Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-12-24
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window sash, and leaning forward whispered !:
Charley, Charley you will be at the boat
to-morrOw to bid me goodbye Won't you -
| Surely We are still friends ~
/ As she spoke. she tore rose ffom'her bo-
! som, and threw it to him. Il lodged on his
arm, but lie rbushed it away as though il had
/ been poison and passed on without looking mp
Susy spent the rest of that day in teaTS.-
| Early the next morning the hustle of de-
I Parture began. Susy was g'ling to aeeompa-
/ ny her widowed aud invalid mother on n trip
/ for her health
| d. As they reached the wharf and descended
from the carriage, Su-y's eyes made them
/ selves busy searching Tor Que Wished-for face;
| but 1t was nowhere To be seen.
! Ghe steamboat lay painting and putting,
! inpatient 10 be let loose. Susy's mother, aid
/ I'd ny the servant man who accompanied
/ them, had already crossed the gang-way which
lay between the wharf and the boat, aud SusV
was reluctantly following when the sound of
voice behind her-the very voice she was
! longing to heaT-startled her She turned
to look round, and missing her footing, fell
into the water.
Another instant, and Charles had thrown
OF his coat, and calling out loudly, Tell the
| captain not to allow the wheel to stir, and TO
/ lower me rope - he sprang into the river,
but OF her whom he was risking his life to
| save, he was unable to- perceive any trace
Judging that the current of the river might
/ have carried her little forward, he swan
around the wheel, but still he saw her not.
and despair seized his heart as he coniectured
that she might be under the boat He straiR-
ed his eyes to see through the water and NJ
length discerned, far below the surface. what
seemed the end Of floating garment lodged
between the wheel and the rounded bottom Of
the boat
If this were indeed the unfortunate girl.
the least movement of the wheel must iney-
itably crush her, and Charles, in his terror.
iancIed 1t was already beginning to turn. He :
dlved and clutched at the garment but missed
1t. lie rose painting, and almost exhausted;
but scarcely waiting to get breath, he again
plunged below. This time his efforts Were
rewarded with success, at least so far that ho
was able to bring Susy's form to the surface
Of the water; but she seemed totally lifeless.
Charles was now so nearly exhausted that
he had only sufficient presence of mind left
TO clasp Susy convulsively to him while he
kept himself atlOat by holding to the wheel.
But this, his last hope of support seemed
also to fail him soon, as he perceived that il
was now really beginning to turn slowly
around. by desperate effort he struck his
foot against one OF the paddles so n 10 push
himself as far from the danger as possible
As he did so something touched his head,
aud his hand grssped rope. New life seem
ed now infused IN him. He gathered all his
energies, and fastened the rope round Susy's
waIst-cOnsciousness then entirely forsook
him. In the meantime the witnesses of the
scene, after giving Charles instructions to tho
! Captain, had watched his struggles and exer>
tIons with breathless interest The friendly
rope had been flung to him again and again,
but in the excitement of his feelings, aud
his semi-insensiblity, he had been incapable
Of availing himself of the offered aid.
At last, perceiving that lac was quite ex-
haustcd, and must inevitably soon let 90 his
hold on the wheel, aud then probably sink to
rise no more, the captain judged il best to run
the risk Of moving of, so that small boat
could be sent to the rescue
The result Of this hazardous experiment
was successful. Susy was raised By means Of
the rope, and a boat reached Charles in time
to save him also.
Both sufferers were taken on board the
steamboat, which now rapidly moved of to
make up for lost time.
And thus, when our hero regaineG his con.
seriousness, he found himself many miles from
hume. OF course his first anxious inquiry
was for Susy, and when informed that sho
was rapidly recovering, his happiness seemed
complete. He showed his contentnent by
turning over, and falling into deep, quiet
sleep.
About sunset message came to him that
Miss B desired to see him.
He found her lying on sofa in the cap
tain's state-room, which had been given tip
to her. She looked very pale and some
what suffering, but she held out her hand to
him very gratefully, while the tears stood in
her eyes.
"Charlcs." )" she said, withou. Offering /. word
OF thanks, 81 want TO see q clergyman. Is
there one on board %
. will go and see" said Charles, moving
to the door; but dreadful thought striking
him, he turned, cxclaiming, "Susy, you 10
not think"
That am going to die ," said she, an
hciPatinG him. ''No, Charlesj but want
to see clergyman"
Charles went and soon returned. accompa-
MED by a minister.
Il thank you sir, for coming to mo-" said
Susy to the latter, az he entered 81 have
strange request to make Of you. Would you
object, sir, in the presence Of these witnesses,
to unite me TO that gentleman %
If the minister was astonished at this re-
quest, Charles was Infinitely more So "Wbat
did you ssy, Susy Z" said he. did l hear
Alright Z"
Il believe SO" said susy, smiling at his.
eager anrzement. Docs the scheme meet
your approval ?"
1T was heaven.inspired :" cried the poor
fellow, frantic with joy-But shade coming
over his radiant face, he added gravely, 'B1t
Susy, have you considered? Remember,
want your love, not your gratitude. will
be satisfied with nothing less"
''Do not be concerned about that, dear
Charles" replied Susy, gazing at him very
tenderly through her tears ''be assured you
have them both, and had the Grst long, long