The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1869-08-21
IF you are not in love poS, you never
will be-" returned T.. sturdily; nund j

+ I
IF you are not in love noS, you never
will be-" returned Q. sturdily; "and i
will have my answer now or never.''
"Never, them" laughed Susy But
she had dgone step too far. Her often
severely tried lover was now too much
in earnest to bear trifling any longer
"Neyer be it. then !" he cried and
seiziny his hat he strobe from the room
| Susy listened to his recceding foot
steps with dismay. Had she, indeed, by
her inccrrigible love coquetry, lost him /?
1t smote her to the soul to think SO. AS
she heard him open the front door, im-
PEELED by d feeling of despair, she raised
the window sash, aud, leaning forward,
whispered: ,,-.., III,
Charley, Charley you will be at the
boat Tomorrow to bid me good bye,
won't you? 7? Surely We are still friends. !"
AS she spoke she tore rose from her
bosom and threw it to him. 1t lodged
on his arm, but he brushed it away as
though it had been poison, and passed
on without looking up.
Susy spent the remainder Of the day
in tears. Early the next day the hustle
of departure began. Susy was going to
accompany her widowed invalid mother
on trip for her health AS they
reached the wharf and descended from
the carriage, Susy's eyes made them
selves busy searching for wished-for
face; but it was nowhere to be seen.
The steamboat lay painting and putting,
seemingly impatient to be let loose
Susys mother, aided by the servant man
who accompanied them had already
crossed the gangway which lay betwe n
the wharf aud the boat, and Susy was
reluctantly following, when the sound OF
u voice behind hcr-thc very voice she
had longed Sc hear-startlcd her. She
turned to look round, and missing her
footstep, fell into the water.
Another instant aud Charles had
thrown off his coat, and calling cut
loudly, Tell the captain not to allow the
wheel TO stir, and to luwer mo t-srupc ~
he sprang into the water. 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 furwal d =.
he swan around the wheel but still he
saw her not, anu despair seized his heart
us he conjccturcd that she might be un-
der the boat. He strained his eyes to
see through the water, aud at length dis
cerned, far below the surface, what
seemed the end of hoating garment
lodged between the wheel and the round
ed bottom of the boat.
If this were indeed the case of the un-
fortunate girl, the least movement OF the
wheel must inevitably crush her, aud
Charles, in his terror, fancied it was
already beginning to turn. He divod
and clutched at the garment, but
missed it. He rose painting and al
most exhausted; but scarcely waiting to
get breath, he sgain plunged below
This time his efforts were rewarded with
success, at least so far that he was able
to bring Susy's form to the surface Of
the water; but she seemed totally life
less. Charles was now so nearly ex-
hausted that he had only sufficient pre-
sence of mind left to clasp Susy convul-
sively to him while he kept himself
afoat by holding on to the wheel
But this, his lust hope of support,
seemed also to fail him, soon he per-
ceived that it was really beginning to
turn slowly round. by desperate eff
fort he struck his foot against one of the
paddles SO as to push himself as far from
the danger rs possible. AS he did SO,
something touched his head, and his
hand grasped n rope. New life seemed
now infused into him. He gathered all
his energies, and fastened the rope round
Susy's waist-consciousness entirely for
sook him. In the meantime the wit
nesses Of the scene, after giving Charles
instruction to the Captain, had watched
his struggles and excrtions with breath
less interest. The friendly rope had
been flung to him again aud again, but
i'll the excitement OF his feelings, and his
semi sensibility, he had been incapable
of availing himsolf of the proffered aid