The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-10-16

I AOiA5 tO2CGuCE-hEUlIGs ONEL6f10R. II
to the market, anywhere and every
where, so that it was out in the Opel
air or on the free glad waters of tn
bay.
Heaven knows I tried to stay at hom
with them. but Captain Jack would bav
me go. was afraid to openly rebel
because-well, because I did not car
to breed q devil in that dormant bu
powerful brain.
Thus L was tried, rendered helpless
by the honesty and confidence of Jack
the innocense of May, and the ungov
| ernablo passion of Ralph. I became
victim to all these terrible agencies fol
evil, without being able to think of
plan for amelorating them.
Suddenly, and without any previous
warning, the knot in the tapgle b. came
unraveled. There was only one way
out of this whirlpool, and Ralph pro-
posed it himself.
He came to me one night, pale as q
| spectre, and said, in a hoarse whisper,
that we must go at daYbreak.
-" Go ?"I said. $50 where-to the
city,"
ends of the earth :" he cried, raising
his hands in a spasm of agony.
said no more, but packed our port
manteaus and got to bed, while poor
Ralph walked the floor till morning.
With the first beam of the sun came
the CRY of the baby in the adjoining
and Ralph came over to the bed.
If it hadn't been for the child"
he said, and paused.
"Well, thank God, then, for the child,
Ralph, " I said. You'll say SO your
self some day"
We were aboard a steamer the next
week, bound for the Spanish Main
From thence We set sail for Egypt; and
Heaven knows where the restless soul of
my comrade had not drawn me.
At last he came to me himself.
Sim homesick, Hal, he said. ''Let's
get back to America"
Useless to descant upon my rapture.
I was the most disguised and worn out
pilgrim that the world had ever seen.
There were no periIs for US by land
or sea till we reached the Kill Won KulI.
To get to the dear old mansion where
abode the dearest old Q uaker lady that
ever was moved by the spirit to have
such a son as Ralph we had to take the
river boat. And now the sun was set
ting over the familiar hills, the waters
of the bay all aglow. had reason to
hope that in an hour more we would be
safe.
But just then Ralph started to his
feet. had hoped he was asleep but
there was a sIumbering light in his eye
that told of brooding and discomfort.
" Come" he said g before the light
dies quite away I must have one look
at the shore"
"Ralph, I cried, "don't! I ask it
of you r'
But he was halfway up the stairs
not the stairs he had des cended, the
others, the ones that led to May and
the child. It was destiny. They stood
by the pillar in almost the same atti
tude as when last saw them.
Ralph in mounting the last step tum-
bled forward.
''I beg pardon" he said and then
remained, with mouth agape and staring
eyes, looking at the woman and the
child.
She said not word. 1t will be re-
membered that she had seen him be-
fore.
He staggered forward. "May," he
said" why, May :" then put his hand
to his head in bewilderment. She still
remained speechless but her lips trem-
bled, her hands left the shoulders of
her child and unconsciously extended
themselves to him.
eyes. yes" he cried, "oh, come to
me |" He drew her to his side, devOur-
ing her with his eyes, while her own
felI-fell, filed with tears, under his
burning gaze.
At that moment there was q cry of
terror, a rush forward-tOo late. The
child, who had climbed unnOticed upon
EI,o 4 Of TNoot fell nuprhOar nd
into the darkening water.
May struggled from the arms of
Ralph, and would have thrown herself
after the child, but I caught her and
held her tight, while Ralph plunged
after the boy.
Hundreds of people rushed to see
the train stopped on the bridge; a sort
of paralysis fell upon all, except one
little fishing boat that one, impe'led
by powerful strokes, went after swim
mer and the child.
Once, when the little head-oh, how
little it looked upon the big surging
wave went under, the hands of the
boatman seemed stiff with terror a
breathless second of despair followed
but Ralph was famous at swimming,
and now his soul was in it. On he
went, cheered by he multitude. Now
the little head was seen again, the long
curls of yellow hair drifting upon the
cold green wave. The tide swept the
light weight of the child to the bridge
and Just as it was sinking again, Ralph
grasped the little waif, and went under
with it himself Painting and exhaust
ed, battling, all clothed as he was, with
the choking waves, he gave way at last,
and huge groan burst from the peo-
ple. But the boatman was now close at
hand, aud dropping his oars, sprang into
this gulf of blackness that seemed
ready to devour them all.
But saw the boatman's face as it
went down, and took heart of grace. I
wasn't bit surprised when he came up
with them both, and hoated them with
one arm to the boat, while with the
other he cleared the waters that seemed
not to hinder, even to aid, their old
comrade. AS the little boat with its
dripping cargo came straight to our
steamer, some of the women sobbed and
others laughed with hysteric JOY, while
many a strong man could scarcely keep
back the tear. One emotional fellow
near by proposed as vent to his feel
ings that purse should be raised for
the bOatman.
''If it hadn't been for him the father
and child would both have gone under, "
he said, carrying his hat around.
When they came to me for cOntribu-
tion refused. In the first place, the
way to my pocket was obstructed by
the fainting form of May, and, besides,
it was ridiculous.
You'd better give the money back
again, now that you feel calmer," said
to the emotional chap. "It don't
look well to pay a man for saving his
own child. Besides, he don't want any