The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-03-30

VI. "
A swift runner, started forward ai
full speed, and gained the. brink of the
nullah just In time to see her horse and
ito rider disappear from view in the boil.
ing flood that surged at my feet. For a
lew seconds stood paralyxed-then ]
saw the animal struggle to surface, and
knew that its rider had freed herself.
There was little chance Of saving her,
knew; it would be almost madness to
attempt it; but 1t flashed across my
mind that it would be better to end life
in bold effort to rescue fellow.crea-
ture, than to meet death at the hand Of
my friend Of yesterday. 1 DOTTED my
boots, my hat and coat, and plunged
into the seething flood. The circling
eddies bore me downward aud onward,
but I was q strong swimmer, and /
struck out bravely until I gained the
surfaoe-gained It just in time to grasp
the trailing riding habit around her
dainty waist, and drew her beuuteou.
head, with its dripping fleece locks,
upon my shoulder, while the rushing,
foaming torrent, bore us along over rocks
that bruised andtore our flesh, through
deep, whirling pools, that strove to suck
us under, and down steep cascades,
where the waters broke with kissing
roar, though they merrily cleaned and
flashed in the crimson glow of the set
ting sun. Bruised and battered by the
collision with the cruel rocks, the life
breath we'll nigh stifled in my throat,
and my strength rapidly giving way,
yet clung tightly to the pretty stran-
ger then unconscious in my arms, fully
resolved that grim death himself should
not part us. Over another waterfall the
fast flowing flood carried US, aud when
we issued from the flying foam at its
foot, to feebly float was all that ! could
do. MS brain was all in whirl, all pow
er to resist was fast leaving me, when
the current bore us under the bank at
place where bushes reached almost to
the waters edge. grasped root. but
the stream tore me from my hold, and I
gave up hope.
An instant afterwar,l, however,
found myself caught in the bushes of a
tree that had fallen partly across the
nulIah, and to it 1 cluns will: the mad
desperation that love of lite alone can
instil into the heart of man. still held
the lady, clasped her close to me, though
feared she never more would breathe
again. was not one to -elinquish the
prize had SO strenously battled for, SO.
using what little power still possessed,
pushed her up, and laid her on . well
forked branch ere struggled on to the
tree myself.
At this point the nullah's bank was
low, and only tall trees dotted the plain
beyond its brink. As l Strengthened
myself, sa~ to my exoaahine low. three
horsemen coming swiftly across the
p~ntsna. shouted loudly, attracted
their attention, and they rode swiftly
down when they recognized the peril
Gus predicament I was in. My head
was dizzy, and 1 was well nigh over
come with exhaustion. But / managed
to retain my hold until / felt pair of
strong arms clutch me and bear ME
ashore-then sank into deep swoon.
When my senses returned, discover.
ed that was lying upon couch in my
own quarters, and by my side was stand
ing Lieut.. Howson. Two other gentle.
men were seated near the veranda, with
their backs toward me.
"Who was she, Ned? Is she dead ?"
l asked, when l remembered what had
occurred.
Ere my friend could reply, the two
gentlemen had noticed rose from their
seats and came quickly forward to where
I was lying. One grasped my hand.
glanced upward, and saw the collector
over me.
1T was my wife, my brave fellow, and
in few days I hope she will be suftic-
iently recovered to thank you personal
Iy for having SO gallantly rescued her
from a terrible death. She only arrived
yesterday morning, and was riding over
to the colonel's with Captain Raper, DIR.
Middleton and myself, when hel horse
bolted, and this accident occurred As
for that other matter between you and ],
Horoyd, you may call me coward, or
whatever you choose, but tell you
plainly I will never raise my hand
against you-you, who have proved
yourself such a hero-you to whom
owe an everlasting debt Of gratitude; ;
for you nobly risked your own life in
saving that of my precious Bertha, and
may God bless you for the gallant action
you performed!' he said, and his fine,
frank face cleaned, and his eyes glis.
tened with tears as he gazed upon me.
1 tried to reply, but was terribly
FRUSTRATED, and choking sensation in
my throat stayed my utterance. sank
back upon my pillow, and closing my
eyes, mentally thanked heaven for hay
ing aided me to preserve unto my late
enemy life he valued far more than his
own.
Some weeks passed before regained
convalcscence but Mrs. Fraser, who
had not sustained such severe contus-
ions as myself, nursed me so tenderly
that at length recovered my pristine
vigor. .....-.
Many years have gone by since then,
aud Mrs. Fraser's locks are grayish now;
but her daughters have the golden hue