The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-01-28


don't suppose am going to rate myself
any cheaper than she did, do you? Sup
pose we drop this tiresome subject for two
years; perhaps by that time may be able
to work myself up to the falling-in-love
point-there is no knowing what wonders
time may effect"
"If you are not in love now, you never
will be,'' returned Charles, sturdily and
/ will have my answer now or never"
"Never, then," laughed Susy. But she
had gone step too far. Her often severe
ly tried lover was now too much in earnest
to bear her trihing any longer.
"Never be it, then ~ he cried, and
seizing his hat he strobe from the room.
Susy listened to his receding footsteps
with dismay. Had she, indeed, by her
incorrigible love of coquetry, lost him ?
1t smote her to the soul to think so.-
AS she heard him open the front door,
impelled by feeling of despair, she raised
the window sash. and, leaning forward,
whispered:
"Charley, Charley you will be at the
boat tomorrow to bid me goodbye, won't
you? Surely we are still friends?"
AS she spoke she tore 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 ac-
company her widowed and invalid mother
on a trip for her health. AS they reached
the wharf and descending from the car
riage, Susy's eyes made themselves busy
searching for a wished-for face; but it was
nowhere to be seen.
The steamboat lay painting and putting,
seemingly inpatient to be let loose
Susy's mother, aided by the servant man
who accompanied them, had already cross
ed the gangway which lay between the
wharf and the boat, and Susy was reluc-
family following, when the sound of voice
behind her-the very voice she had longed
to hear-startled her. She turned to look
round, and missing her footing, fell into
the water.
Another instant, and Charles had thrown
off his coat, and calling out loudly, "Tel
the captain not to allow the wheel to stir
and to lower me roper' he sprang into
the water. But of her whom he was risk
ing his life to save, he was unable to per
ceive any trace.
Judging that the current Of the rive
might have carried her little forward
he swan around the wheel, but still HI
saw not, and despair seized his heart a
: he conjectured that she might be unde
: the boat. He strained his eyes to Sc
through the water, and at length dis
, cerned far below the surface what seemed
, the end of floating garment lodged be
tween the wheel and the rounded bottom
, of the boat.
If this were indeed the unfortunate gir
, the least movement of the wheel mus
inevitably crush her, and Charles, in hi
: terror, fancied it was already beginning
turn. He dived and clutched at the gal
S ment, but missed it. He rose painting an
: almost exhausted; but scarcely waiting {
get breath, he again plunged below. Thi
time his efforts were rewarded with SUI
t cess, at least so far that he was able
u bring Susy's form to the surface of the W;
ter; but she seemed totally lifeless. :
Charles was now so nearly exhausted tha
: he had only sufficient presence of mind le
y; to clasp Susy convulsively to him while h
y kept himself afioat by holding on to Il
" wheel.
But this, his last hope of support, seen
N ed also to fail him soon, as he perceive
If that it was now really beginning to tur
t. slowly round. By a desperate effort
IL struck his foot against one of the paddl
rs so as to push himself as far from the da
is ger as possible. AS he did SO somethir
u touched his head, and his hand grasped
2 rope. New life seemed now infused I'M
u him. He gathered all his energies al
s, fastened the rope round Susy's waist
W consciousness then entirely forsook hir
n In the meantime the witnesses of the seen
sr after giving Charles instructions to b
r captain, had watched his struggles and e
ertions with breathless interest II
ut friendly rope had been flung to him aga
Il and again, but in the excitement of h
feelings, and his semi-sensibility, he HI
h. been incapable of availing himself of t
IS, proffered aid
At last, perceiving that he was qui
,s exhausted and must Inevitably soon