The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1873-11-19

he had to swim for his lite, emo tqen
Gertrude and I got some twenty
feet higher up in the blue gum, ana
paused to rest. Shawls and wraps
had long ago fallen off her and been
lost, and new poor Gertrude was
exposed 10 all the inClelneney ofthe
weather, III the low-necked, short
sleeyed dress she had worn during
the evening.
How her plump, white and beau
titully.molden arms were scratched
by the rough tree-bark in climbing,
and as the rain poured down
through the unprotecting vertical
foliage, the drops glittered on her
polished shoulders and trinkled
down her plump, snowy bosom.
"WhY, Gertrude, you look
veritable Undine," | said, and, hav-
ing no cape for overcoat to protect
her, | dofed my uniform, and made
her put It on. ~
We then sat side by side, and,
putting my arm around her neck, |
told her all about my interview
with her father that evening.
Sand did papa really say tbatas
soon as you were as rich as himself
he would let me marry you, Willie?"
she asked.
eyes, Gertrude; he gave me his
word Of honor to that effect" ] re-
sponded.
"Then he won't break it," she
replied. ''Poor papa! this night
has made him a beggsr. All his
money was invested in improve
ments on his land and in increase
Of stock. II is all lost now, 50 You
may claim me sooner than you
thought for, Willie.' if
This view Of the case bad neYeT
struck me before, and / nearly
jumped off the gum tree in, ! tear,
d most selfish eCstacy Of delight
j was bound to control myself, how
ever, and exert all my attention IN
comforting Gertrude, who, now that
the excitement attending our escape
was over, began to entertain thou
sand fears concerning the fate other
parents.
AT last | succeeded in convincing
her that it was a matter Of impOssi-
bility for the flood to cover The
house before rescuse came iR the
morning, and therenpon she became
composed, and our thoughts revert
ed to our own hopes and fears and
amid the rain and bowling wind,
and the still rapidlyJising waters
below, she nestled in my arms, apd
we talked Of love, until the cold,
gray dawn aroused us from our sew.
enth heaven OF bliss. Well, then,
to make q long story short, after
another three hours perch, we per
ceived some boats coming from the
direction Of Windsor, and by the
aid ofa brilliant scarlet handker-
that | fortunately possessed, we
signaled them, attracted their at-
tention, and were in due time taken
on board.
At my instigation, we then rowed
to Mr.. Martins farm, and saved
the old man and his wife from q
chimney-top, wheron they were both
sitting, with their feet held up cut
Of the water. We were only Just
in time. '"7s
Two months later, Gertrude Mar
tin became Mrs. William Rush.
The,old man stuck to his word,
and our position was Lot so bad,
after all, for, q month previously to
our marriage, | came into an annu-
ity ofa hundred and fifty pounds
per annum on the death ofa distant
relative in England, 50 that, with
my pay OF seven-and-sixpenCe per
day, we are able 10 begin house
keeping pretty comfortably.
Mr.. Martin has retrieved his loss,
and Is now the owner Of q capital
farm at Hyde, New South Wales.
He has abjured, and very wisely,
the rich alluvial lands on the hanks
Of rivers, 50 freely offered toashe
emigVant IN q certain Columnin our
. ~ 4