Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-17

The baskets were propelled along the line
continually during tle day, bringing provisions
anu otner necessaries, and at NOON q gres, M al
on board.
Bessie received two letters; one from her IA
Their was full of hope and cheer, and stro 2
With trust in the good management OF Jvh a
Marsden; the other-Bessle had read it first In
wonder, then with varying EN- Dtions OF 10Y aud
sorrow and hope and bewildsrment, and I'd
again and again re-read il, and its pla,uuye
story had touched her aching heart with re-
hewed joy and tenderness and pity at each new
reading:
DEAR MISS ALDss-This will only be given
You when am no more, and your reception of
Ii can not effect me one way or the other.
may say here what had hoped and vet feared
to say ever since first felt the tender charm of
fear Bor bspe, that love you. 1t may be some
thing for you 70 remember, IS your happy life
moves on, that a heart, strong everywhere but
IN your presence, turned lovingly 70 thou ghts
Tom Meredith had evidently misunderstood
his directions.
Bessie Alden sat for hours that day gazing
aosently ont of the cabin window at the wooded
shore opposite, her eyes bedewed with dreamy
tears, and her face dimly Frightened with a
tender smile. She longed at times to go TO this
strong mans side and tell him aIi-release him
from that grim despair that would have gwen
the eternal waters the secret OF his love for her
But what diplomacy could compass this?
The crowd on shore had meantime finish I'd
Imprisoned passengers 10 solid earth, and IL was
III WHY aud tediOusly pulled over TO the boat.
y t its inutiity was tested on the route. II was
iAshed about so violently when it struck the
.lmst II to II for a passage back. When IL
acted the boat John Marsien ordered it de-
ca from the cable as thoroughly useless.
red Erwin Was among those Of the passengers
bO watche q the progress of the crew with the
o. intense Interest. A. he was convinced of
ne dangers Of its transit, he elincbed his hands
nd strobe away, in thSt quick, nervous way, to
The upper guard of the beat, and glanced again
upon the cruel ice that imprisoned him. Then
lie turned sharply, and climbed the star to the
upper deck, and confronted John Marsden
where he leaned against the pilOt-hOuse.
do you command this boat, Marsten?" he
asked, biurtly.
eyes"
What chance is there for me 70 get off in
I'm that seow? There is about one chance in
a hnndred!"
Then want to take that one chsnce!"
Marfden had stopped ana gaZed in wonder AZ
the defiant and yet pleading man before him
lyon are desperate!" he said.
81 don't want lecture, mind you" said En-
win, savagely. 81 want help. VIII YOU let me
90, CT will y0u have the town ringing with nv
disgrace to mOrrOR?"
a vivid thought of Bessie flashed through
Johns mind-hOw could she survive the dis
honor OF bis exposure il she loved hi nn?-aud his
answer Game quickly to his lips; ''You may 20.
Quick There is one chance, and Heaven
knows L hope you may win. The scOw there.
Make ready. Wen send one passenger ashore. -
And he leaned over the railing and called to
the bOatmen below.
Fred. was OFF like a shot.
At this moment Bessie Alden found her op-
pOTtunity to seek John Marsden's side
well, JOhn,' che said, with slight tramu-
lousness in her voice as she uttered the name,
under an affected ytvacity Of manner, what is
your wisdom about to suggest?''
The ptteTsnce ofhis name startled John and
as he glanced downward at her, bus heart giowed
With generosity evon for his rival.
eve have hero among us, Miss Alden" he
said 'Mr. Erwin Is determined to try the scOw. -
"Mr. Er@In!" cried Bessie in dismay. but
is il not dresdfully dangerous"
Erwin was already in the scOw, giving hurried
and l distinct orders 10 the boatmen who were
to draw him across.
"Can he go safely, John?' whispered Bessie,
IN terror.
"He may" said John, gloomily.
"Iou sheuld not let him go!' sue cried.
"He would go, Miss Alden" said John. 81
urged him against it, but he would CO."
"But you should not have let him go. You
don't know all, or you would not have let him
go! You never knew!" and she turned with agi-
lated steps, and sought the ladies' cabin, where,
with heart torn with anxiety AMI fear, she
waited TO hear the end of Erwin's desperate adj
venture. John never blsnched as the iron en-
tered his soul. "YOu don't know all ;" she saws.
.'Ah! don't L? don't L? Sac loves him, she
loves him!'
Twenty minutes afterward John entered the
CdDiu utbT 10 ICli uBI IldI ETWlu WAS safe. III q
mad been desperately driven about by the angry
rapids, but had desperately held on, and de-
sperately won. Shouts had come back from
the excited crowd on the shore announcing that
ne was safe, as John came in TO tell her, he saw
der sitting at the open window, her eyes yet red
with weeping, gazing listlessly out upon the
wooded shore opposite.
Miss Alden,'' said he advancing che is
afe."
"safe? Really safe?"
Yes. Really safe. Bruised, perhaps, but
afe."
.'pm so glad, john" she said with fearful
'y' Sc glad hes safe. You did not send him
II? No." replied John, with a smile. 81
-ould nOt have dOLe that"
"Of course lot, John, of course not. Forgive
iay asking such question; but was so anxious
shout him, and thought you and he were not
'Tiends,tTom The way you talked, you know,
John smiled calmly at the wild thought which
re suIpUs, iHust lave crossed her brain, and
retiTed; while Bessie again bent her gaze UPON
he wooded Hill opposite, and her thoughts upon
that diplomacy, which, she had sad, with a
sigh, she had not.
On the evening of the fourth day John sat in
the pilot-house, alternately scanning the rising
and hailing instructions down the
Groups of passengers wandered
about the deck, but Bessie alone came to keep
John company.
at looks like rain, John" she said.
Eyes. 1t is rain. And do you know what a
good, copiOus rain means with this warm wind
blowing and the steady shining of GLORIOUS sun
all these three days? 1t means that you will see
your father before morningi"
"You mean we'd get away"
"Yes. We'd get away. The Ice Is already
softenIng about the boat, and the gorge above
is perceptibly lOOsening."
Bessie seated herself quietly beside him.
"COuld you not tell me TO. nj ht John Of your
dreadful trip down the iee-drift? Did you feel
no fear?"
"Fear? Yes, indeed said he, lightly. "I
felt dreadful fear. When had time to think,
1 shuddered."
cit was terrible" said Bessie, softly. "why
did you come; John, giving up your home and
frieBds-for you must have thought you would
never see them again--wby did you do it2"
al thought you people might be hungry be-
fore the week was over, }" said he, laughicgly.
"But, john" she continued, in low and
tremulOus tones, "yOu had so much to give up.
Did you give no last thought to home and
friends?"
John moved uneasily
"There is patter of rain on the roof" he
said.
"You know you were Drawing destruction
when you came, John. Did You not speak OF
your mother, or utter prayer, or"-the tone
became so low and tremulous that it sounded
IKE whisper in Johns ear-"or write-Write q
letter, John, Or"
John stole trOublngly to his feet and glanced
siealthily toward her face. 1t was hidden BY
her bent head. He nervously handled the
thermometer. ard thrust his hands tram n