The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1868-01-10

tofC ucaIiy W IitNe you love me- salO
susy.
"Why, them" cried the foolish youth
quite won over again, "why, then dear
est Susy, will you not consent?"
"Remember. said liked to be low
cd," replied Susy; l did not say any
thing about loving. But pray how long
did you say you had been eourting me,
in that pretty little speech of yours p
"Three long years" replied Charles.
"Neatly and accurately quoted,
Charley. But you know my cousin
Rachel was only won after five years
courtship. You don't suppose l am
going to rate myself any cheaper than
she did, do your Suppose we drop
this subject Tor two years; perhaps by
that time INmay be able to work myself
up to the falling-in-love point-there is
no knowing what wonders time may eff
fcct.''
eff you are not in love now, you new
er willbe," returned Charles, sturdily;
sand will have my answer now or
never"
"Never, then," laughed Susy. But
she had gone step too tar. Her often,
severely tried lover was now too much
In earnest to bear her trifiing any
longer.
"Never, be it, then :" he cried, and
seizing his hat he strobe angrily from
the room.
.Susy listened to his receding footsteps
with dismay. Had she indeed, by her
incorrigible love of coquctry alienated
that noble manly heart? 1t smote her
to the soul to think so. AS she heard
him open the front door, impelled by a
feeling Of despair, she raised the win
dow-sash, and leaning forward whis-
pered.
"Charley, Charley ! you will be at
the boat to-iporrQw to bid me goodbye,
won't you?SSurely we are still triendsp
AS she spoke, she tore rose from her
bosom, and threw it to him. 1t lodged
on his arm, but he brushed 1t away as
though it had been poison and passed
on without looking up.
Susy spent the rest of that day in
tears. Early the next morning the
hustle of departure began. Susy was
going to accompany her widowed and
invalid mother on trip for her health.
AS they reached the wharf and des-
cended from the csrriage, Susy's eyes
made themselves busy searching for one
wished-for face; but it was nowhere to
be seen.
The steamboat lay painting and puff
fling, impatient TO be let loose. Susy's
mother, aided by the. servant man who
accompanied them, had already crossed
the gaag-way which lay between the
wharf and the boat, and Susy was re-
luctantly following when the sound of
voice behind her-the very voice she
was longing to hear--startled her. She
turned to look round, and missing her
footing, tell into the water.
Another instant, and Charles had
thrown off 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 wrs 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 conjectured that she might
be under the boat. He strained his
eyes to see through the water, and ut
1ehgth discerned, far below the surface,
what seemed the end of floating gar
ment lodged between the wheel and
the rounded bottom of The boat.
If this were indeed the unfortunate
girl, tile least movement of the wheel
must inevitably crush heri and Charles,
in his terror fancied it was already be-
ginning to turn. He dived and clutch
ed at the garment but missed it, He
rose painting, and almost exhau sted
but scarcely waiting to get breath, he
again plunged below. This time his
efforts were rewarded with success, at
least so far that he was bring able to
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 atioat by
holding to the wheel.
But this, his last hope of support
seemed also to fail him soon, as he per-
ceived that it was now really beginning
to turn slowly around. BY desper-
ate effort he struck his foot against one |
of the paddles so as to push himself as
far from the danger as possible. AS he
did SO something touched ais head, and |
his hand grasped a rope. New life
seemed now Infused in him. He gath
cred all his energies, and fastened the
rope round Susys waist-cohscious-
ness then entirely forsook him. In the
meantime the witnesses OF the scene,
after giving Charles instructions to the
Captain, had watched his struggles and
eXertions with breathless interest. The
friendly rope had been flung to him a.
gaiE, but in the excitement of his feel
ings, and his semi-insensibility, he had
been incapable of availing himselfof the
offprnd aid