The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-03-21

with the cruel rocks, the lfe.breath well
nigh stuffed in my throat, and ray strength
rapidly giving away, yet chung tightly
to the pretty stranger Their unconscious in
my arms, fully resolved that grim Death
himself should not part us. Over another
waterfall the fast flowing flood carried as
and when we issued from the flying foam
at its foot, to feebly float was all that
could do. My brain was all in a whirl
all power tn resist was fast leaving me-
when the current bore US under the bank
at place where the bushes reached al
most to the waters edge. grasped a
root, but the swift stream tore me from
my hold, and gave up hope.
can instant afterward, however, found
myself caught in the bushes of a 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
life Of man I sill held the lady, clasped
her close to me, though feared she never
more would breathe again. | was not one
to reinquish the prize [ bad SO strenuous
y battled for, 80, using what little power
| still possessed. pushed her up, and laid
her on well forked branch ere 1 strug-
gled on the tree myself.
"At this point the nulIah's bank was
low, and only tall trees dotted tho plain
beyond its brink. AS | Strengthened my
self, | saw, to my exceeding Joy, three
hnrsemen coming swiftly across the pate
IA. hallnoed loudly, attracted their a.
tentinn, aud they rode swiftly down, when
they recognized the perilous predicament
N VI Il I
well nigh overcome with exhaustion but
[ managed to retain my hold until felt
a pair Of strong arms clutch me, and bear
me ashore-then | sank into deep
swOon.
when my senses returned, / discovered
that L was lying upon a couch In my own
quarters, and 10y my side WAS standing
Lieut.. Howsoh. Two other gentlemen
were seated near the verandah. wish their
backs toward me.
"'Who was she, Ned? Is she dead ? |
asked, when l remembered what had oc-
Cured.
Ere my friend could reply, the two
gentlemen had noticed rose from their
seats and caMe quickly toward where
Was lying. One grasped my hand.
glanced upward and saw the collector
bending over me.
est was my wife, my brave fellow, and
In few days [ hope she may be sufficient
y recovered to thank you personally fer
having so gallantly rescued her from a
terrible death. She only arrived yester
day morning, and was riding over to the
cOlOneIs with Capt Raper, Dr. Middleton
and myself, when her horse bolted, ana
this accident occurred. AS for that other
matter between you and me, H0Irovd, you
may cal me coward, or whatever you
choose, but l tell yon plainly [ will never
raise my hand against yOu-you, who
who have proved yourself such hero
you, To whom | owe such an everlasting
debt of gratitude; for You nobly risked
your own life In saving that Of my pre-
clous Bertha, and may God bless you Cor
the gallant action you performed |! he
SAID and his tiue frank face cleaned, and
his eyes gliStened with tears, as he gazed
upon me.
Il tried to reply, but I was terribly
Frustrated, and "a choking sensation in
my throat stage my utterance | sunk
back upon my pillow, and closing my
eyes, mentally thanked Heaven for having
aided me to preserve unto my late enemy
a lie he valued far more than mis- own.
Some weeks passed before [ regained
convalescence but Mrs Fraser, who bad
not sustained such severe Commissions as
myself, nursed me so tenderly that at
length recovered my pristine vigor.
Many years have gone by since then, and
Mrs. Fraser's locks are grayish now but
her daughters have the golden hue her
mothers wore when first we met, and her
face has the same sweet expression. The
dearest friend have on earth is the man
whose wife [ saved-the man who chal.
lenged me to duel that was never
fought !"