The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-25
q :. !. :. 5i,tinruist to be their impor

could At last distinguish to be their impor-
tunate cries. ...-,,,
de.nite the entreaties of the man, spurred
INV horse into the seething stream; on !
eoaded him until the waters reached al
most up to my knees and the animal could
hardly stand for the rushing Of the cur
rent; in vain / spurred; the frightened
steed would 60 no further, and in despair
| reluctantly turned back.
could hear the cries Of disappointment
rend the air, when at last one stentorian
voice bawled forth, "Swim, swim across"
But for me to try and swim we're mad
ness my knowledge Of that aquatic science
was scarcely sufficient to enable me 10 aa-
vance three successive yards even though
In the calmest water, and In the present
turbulent state to have kept afloat for even
a couple of feet would have been for me
impossible; but suddenly thought struck
me, and at once gave utterance TO ~ by
shouting at the top Of my voice, "a rope,
rope" -, l1
called out, "Hold fast one end and throw
the rest across" and almost Immediately
the coil came whistling past.
"Now help me to secure this end,'
said to the groom, and presently we sue
ceeded in fastening it to tree that was
standing near.
aAs you value my life, firmly hold fast
your end" l shouted out, and the answer,
"all right" being given, | pulled OH my
great coat and other inconvenient appen-
dages, and at once commenced the attempt:
Keeping close to the rope, walked
through the shallow water with tolerable
ease, but as the stream grew deeper |
grasped the rope with both hands, for the
current was so strong as to almost wash
nv feet from under me, and once, owing
to the slackening Of the rope, | was for
moment completely submerged. Hold
tight. for Gods sake :" ! cried, as, with an
effort, regained my footing and as felt
the tightening strain Of the cord l battled
on with redoubled energy; and now the
worst was pasta few steps more, and l
should have triumphed, when suddenly be-
fore me l perceived some object standing
in the water. l 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 / fell in
stinctively clutched at the figure had
seen, and my blood turned cold as found
I was grasping a human hand, and the
hand held knife.
All of sudden the truth rushed over
me, and e1claiming "villain," with an al
most superhuman force dragged him to-
ward me. Once more was / back in the
boiling waters, down in the trough we
rolled, and grasped convulsively at him,
and tried with frantic efforts to regain the
bank in vain. We rose, however, to the
surface, and at that moment flash of
lightning revealed to me the demonlike
countenauce of Sydney Lascelles.
With a dreadful shudder, half uncon-
scious though | was, l released my hold,
and he reeled away from me. Now that
my burden was gone, an instantaneous
feeling caused me to exert my little pow
ers of swimming, and for some few seconds
succeeded in keeping myself afoat; but
strength gave way, and my brain whirled,
and my heart grew still, as / felt myself
sinking once more, and probably for the
last time, below the stormy tide. / was
lost-by me rushed all the events of the
past all my previous life was set wildly
before me. The sensation was maddcnlng,
and now, as felt the last breath leaving
me, my foot pitched in something across
the bottom Of the stream.
Merciful heavens! it was tree blown
downward from the bank. / grasped it ;
hope gave life; one more pull, and my
head was above water. How / reached the
bank, to this day know not; but the ago.
MES endured as lay in kind of stupor
on the wet sward I shall never forget.
Once more endured the horrors of the
late fearful scene; once more | felt myself
drowning in the brook, and experienced
all the terrible reality of that fearful death.
/ now lost all consciousness. How long
| remained thus know not. Brandy being
poured down my throat, | soon rallied
under its revivitying influence, and now
perceived several men standing round me,
testifying their joy at my wonderful deli
verance. Another 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
short distance. The men assisted me, and
/ succeeded in reaching its walls. Sincere
were the congratulations | received; but
the faces of all bore 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 impeiled me to visit the chamber, and
there, laid out upon an elegant couch, were
the lfeless forms Of Adela, Countess Of
Averil, and her newborn child.
AS was leaving the room encountered
Lord Averil, This naughty head bowed down
with grief; he grasped my hand, and, in a
voice thick with emotion, said "May the
Lord bless you for what you have done to-
night"
I was compelled to stay at the castle for
short time, until the brook should be suf-
ficiently small to admit of my recrossing it..
His Lordship would insist upon my going at
once to bed, himself ordering and seeing
that everything was done to render me
comfortable. Islept, and the next morning
I awoke in burning fever. The events of
the previous night had proved too much
for me 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 at
tention: though now tolerably conva-
lescent, I was quite unable to resume my
professional duties, and q change of air
was strongly advised for me. --...
When the Earl heard this, he at once pro-
posed making foreign tour, in which /
was to accompany him. sit will be better
for you to get away from this place." he
said, "as soon as possible, fraught as it is
with such NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS." His Lord
ship 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 disfgured
form of his nephew, Sydney Lascelles.
"Noble boy I" the nobleman would often