The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-08-16

no" 100 Uucn IN earnest 10 Dear
her trifing any longer.
"Never be it, then ?" he cried !;
and selling his hat lie strobe from
the room.
Susy listened to his rcceding
footsteps with dismay. Had she,
indeed, BY her incorrigib!e love Of
coquetry, lost him? 1t smote her
to the soul to think so. AS she
heard him open the front door,
impciIed by feeling Of despair,
she raised tho window sash, and,
leaning forward, whispered:
"CharIey, Charley! you will be
at the boat to-morro to bid me
good. bye wont you? Surely We
are still friends ?"
AS she spoke she tore 3 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 and invalid mother on a
trip for er health. As they
reached the wharf and descended
from the carriage, Sn<y's eyes
made themselves 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. SnSy's mother, aided
by h. servant man who a,'c"mpa-
MED them had already crossed the
gangway which lay between the
wharf and the boat, and Susy Was
reluctantly following, when the
sound OF Il voice hchind her-the
very voice >h" had longed to hear
startled be- She tarned to look
round, and niSsinS her footing.
fell in;o the water.
Another instant and Charles
had thrown Off his coat. anil call
ing ont loudly, Tell the captain
not t. allow the wheel to stir, and
to lower me IL r"pr"' he Sprang
into the water. Bu, Of her whom
he WIS ri>k!nS his lie to save, he
was una!!e /" perceive any trace.
Judging that ti,e current OF the
river might have carried her lit
tie forward, lIr swain around the
wheel but still be SAW her not, and
despair seized his heart as he con-
jecturcd that she mi giIt be under
the boat. ue strained his eyes
to see through the water, and at
length diScerned, far below the
surface, what seemed the end Of 4,
floating garment lodged between
the wheel and the rounded bottom
OF the boat.
If this were indeed the unfortu-
nate girl, the least movement OF
the wheel must inevitably crush
her, and Charles. in his terror.
fancied it was already beginning
to turn. He divcd and clntchcd
at the garment, bat missed it. H
rose painting and almost exhaust
ed bat scarcely walled TO gel
hreath, he again plunged below.
This time his efforts were reward
cd 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 li:eless. Charles
was now so nearly exhausted that
he had only sufficient presence Of
mind left to clasp Su<y convulsivc-
ly to him while he kept himself
ahoat by holding on to the wheel.
But this, his last hope Of sup
port, seemed also to fail him soon,
as he perceived that it was now
really beginning to turn slowly
round. BY desperate effort he
struck his foot against one OF the
paddles so as to push himself as
far from the danger as possible.
As be did so something touched
his head, and his hand graspcd a
rope. New life seemed now in
fused into him. He gathered all
his energies, and fastened the rope
round Su>y's waist-consclousnesS
then entirely forsook him. In the
meantime the witnesses Of the
scene, after giving Charles in
struct.ons to he captain, had
watched his struggles and excr.
tions with breathlcSs interest,"
The friendly rope had been flung
10 him again and again, but in tie
excitement Of his feelings, and his
scn'i>sensihi!;ty, he had been in.
capable Of avaiIing himself Of the
proffered aid.
At last, perceiving that be was
quite exhausted, and must newt
ably soon let 20 his held on the
wheel, and then probably sink to
rise no more, the captain Judged
it best 10 run the risk Of moving
off, SO that Il small boat could be
sent to the rescue. The rcsalt of
this hazal dous experiment was
Successful. Su$y vas raised 10y
means Of the rope, and q boat
reached Charles in time 10 save
him also.
Both sufferers were taken on
board the steamboat. which now