The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-12-22
WHEN I WAS DROWNED.
BY WILLIAM H. MAHER.

ra Mansfield, and for the third time the
servant had met me at the door with,
Miss Mansfield is not at home to Mr..
Talbot, and 1 had turned away from the
door. ..s-.- ~ '..5.s = .--.
/ What all this meant I was at a loss to
conjecture. When heard it for the first
time was puzzled and amazed; the next
time pained but now / was maddened,
and felt that it had been intended as an
| insult. rae.e5 =. sr \.
| "Not at home to Mr.. Talbot" Pleas
| ant message from the woman who had
| promised to be my wife, was itnot? Why,
it was but week ago that she had placed
her face to mine, and confessed she was
very happy because loved her, and now,
she was "not at home!'
had known Laura Mansfield for many
years before ! asked her to be my wife.
So far as the world judges, was her
equal in family and in wealth, as we'll as
intellectually. l say $50 far as the world
| judges" because / do not judge men and
women as the world of fashion does. That
man would be q very shallow one, in my
opinion, who could think of measuring
his love against aught but the woman's
love for him.
loved Laura and loved her truly. I
was no weak, pulling boy, full of Grade
fancles of love, but an earnest man, who
knows why he loved and trusted. She was
woman, guided by her reason and her
love; not giddy, capricious girl. But
we differed in that. was somewhat slug
gish in thought and decision, while she
was impromptuous in her decisions.
l tried to recall every word and look of
our last evening together, but could re-
member nothing that would give me clue
toaler present action, and for the hundredth
time in the last few days was forced to give
it up. .-faa
''Not at homen to me! Very well
would not trouble her to send the message
again. The world would wag on much as
it had done and mems lives were made of
tougher material than to be withered by a
woman's frown. t...S s5..s - s =
While these thoughts were running
through my mind had walked on and on,
paying but little heed to my steps until 1
had passed the village, following the lane
leading to the river, and stopped only when
reached the bank. -. gs -
i was aroused from my reyerie by the
sound of the busy hammers of the bridge
builders, and threw myself under tree
and watched them hew and match the tim
bers and planks, and then raise them to
their places. The hum of the working
mems voices had a CHEEKY sound in it,
and at last led me to 60 out among
| them. bsl1aarR 90 4sz
l picked my way among the timbers
carefully and was almost at the end of the,
| completed part, when l fancied / heard!
my name spoken by some one on shore.
| l turned, without thinking of where was,
| missed my step upon the plank, had time
to call for help, and the next instant was
under the water. sH69a a'E~ Ea9giss
1t seemed an age to me before I arose
again. Down, down, down went in the
greenish water, and then without any APP
parent cause began to rise. The water
hurt my eyes, and there was roaring
noise in my ears as if thousand cannon
were laundering in discord upon every side
| of me. But my thinking faculties were
unclouded, and my mind was busy think
ing over and recalled all l had read or
heard of what men should do when they
were in danger of drowning. / wondered
if the workmen would be ready with assist
ance for me when l reached the surface,
and 1 remembered would have but three
chances for my life. Then l was above
the water.
No one was near to me. l called out
with all my strength for help, and struck
out with nv hands and feet, as had seen
swim ners do; but it was all of no avail |;
| I sank again. -. ,gf,yT.yss
| On! th, horrid, horrible noises within
my head They were growing louder and
louder. cursed my foolish tancies, that
had prevented me learning to swim
! when I was a boy. And why were not
the men doing something for me? They
had but to throw out board or rope and
4 would be saved. They must have seer
and heard me fall. Will they be ready
now? 0 God! have mercy and send me
help. =. .,s.!. s7ss. 49,.
There IS man with rope! All! i
i fell short The fool why is he SO slow
i Help! help! He 0 God! the
B word is finished under the water, aud
have choked myself with what / swal
I lowed. This terrible, terrible roaring
noise My head will split asunder |! / havt
one more chance. II but o hand was neal
me if but some one would save me!
cannot die! I am not ready; it canno
be! There is a light again. Father ii
heaven, help, oh help, me!
There comes boat Hurry, oh, hurry
How slow they come! o heaven on
y minute more, but one short minute
Help! help! OIL the clumsy fool
| He has lost his oar, and | am left t
!, drown.
Iwon't go down! will not dieI oh
this cursed yielding water! These gal
ments of lead! Iwon't go down! Ha
y I am rising! No, cannot feel mysel
move. But'the internal roar in my hea
has increased and maddens me. Ther
= = are ten thousand shrieking devils with
my ears. They yell like tortured souls
al hell! Louder it grows! louder! louder
Why. what is this? Music Ye
: sweetest, dreamiest music comes stealth
upon my senses and drives away the horde
of Satan. IT'S sweeter, this, than lit
Am in heaven? No water covers me
e no dread or fear rests upon my spirit !;
at am content (; my soul is full of peace al
d. rest. This must be heaven, but am .
IL alone. r..s,. - b
| must have foated in the invisible ethe
for here see another world. There q
. hills and mountains, trees and flowers, a
3 there are men and women walking to a
)F fro. How like the place where first / live
i'd Why, it is the self same place. i seem
n remember that little boy who runs abe
the street. All, | thought so! He is n
az self. Follow him !! 4 See him pince [
. lame boy, push over the little girl at