Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-01-15

one stride, aud laid his hand heavily OF his
/ shoulder
"Wha, do You mean sir?' and knew by
tie unnatural caimuesa II bis voice, and the
| sudden pnleness ri his face, .ha, Eugenc's
hot temper was fully aroused. Joe shook of
the detaining hand ai.d exclaimed impe,u
ously 4" ! mean that y9n sre afraid to go.n
p" Because think il foolish for Us TO ex-
/ pose ourselves 70 this danger, when there is
10 need ofit." Herr Alice spoke, her voice
( all in q'tiyer of fright: 40 Joe d0a',
let's 90 I'm snrc Mr. Wilirew knows, and
| If he says IT'S unsafe il must be-
Yes, bring forth the royal diadeln, and
crown him Lord Of all, said Joe with
, saeer, one would ihiak - hear YOU, Alice,
that Engene's knowledge il limitless."
Il trust tha, know better than 10 join iu
any such mad scheme merely because you
prapTseit re,7rsrA Eugene.
Joe faced about now with blazing eyes.
The amount Of i Is, he said. YOU won't
90, Eugene Wildrcw, because You are
coward
scarcely knew how il happened, bit ;he
next l. stant Joe was stretched full lengih
upon the ice, aud Eugene and I we're ska>
ting swiftly up the river, up 20 Westens
Leyee. threw one breath'es. glance back
ward Joe hal sprung T. hls feet. AID seiz
lug Alices hand was skating i'.riousy after
Us, the whole party fell IN ailcr them. told
Eugene, gaspiug al every wur Tor ctr speed
was such that j, LET no spare trratr. tie smi-
I'D grmiy. Not one of them viii pass the
Narrows,' he said. Eych,s proved his words
trrr.b true. We were igst entering The
dep shadows Of the Narrow, when sud len.
| ly there came ringing shout behiud Us,
Eugene, El0Ise, for Gods sake stop" and
al the same instant | became awarr tha. the
ice was swaying and cracking under our
. ct Again came that Heading cry. now
far behLd US. E. sieuilyt le fng h;ened parts
we're making tie best OF their way back, on
y Joe Baker. for the voice was his, STAYED
To warn u O. some impending danger. We
heard tie words leveeH and "oyeriiaw,
and paused little in our breaih.ess speed
While Eager . looked back II 0u late" he
said, = lnDk = Yes ii was too late. the ice
over which we had jus, passed .as totally
submerged. and only strong swift current
of water marked what had been our path
way. Death lay behind Us; God only knew
what new horror in front. Eugene cast
desparing glance at the black -aass OF rock
ON -iiher side. We must go on lie said,
striking II once in'o a fietcer speed, which
to sltcken fJr an instant would be to sinA
to the black waters below. scarcely knew
ur Fl, anything but tie wind sweeping Ly
my face the night Was very sill bus our
rapid motion made Il seem as II there Was a
strong Wind bl.w;ug-ihe vaege Lorrar of
inevitable death, and the hall eomprehensled
thought which viii sovle itself stsr brief mo-
tnent iu:o our ccnsci8us.e<s let tile danger
he what il will. Have mercy, oh God.
al Eugene stopped abruptly tiiaging his arm
around me to isnre NV balance, and pu.-
tng his fac close doEu to milsr. s4id ssis.
t-s Weuere s'a di, g on comp ira, i,ely firm
lie stia,', The Narrows wiki is black tal,-
ful shadows !ay jast behind us. aud weston's
Lerce only few yards ahead. But what,
Oh what was ,hst awful roar thar sounded as
i the faod.a'es OF hearen were opened? |
almost shrieked tie question to Easene. We
tuok ms hands in his aud looked into nv
lace. his owa grown almost sublime in that
hour ul peril.
:. Be calm. Eloi.e. be calu.1 lie said gent.
- Wesioa's Leree Is osertl3wing, i, viii
give way Ia a moment
Butt shore. Ergene. the Shore For
iswer he roinsed toward either hstik. We
were standing OH long narrow strip Of lee
ofsa'er. Sc ing that. gaveupallh peand
clung 10 Eugene, only PRAYING thar the Ger
: Ia death might come Quickly.
| suppose the shock stunned ne, for when
came - was living face downward On the
ice AID was being borne rapidly dowa the
stream, While the water washed oyer nie, in
great chilling waves. E8gene's arm was
..r.aend me holding tne with giants strength
r I -
passed the Narrows, look np." | raised ny
head we were laying On large cake Of ice
which threatened every moment to come to
pieces, for The river was 50 full Of bfoken
timbers and cakes OF ice, all hangi.g around
IN one boiling. surging mass, that it. seemed
as il everything must be ground 70 atoms
Si.!!eniy there vas a coll!siea--a crash
and We were in the water. lay passive.
making no effort 10 save myself, though |
was conscious that Eugene was struggling
mostly 10 save me. was broGght tslly 10
my senses by realizidg that We we're NO long.
er moving. Gas?ing and struggling | 20,
uly head fairly above water al lasl. and in
0ne startled gaze took in the situation. Eu-
gene had !. ound one arm around tree which
had iurinerls stood on tie river bank. but
now seemed TO be about midway OF the cur>
nj, aa1 with the other was still holding
me.
..Eleise,r he shouted, loud enough Cor me
10 hear above all the r,ar Of waters, Elo>e.
put yoar a.ms aroana this tree. quick
eeits." | managed to do his bidding. ard
to- nd that the TIRE was surglng 10 and fro
feariul'r. Evidently The roots we're loosen.
i,g. and our combined weight MAS only has
tnino The ea,asirarhe. Eugene felt il. too
He put biz euld Wet face 70 mine and said
= This tree viii hold bar one Of Us, cling
10 H. vnu NAV vel be saved
f5r. had fairly comlr hcnded ii.mean.
ing, black body swept past me. aud Ea-
gene was gone. Nv voice found uiteranee
then. Eugene, Eagene," | cried. Only
the roar of the black surges answered nc
the brave swe' singer had gone past recall.
Gene down To the gates of death
The hum Of low voices hy'mv bedside chin.
ID in pleasantly with nv drowsv, half con
sciagsness. did no, understand matt RS at
al only Was very comfortable, and b I'D
liae 10 he just 80 always. Their Was a bauk
in ms recollection which memory was doing
its best 10 I'LL up, when through the hall.
open aonr there ealae the low refrain Of
song which Eagene and | had praeiicei ca
that day, What had happe nei since The
song grew louder, could hear the words
Let rs frg.t the promise of tomorrow.
which aa TOO wei We kaaw in = ,om may set.
Let Us forget Che hope that brings but sorrow,
Let 10 forget forget--forget
Let us forget the canhe- aai the fret.
Oa, letshN will remember
Let US .orss.-let US forget"
Fosee; | had forgotten something. what
was it? Suddenly | gave load erv AMI
started up for in that Instant remen berei
al.-,ha, awiulnighs Eugene, must have
been him that sang, no one else could sing
tha; with such iniieiie tenderness aud ex.
preston hnt Eugene Was dead cool soft
hand was il upon nv ha, forehead, and
locking up ] saw Mrs. Willrew smiling
dawn on ne, glad surprised smile. |
caught her hand, "0h. Mrs. Wild~ew, Moth
er where is Eugene?" ard Eugene's voie.
answer 4, " Here, Eloi~e." tie had heard my
cry and came AZ once; | an, afraid acted
retLer fe e4l,sh: nav. | will he cn,.aid and ad.