Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1870-04-01

turned 10 Lettie
Be as 6rm and brave as possible, " sa;d
addressing her for unless there is spe.
/ cial Intervention in our behalf, | do not sec
4 what can save us from running into the rap.
ids The ice win be dashed to pieces, aud
We must perish. "
/ had feared that she would be overcome
At hearing this; but, although as pale as the
zee that We were standing upon, and hardly
able to stand without support, she bore il
bravely.
Is there no hope r. she family inquired,
her tone indicating that she did not expect
an affirmative answer.
l see 40 possible chance of escape,
replied; and our speed continued to increase
and louder grew the roar Of the rapids as
We neared them.
How long viii it be before we shal.
reach them r. she asked
I'VE cannot have but few minutes long.
er to spend on earth, | replied.
She leaned upon me, but felt stronger
when supporting her than when alone.
saw no way to avert our fa,e, and expected
to be in eternity 10 a short time. Although
life was dear to me, l would most willingly
have reiinquishedit, if BY SO doing hers could
have been saved. Yet the fate that decreed
that We we're to die together, robbed it of
all its terrors as far as 1 was concerned. It
was then I realized how much l loved her.
and | felt could not die without telling her
oft.
'Lsttie, said we shan soon be at
the rapids. but cannot die without telling
you how dear you are to me. | would
quickly sacrifice my life TO save yours, but
this it denied me- If we were spared |
wo1ld offer you the homage of lifetime.
win you sccept it for all eternity p
\ faint flush overspread her cheeks as
ceased speaking, the last time / thought
that they would ever be crimsoned before
they we're cold in death. Sue clung still
closer to me, and a frncr pressure Of the
hand was the sufficient and only answer. /
felt that | was loved
For few moments we we're both silent
l noticed that her tears were flowing, and
the sight Of them almost caused ne to lose
my selfpossession. We had already passed
several of the islands that stud the river i'm
mediately above the rapids, and our rate
Of speed was constantly increasing. [ drew
her closely to me and endeavored to pre-
pare myself for the approaching moment,
when we would 90 down together to a wa
tery grave. Ny mind was busy. and | won
dered how long it would be before our fate
would be known; of the various conjectures
that our disappearance would give rise to
and where our bodies would be found. or Il
. they would become entangled among the
rocks and our fates known and if in the
death-struggle We could still maintain hold
of each other also wondered in what man,
/ ner our deaths would be announced in thC
journals Of the day. Whether it would b
q melancholy accident or if we were
found clinging to each other, or as a 70
mantle casually, and fancied what the
emotions Of various persons would be wher
they learned of it. These reflections were
all stopped by my noticing fsberman's hut
upon an island only short distance from Us
with a couple Of men engaged al work IL
/ front oft.
l pointed 1t out to Lettie, and said, eve
may yet be saved, if can only attract tbeil
attention. Have courage and I viii attempt
( it.
left her and proceeded to the extreme
/ edge Of the ice nearest to the island, and ther
gathering all my breath for an effort called
to them. As our lives depended upon the
result, | made much louder noise than
could upon an ordinary occasion, although
my emotion was at first 50 great that |
could hardly control my voice. At length
/ I succeeded, and had the satisfaction of see
( ing boat put out after Us. Although WI
were at some distance from them, and going
I very rapidly. | had no doubt that they woulC
/ ogertake US. inst as everything seemed tC
/ be well again, was surprised to hear a crl
/ from Lettie, which caused me to looL
around quickly. | was startled BY the new
( aspect Of affairs. The ice, owing to the ac
/ tion cf the waves, and my weight upon one
edge, had parted, and We were upon sep
/ crate pieces. Lettie had sunk down upor
Z the ice and was gazing earnestly towards
me. The pieces of ice were caught in ed
/ dies and went off in opposite channels; bu
( It was with the greatest delight that 1 saw
the boatman row after her, leaving me II
my fate, and when | had passed the island
aud looked back, ! saw that she was res
cued.
Safe in the boat my feelings almos
ogercame me: and if ever l earnestly re
turned thanks to an overruling Providence
+ it was then. Although I was at a consider
able distance from her, / caugbt a las
! glance, and saw that, although almost faint
ing, she was gazing after NE knew tha
the boatman would not think Of following
me, for I was now upon the edge Of t.,
rapids. The principal events Of my Fl.
passed rapidly 10 review through ny min
aud ny memory was very active: tut to-
4 sweetest TemembeTance OF all was 81 tba
moment during the last hour, Wuea Letii'
confessed that she loved me.
The last bope had fed, and I was calcu
lating the moments that would elapse be
fore the ice would be dashed to pieces, whel
turning round to take farewell look a
earth and sky, saw canoe, propelled by
couple of skillful voyagers, coming rapid!
after me, but although it fairly seemed t
-kip over the waves, II hardly seemed +
gain on me- The water dashed over tn
cake of the ice, and | was wet and almos
iusensib,e The pursuing craft reached ID
Just in tine to save me, and / saw that
vas one Of light birch bark, and that m
rescurers we're Canadian Indians. II va
drawn out upon the ice, and | was place