The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-02-04

the doctor, leaving me TO reflect upon ny po-
sition.
dazzling was much in vogue at that period.
but had never before been . principal in an
a6aire dAOnneur, and, confess. my feelings
upon this occasion we're not pleasing ones.
| I'm the first place, I liked Mr.. Frazer very
| much, and knew full we'll that he would never
have provoked ne to strike him had he not been
| under the influence of liquor. Bat tho blow
had been given, and nothing could prevent .
hostile meeting, unless accorded him an ample
| and AFFECT spology-to do which would have 70.
quired far moro courage than to fight, for
should have been stigmstixed 40 coward and
completely ostracized BY my brother.oaicers
ut was the rainy season, and tolerably cool,
% whea I had fnishsd putting my house In
order, as Howson had advised, set out for
long walk, thinking that exercise would stsady
my nerves. which were somewhat unstruug by
the effects Of the rotations of the previous eve
ming.
"As strolled leisurly upon my way, pom
dsrsd upon my past lifs I thought of how.
barely four years before, had set out from
homo full of hope and ambition, the hope of win
ming uame and fame in the profession had
chosen earnest in my heart; and nov. before
had even Hashed my maiden sword; before I vas
even fairly launched upon my career, had plse-
Cd myself in such position that it was more
than probable my hopes, my zeal, ambition, and
my life would be cut down like a flower!
cursed the enemy man puts in his mouth to
steal away his brains;' thought of the happy
hoas in 'Fstherland' that would be made desc.
late BY my death; thought of the dear loved
ones who would mourn me there, and nay heart
was 6llsd With bitter anguish-missry thst was
aot decreased when reflected that, even If
was spared and my adversary fell, it would be
my hand that would plunge his widow deep into
a ses Of grief, and leave fatherlsss his innocent
child.
II was aroused from this bitter train of thought
BY tho hollow thud of rapidly advancing hoofs,
aud, on looking up, I saw a lady, whose face was
totally unfamiliar to me, vsinly eudeavoring to
restrain q mettlesome horse she was riding. The
first glance told me she was skillful EQUESTRIAN
tho second that she was unaoqusinted with the
locality, for she seemed evidently bent upon tax.
ing the fire out of her steed by urging him for.
ward and to 60 forward know fall we'll meant
to rush hsadlong to destruction, for right in that
direction lay, half concealed by bushes, a deep
nsllah, or watsr-course, down which . torrent,
swolleu by the recent rains, rolled in rushing
catarac.s over the rock-strewn bed.
"Turn. madam; turn for your life, there is
danger ahead I" I cried, az rushed toward the
point for which she was heading
1.-The lady turned her face, and saw it was
fair a. an angelo; her symmetrical figure show.
81 to full advantage % she used her1 utmost Of.
forts to curb her horse, and her hair, which had
escaped from the ribbons that bound it, foated q
wave of gold far in her wake. was near enough
to see the bloom Of excitement fade from her
checks when che heard my wsrning-nsar
enough to see that the barb was beyond her con.
troll, and that catastrophe was inevitable.
"A swift runner, I started forward at full
speed, and gained the brink of the nullah just in
time to see the horse aad its rider disappear
from view in the boiling food that surged at my
feet For few seconds stood parslized then
saw tho animal struggle to the surface, and
knew that its rider had freed herself There
was little chance of saving her, 1 knew it would
be almest madness to attempt it; but it flashed
ssrsss ny mind that it would be better to end
life in bold effoet to rssoue fellow.creatu
than to meet death at the hand of my friend Of
yesterday. dotted my boots, my hat and coat
and plunged into the seething food. The cir.
cling eddies bore me downward and ownward
but was q strong swimmer, and struck out
bravely until gained the surface-gained it
just IN time to grasp the trailing riding habit of
the lady essayed to save. twined one arm
around her dainty waist and drew her beau.
tsous head With its dropping fleece of locks. upon
my shoulder, while the rushing, fosming torrent
bore US along over rocks that bruised and tore
our flesh; through deep, swirling pools, that
strove to suck US under, and down deep cascades
though they mer,ly CLEANED and flashed In the
crimson glow of the setting sun. Bruised and
battered by the collision with the cruel rocks
the life-bresth we'll nigh stifed in my throat
and my strength rapidly giving way, yet held
tightly to the pretty stranger, then unconscious
| in my arms, fully resolved that grim Death him.
| self should not part as. Over another waterfall
the fast flowing food carried us, and when we
issued from the flying foam at its foot to feebly
float was all that could do. Ny brain was in
| q whirl, all power to resist was fast leaving me-
when the current bore us under the bank at a
place where bushes reached almost to the waters
edge. [ grasped root, but the swift stream
tore me from my hold, and gave up hope.
IAN instant afterwards, however, l found nv.
self caught in the branches Of tree that had
fallen partly across the nullah, and to it chung
with the mad desperation that love of life alone
Can instill in the heart of man. still held the
lady, clasped close to me, though feared she
| never more would breathe again. l was not
one to rslinquish the prize had so strenuously
battled for, 80, using what little power still
possssped pushed her up and laid her on well
| forked branch before struggled upsn the tree
myself
"At this point the nullah's bank ives low, and
only tall trees dotted the plain beyond its brink,
As / Strengthened myself I saw, to my exceed.
ing Joy, three horsemep coming swiftly across the
patena. l halloed loudly, attracted their atten-
tion, aud they rode swiftly down when they re.
cognized the perilous predcsment was in. NV
head was dizzy, and | WAS we'll nigh overcome
| with exhaustion; bu, managed to retain nv
hold until l felt pair OF strong arms clutch me
and bear me ashore. Then sank into deep
swosn.