Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-02-03

furniture, F." said Tom presently. " Very
touching situation, is it not ?"
s. 1t would be much more touching
one (''ahem, q poor pun, . interrupted
her hstener) if you would go out and
get it for me. Why don't you be gal
liant and go?''
''I intend to, though I shall probably
break my neck. Goodbye. Fare
thee we'll, and if forever, then forever
fare thee we'll, and Tom began to crawl
out toward the edge of the rock.
"But, waita moment-Mr Wiling
please stop-you don't think there is
really any danger, Go you?''
"' Drop tear on his bier, " quoth
Tom, who was by this time pretty far
out, and was stretching his hand cauti-
ously toward the vinaigrette. Presently
| the hand went down over the bottle,
and the next moment the owner of the
hand, distressing to relate, also went
down-over the rock. An Immediately
| following splash certified TO all above
that Mr.. Thomas Willing, of 81 Wal
nut Street, Philadelphia, but at present
visiting in a picturesque town near
| New York, had descended into the
stream.
! Jenny was UP in an instant; she
could not help slight scream escap-
ing her as she saw the sudden disap-
{ pearance Of her companion. What if he
/ should be seriously iured by the fall
What if he should drown? She ran to
| the edge Of the reck, further up toward
the left, where 1t was not dangerous,
and looked over.
! At short distance from shore, with
one hand holding something high above
the water, and the other diligently en-
gagged in supporting himself, appeared
the drenched figure of the preserver of the
vinaigrette, his countenance considera-
bly, enlivened by his plunge. Some
! what lower down the stream hoated the
fantastic chopeau, and Jenny, in spite
| of her alarm, could not entirely repress
smile as she surveyed the truly TO-
mantle scene.
"Ive got it-see - gasped Tom, as
soon as he could articulate anything,
and waving the vinaigrette rather wild
| ly above his head The result of this
theatrical display, however, was only to
send him under the surface again, from
whence, after swallowing five or six i'm
mense mouthfuls of water, he presently
emerged in a paroxym Of coughing.
care you i:urt, Mr.. Willing? Can I
do anything to assist you % called
Jenny from the rock. She didn't know
exactly whether to laugh OF cry.
Tom considered the ACCESSIBILITY of
replying, but came to the conclusion
| that under the present unfavorable con
| ditions 1t was more prudent to keep
quiet His attempt at conversation had
not been happy. So, having at length
recovered his breath, he put his lips
firmly together, and pursued his way,
with a somewhat mournful expression
| of countenance, toward a small rock,
| short distance above the larger one,
which he thought would make a good
landing place.
| "T1l go down and help him up, ;"
said Miss Van Kortland to herself, and
descending the bank, reached the rock
just in time to give Tom her hand as
he clambered out Of the water. ,.-a
"There's the salts" said the hero
rather ungrammatically, and then sit
ting down g Phew-I'm most dead |"
Poor fellow, did he fall into the
creek, and run the risk of being
drowned, and swallow everso many gal
Ions of water, and get all his new clothes
wet, just to get bottle of salts for his
Pollywog 2" and Miss Jennie took off
her shawl and wrapped it carefully
around the young mans shoulders.
"You'll catch your death Of cold, Mr..
Willing, if you don't put this on to
keep you warm. y
"It feels jolly said Tom, as Jenny
fastened it under his chin. "You are
awfully Igood to bring it along. I've
great mind to kiss you"
81 wouldn't let you,' said Jenny, re-
treating little.
"Give me snuff at that bottle, any
howe"
"What, this 3" holding up the vinai-
grette.
| eyes"
cit would serve you rightly for your
impertinence if you never saw it again,
but considering you have been at so
much trouble to get it out of the stream,
I suppose I ought to let you have it, y
and she extended it toward him.
Tom ignored the vinaigrette entirely,
but taking hold of the fair, shapely
hand, he laid his cheek against it for an
instant, and then kissed it softly.
"Dearie, do you know that I love
YOU" he said presently, with a slight
laugh.
The girl was silent, but he could feel
her hand trembling as he pressed it
once more against his face. Suddenly
he rose and took her in his arms; he
felt her heart beat upon his, her dark,
scented hair. blown by the summer
breeze about his neck. my own, he
said, as kissed the rare gypsy face,
" if this Is not love which is with us as
we stand together now. there is no love
beneath Gods heaven"
Sweetheart spoke the girl pas
sionately, " it is Gods heaven for me to
be here within your arms" And SO
was their betrothal made.
i AS Tom remarked before leaving for
the Philadelphia train, on the temporary
parting shortly after, he had certainly
made his proposal under very discour-
oIro1ro TO ooc Of 4ipoa ord Jroro.