hand over hand with
ext tome caution, and wa, saved Nv moth /
er's parasol was restored o. acr witha court |
" bow, and he brushed the dust from bis |
clothes anJ walked away with us. Iwalkod /
by his side but be made no reference to the I
peril Just passed.
That evening. however. as We sat on the /.
piazza of our botcl, where II ovcIls9ks the II
yer-how well | remember the rushing sound |
OF the waters down below he sand
We are alone now, Miss Monroe, and /
can thank You iOI saving ny life. without /
ofense TO the other ladies"
1t was too dark, out there. for him to see
the blush of delight that went over my face
fN+.-ts How Il
me.
&c knew l was as good as saved, said
be, ''when | saw you standing with tightly
clasped hands and your undor-lip pressed by I
your shining teeth. while Belle and the .
other ladies were trying to drown the roar
Of old Ma cara with their shrieks / never
saw one of your sex before who had the con-
troll over herself which you manifested 10
day, II | had seen such an exhibition any
where 1t would natarally have weakened nv
admiration, but when it happened to be an
exhibition IN which my own Hlo or death
was concerned, you may imagine my feel
ings =
The tone in which be uttered these words
was so tender and true 1T said So plainly
that he would gladly devote all his future
life to me But, though tone and manner
said this, his words did not say il; and |
knew the reason, He believed me already
betrothed.
William " ills was the son Of New
York merchant who had been q schoolmate
with my father. 1t was my fathers wish
that We should be married. | loved my
father, and was anxious to he pleased with
his friends son. Young Willis had been a
frequent guest with Us, and many consider
ed US already betrothed. lie was an agreea-
bic companion in the parlor-a good dancer.
and all that but cared more for one look
Of Joseph Harrison's earnest, honest grey
ewes. than | did for William Willis whole
composition.
According TO previous appointment, Mr..
Willis came to the Falls during our stay.
lie arrived on the evening Of the day that
witnessed Mr.. Harrison narrow escape from
death. lie came out upon the piazza where
We sat that evening and We shook hands.
The gentlemen were slightly acquainted. but
It was plain Mr.. Harrison did not like Willis
TOO much and with a playful 'Ich muss
ioeyeaeH, to me. be rose and went into the
Mr.. Willis.
Several days passed. While actually in
the position of rival toward Mr. Willis.
Mr.. Harrison by no means permitted him
self to act as if he were such. lie was very
courteous to Mr.. Willis, and quietly welded
all preferences relating to me and my So
ciety He seemed, however, to be study
ing us-weighing the evidence Of regard
between us-trying to form conclusion as
to the probable extent Of our relations mat
rimOny ward. Oh, IT did seem to me as If
he might. SO brave a man as he was-p plainly
put few questions to me on the subject |
would quickly have assured him how little
Mr.. Willis was TO me.
At last, had nearly made up my mind
to desperate thing nothing less, indeed,
than to seek the interccssion Of his cousin,
my friend Bell. | would tell her how much
! loved Mr. Harrison. and beg her To inform
him in some sly, feminine way. that sbouId
neuer marry Mr.. Willis, and that we were
not "engaged - Howeyor, | neglected to
do this, just one day too long.
Ii was Monday-the last day of our in
tended stay at the Falls Mr.. Willis in
yited me to ride. | had no courteous re-
iusal at hand, and consented to 20 with
him. Indeed, | had halt promised him
some days before. There was a New York
friend of his staying al the Falls, who had
With him a favOrite horse-a fiery. hand
some anInlal-and Mr. Willis had repeatedly
invited me to ride behind him could nut
on the ride no longer. Of course.