Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-07-02

might get a sprinkling from its skirts,
and the wind was sure to be trouble
some.
Meanwhile we had crossed the lake
and were making our way down to the
landing adjoining, which was our camp,
keeping close In shore to avoid the COM
motion of the water.
"There is popularity in that lake.
The wild rice, from which it takes its
name, grows over almost the entire
bottom of the basin, and when at its
tallest the grain lies floating ON the sur
face of the water, and the Indians, when
it is ripe, paddle round and gather it
into their canoes. This, however,
makes navigation to ordinary rowers
rather difficult and where the basin is
particularly shallow or when the waters
are agitated by storms the passage is
perilous.
"I soon perceived that Downs and
George Law we're by no means masters
of the situation and oh, how I longed
for the tried and trusty arm of Harry
Vane to steer our giddy little skiff
Just then Harry, who was ahead, called
out to us to make for an islet, little
way out in the lake, on one side of
which there was not much rice, and
which had been used by the Indians as
landing place, as it sloped gradually
into the water he said we had better
land there and wait for the squat to
pass over.
"The rowers turned the boat toward
the islet and pushed out vigorously,
meantime holding the umbrella low like
tent or awning over my own head and
Nellie Morton's, for now it was rain
ing. Again Harry called to us to shut
down the umbrella, lest it should catch
the wind and upset our skiff, and the
next moment, Downs, who had not said
a word to us girls since the wind sprung
up, snapped out, Yes, certainly, down
with that umbrella
What with sense of danger, and
what with sudden CONSERVATION at be-
ing spoken to in such tone and man.
ner, I had no self-command, and in
shutting the umbrella 1 somehow lost
my balance, and the next instant was
sinking in the binding waters.
81 must have risen very quickly, for
the boat was there and / laid nv hand
on its side, but quick as fash Downs
hand came down on mine, and though
he afterward said that he tried to lay
hold of me to assist nae, know that he
dislodged my hand. True, / should
have upset the boat, and just as true he
flung me off to perish. AS sank again,
even through the gurgling in my ears,
heard Harry Vane, Courage, Char
lotte, I'm coming
again l rose and again sank. Then
/ ceased to struggle and the pain of
suffocatlon was gone. 1 knew that /
was dying, and like electricity all my
past life flashed before me. / had no
terror of death, but 1 longed to ask
Harry's pardon. Downs l seemed to
have forgotten. The tall rice was all
about me, and knew no more until
deadly sickness and great pain woke me
to conciousness. Was it the gurgling
water or human speech that rumbled in
my ears? l did not know, 1 did not
care /; 1 only wished not to be disturbed
not to suffer.
"Slowly my comprehers sion returned.
and found myself on he'd in the log
cabin of the man who keIt the boats on
hire, and it was night, for candles were
burning. Some of my companions of
the picnic were there, bl 1 was too i'll
and weary to ask questions.
When next 1 opened my eyes it was
daylight and my father and mother
were bending over me.
Suddenly / remembered something
of the drowning and cried out, Where
is Harry? He said he was coming
"They hushed and soothed me and 1
suppose administered a narcotic, for /
have only a faint recollection of lying
on bed in covered conveyance and
of being annoyed by the jolting.
''The next time 1 awoke my mind
was c, har, recollected all, and begged
to be cold how was saved. My friends
'evaded this questson, and my sus-
picions being aroused, / demanded to
see Harry Vane. Finding they could
no longer put me of, they told me that
Harry rescued me and swan with me
toward the islet, where enc of the boats
had just landed. Another gentleman
waded out breast high to meet him, and
drew me to the shore, supposing that
Harry was following. But Harry did
not follow, and in the excitement about
me he was not missed until too late.
Whether he was exhausted or whether
he took a cramp no one could tell. This
only 1 know and never shall forget
Harry Vane was drowned in saving my
life. This also I know I shall live
and Gle Charlotte Kemp. As for
Downs, 1 hated then, hate still, the
sound of his name. He left our town
almost Immediately after the occur
renee and never saw his face after the
day of the picnic"
Twelve Children i'm Twenty Months.