The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-05-14

ioo', SACiOioiuS aii iicT iuutt StTeuStu IL
the blow. The frail fabric tottered, tn,
soft earth gave way, there was breatl
of wild suspense, and then il went dowI
with dull plunge into the waters be
meath. The sharp claws of the wolf hat
already been fixed on the scant vegeta
tion of the rock, and he held there 9
moment struggling with ferocious
strength to gain foot hold, the next he
slid down into the chasm, uttering Q
wild howl of disappointed rage.
Martha sank upon her knees ant
offered up fervid prayer of thanks
giving for her escape; but simultaneous
ly with the heartfelt "Amen," there
came dreadful recollection. The bridge
formed the only link between the pulpit
and the main land, and that was sever.
ed. True she was not more than TWEEN.
ty feet distant from the shore of the riv.
er, but she might as well have been
thousands of miles out in the ocean. The
water was deep, and it ran with almost
inconceivable rapidity, forty or fifty feet
below her, over rocks so sharp AMI jag
ged that it made her shiver to look over
the brink. r.a.
Her only hope as in her husband
Should he return at the expected time,
they might still be alive; but il by any
accident he should be detained beyond
the time! She closed her eyes, and be-
sought God for protection and help.
Cold, hungry and drenched by the
mist of the rivers, Charlie began to cry
for home. She could hear anything
better than that. She took off her own
garments to fold around him and held
him to her breast, and sang him the
cradle songs which had so often soothed
him.
and the sullen thunders of the river,
filled his little heart with terror, all
the long dark night through he clung
to her neck sleepless, crying to go home
to papa.
Day dawned at last, the pale sun
swimming through the sky, the pallid
forecast of a storm. Weak and faint
from cold-for summer is no bearer OF
tropical smiles in this inhOspitable
cline Martha paced back and forth the
narrow limits of the rock. Noon came
the faint sun declined--it was night
again. a cold fog sank down over the
mountain, followed by drizzling rain,
which before morning changed into a
perfect deluge. The river rose fearfully,
foaming milk white down the gorge,
filling the air with u shuddering roar
like the peal of an imprisoned earth
quake.
The day that followed was no better,
only rain and ashen-white mist-not a
ray of sunshine.
a new fear arose in the heart of Mar.
tina Warren. The turbulence of the
stream must have swept away the
bridge over which her husband would
cross on his return, and he would be de-
tained-for days, may be for weeks.
She gave up all for lost. Strongly and
fearfully was she tempted to fold hef
child in her arms and plunge into the
cauldron beneath, and thus end her
fear and doubt 1t would be better
she thought, than to suffer that slow
and painful death of starvation But
something held her back-God's curse
was on those who do self.murder.
Towards night a lost robin, beaten
about by the storm, stopped to rest a
moment on a rock, Martha seized him,
and rent him in twain, with almost
savage glee, for her to devour raw-she,
who two days before would have wept
at the sight of wounded sparrow.
Another night and day, like the 9TH
er only more intensely agonizing. Mar
tina Warren was suddenly Indifferent
now; suffering had palsied every noble
feeling. Charley moaned for supper
too weak and spent to sit up he was ly-
ing on the rock, his head in her lap,
his great eyes fixed on her face.
She tore open vein in her arm with
her scissors, and made him drink the
blood. Anything she said to calm the
wild, wistful yearning of his eyes.
The boy rose; he sat and peered
through the darkness.
Mamma" said he "papa iscomin g,
| felt him touch me-"
She wept at the mockery, and drew
the child frantically to her bosom.
The night was fair-lit up by the new
moon.
Overcome by deadly exhaustion,
against which she made no resistance,
Martha fell lintOanuneasys slumber which
toward midnight was broken by astart-
ling cry. She sprank to her feet and
gazed around her.
No! her eye did not deceive her
there on the shore stood the stalwart
form of her husband aud he was calling
her name with the energy OF despair.
She could only cry out, 80 Mark Mark
and fell senseless on the rock.
When she awoke TO consciousness,
she was lying on her bed in the cottage
supported by her husbands arms.
1t was no dream; she and her darling
boy were not dead; and he had come
back.
Many weeks passed before she grew