The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1867-12-13

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tightening strain of the cord l battled
on with redoubled energy. And now
the worst was past; Il few steps more
and l should have triumphed, when
suddenly before me | perceived some
object in the water. reached out one
hand to try and touch it, when, with a
fearful noise, the rope snapped asunder,
and the impetus again cast me off my
feet. As | tell | instinctively clutched
at the figure | had seen, and my blood
turned cold as found was grasping
human hand, and the hand held a knife.
All of sudden the truth rushed over
ME, and exclaiming, "Villain !" with
an almost superhuman force dragged
him toward me. Once more | was back
in the boiling waters, down the trough
we rolled, and [ grasped convulsively
at him, and tried, with frantic effort, to
regain the bank in vain. We rose, how
ever, to the surface, and at that moment
a flash of lightning revealed to me the
demon-like countenanee Of Lascelles.
With a dreadful shudder, half uncon-
science though | was, l released my
hold, and he reeled away from me-
Now that my burden was gone, an in
stantaneous feeling caused me to exert
my little powers of swimming, and
for some time | succeeded in keeping
myself afloat; but my strength gave
way, my brain whirled and my heart
grew still, as felt my self sinking once
more, and probably for the last time,
beneath the stormy tide. l was lost
by me rushed all the events OF the past;
all my previous life was set wildly be-
fore me. The sensation was madden-
ing, and now, as | felt the last breath
leavening me, my foot pitched into
solnctbing across the stream. Merciful
Heavens 1t was tree blown down.
ward from the bank. grasped it;
hbpe gave life; one more pull ard my
head was above the water. How 1
reached the bank to this day | know
not; but the agenies endured as | lay in
a kind of stupor, on the wet sward, |
shall never forget. Once more l en-
dured the horrors of the late fearful
scene; once more 1 felt myself drown
ing in the brook, and experienced all
the terrible reality of that fearful death.
| now lost all consciousness. How
long 1 remained thus l know not
Brandy being poured down my throat,
| soon rallied under its reviying intlu-
ence, and now perceived several men
standing around me testyfying their
10y at my wonderful deliverance. An
other drink OF the brandy and | felt
myself considerably recovered. 1t was
morning; the storm had abated, and to
my great joy perceived the castle at a
short distance. The men assisted me,
and 1 succeeded in reaching its walls.
Sincere were the congratulations | re-
ceived; but the faces of all bore a
mournful look, and entering the hall, !
was solemnly informed it was too late.
| knew at once the sad cause of their
detection. Still sense of duty inn
PEELED me to visit the chamber, and
there, laid out upon an elegant couch,
were the lifeless forms of Adela, Coun-
tess of Averil, and her newborn child.
AS was leaving the room | encoun-
tered Lord Ayeril, his naughty head
bowed down with grief. lie grasped
my hand, and in voice thick with emo
ton, said: " May the Lord bless you
for what you have done Tonight
was compelled to stay at the castle
for a short time, until the brook should
be sufficiently small to admit OF recross-
ing it. His Lordship would insist upon
my going at once to bed, himselforder-
ing and seeing that everything was
done to render me comfortable. Islept,
and the next, morning | awoke in a
burning fever. The events of the pre-
vious night had proved too much for
NE; became delirious, and DR.. Hallett
was obliged to be sent for.
For upward of month lay on that
bed Of sickness, the Earl paying me
every attention. Though now tolera-
bly, convalescent, was quite unable to
resume my professional duties, and a
change of air was strongly advised for
me.
When the Earl heard this he at once
proposed making foreign tour, in
which was to accompany hlm. at will
be better for you to get away from this
place. he said, Gas soon as possible,
fraught as it is with such painful recol-
lections. His Lordship had, indeed
sustained bereavement. Not only was
there the loss of his wife, but on the
morning following that calamity there
was picked up, some half mile down the
stream, the blackened and distigured
form of his nephew, Sydney bascelles,
"Noble boy !" the .nobleman woIll(
often say to me, as he recountered the
painful story, "he tried to save You
life, and lost his own in the attempt. "
Poor, doting old man, how could
undeceive him? How could [ tell hin
that the ''noble boy" was little less thai
the murderer of his wife; how could
inform him that it was whilst trying t.
| take my life, not to save it, that he me
with his untimely erds God know
that he had sorrow enough to bear
without my mereilessly adding to it; s.
he always believed in his nephew
honor, and carried the false opinion Q
him to the grave.
We went IN cur tour; selecting tn
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