Ellsworth American., 1876-06-29


for women-who knew Bessie. doubtless,
aud would tell her-some Of them. Then
he remembered, and almost started as he
did so. that there was grand ball to be
given that very night at grand country
house beyond the suburb opposite, and
nearly everybody In L-had been iuvi-
ted and doubtless Bessie among them; and
she might actually he on the Cherrybe
now. As he neared the boat he caught oc-
casional glances in the midst OF his arduous
| duties, OF group who stood on the main
deck with ropes and willing hands TO help
hun, aud OF row of anxious faces at the
railing of the deck above. The trembling
ice-cakes and the roaring eddies lifted his
skill with one final effort, far on to the icy
guard surrounding the Cherryble, and in
another moment half n dozen hands had
lifted him TO the deck, and a dozen more
| were waving hats in the air.
"The line?" said john,
"We have il here safe"
Marsden's voice sounded dim and distant
20 his owr ears as he spoke, and he be-
| came conscious OF a dull pain in his arm
and head as he walked across the deck.
lie heard, amid the eager thanks OF strong
men about him, the low murmur OF the
group on the deck above, and with a vague,
indefinite hope struggling for expression
even with his heeting consciousness, he
turned his face to look at them. In the
| indistlnCt array OF anNioCs faces bent down
upon him he saw but one face distinctly
and that one only for an instant. She was
knecling with her hands tightly clasped
across her lap, and her fearful, wondering
eyes were gazing gratefully at him through
the railing. Yes, Bessie was on board!
Then John shook of his weariness aud
declared he must go outside. little flut-
ter of opposition rose from the kindly
voices about him, but he said he had to sec
| about the line aud consult with the captain
about the safety OF all OF them, and they
| let him 20.
| The sturdy old captain Of the CherrybIe
| greeted him near the doorway.
God bless your coming, Mr.. Marsdcn,"
he said. II give the old Cherryble over 10
| YOU"
Have you pilot on boardf" asked
John.
NO"
Nobody that knows the rapid,?"
Not we'll enough 10 pilot the Chrrryble
over"
John studies q moment.
II know every rock and chute" he said,
and vii! Try H."
Keep the fires bsnked, he said to the
captain. "and a little steam on. Oar line
will furnish US with food"
The line had already been hauled over.
{ and sagging rope-bridge Of stout cable.
rugged with running pulleyS already joined
the cable 10 the shore.
Strangely enoughJohu Marsden had not
thought OF the probability OF Fred Erwin's
being on board when he first knew OF Bes-
lie, presence there. II was a most unpal.
atablc fact, and when he remembered all.
A. he did in a moment, he blamed himself
for not having thought of Il before.
"Pshaw." he said % himself, .of course
he's with her. He, her accepted lover"
lie started 10 hi feet, half IN anger. A.
the faces peered over the window-slil. aud
turned a look upon Il that might have dis
concerted any but Fred Erwin.
Sending word a>Eoret' qucricd Fred.
81 arranging to have Us all ba-Artrl over
to-norrow, suppo~e?"
Hardly" responded John. 1T We can
get provisions enough to feed u, for = day
or two, 1t i a. much aS We can expect just
noN
Is there no means being arranged for
our transfer across the line, ashore:"
There are no means to be arranged"
replied John calmly. NO boat that they
could rig out would carry one soul safely
across those rapids yohder; and no ropes
could be stretched from the shore here that
would not sag under one mans weight 50
low that he could not pass the rapids
Erwin made no answer beyond .haslly
smile and turned abruptly away. lie
walked with "A quick, nervous step toward
the far end OF the deck and gazed wistiulIy
! out on the ragged neids OF ice and turbu-
/ lent current that shut him out FROM The
shore. For several days, he muttered-
several days. Gods It may be RUM y
| dozen discoveries may be made in several
days. But it's net 80. It's lie OF his,
| that's what il i, its lie Of hi,.
The baskets were propelled along the
I line continually during the day, bringing
/ provisions and other ueccssafies, aud at
noon a great mail arrived with letters APP
! pareDtly Tor every one on board.
/ Bessie received two letters; one from
+ her father Mas iul OF hope and cheer, aud
strong with trust in the good management
( OF John Marsden; the other-Be>sir had
/ read II first in wonder; then with varying
F emotions OF jos aud sorrow and hope aud
! bewillerment, and had a. ain and again re-
/ read il. aud lis plaiutive story had touched
/ her aching heart with renewed JOY and
t.nderncss and pity at each new reading
! DEAR Miss ALDES.-.rhis will only be
/ given you when am no more. and your
! receptions OF 1t can no more effect me one
/ way or the other. | may say here what |
had hoped and YET feared 10 say ever since
| FIRST ielt the charm of our presence, | can
! say here, with neither fear nor hope. that
! love YOU. II may be something for yOu
To remember, as your happy lite moves on
! that n heart strong every where but in you.
| presence, turned lovingly 10 thoughts OF
| you at his death. JoHN MAIsDES.
Tom Meredith had evidently misunder-
stood his direction.
Bessie Alden sat for hours that day gaz-
| ing absently out of the cabin window at
the wooded shore opposite, her eyes be-
! dewed with tears, and her face dimly bright
ened with u tender smile. She longed at
times to go t. this stroug mans Eside and
tell him all-release him from that grim
despair that would have given the eternal
waters the secret of his love for her. But
what diplomacy could compass this:
The crowd on shore had meantime hn-
ished the scow by which they hoped to
transfer the imprisoned passengers to solid
eSrth, and it was slowly and tediously
pulled over to the boat. But its inutility
| was tested on the route. Ii was dashed
about so violently when il struck the rap
| i'd that it was evident that no one would
trust himself in her tor a passage back.
| When 1t reached the boat John Marsden
ordered il detached from the cable AS thor
oughly useless. Fred Erwin was among
those of the passengers who watched the
| progress Oh tlIc crew Will tie tuOst littHst
interest. As he was convinced of the dan
ger, of its transit, he clinched his hands
and strobe away in that quick. nervous
way, to the upper guard of the boat and
glanced again upon the cruel ice that i'm
prisoned him. Then he turned sharply.
and climed the stair to the upper deck, and
confronted John Marsden. where he leaned
against the pilot house.
Do you command this boat, Marsden?"
he asked. bluntly.
"Yes."
What chance is there for me to get off in
that scow?'
.'In that seOw? There is about one
chance in hundred!'
Then l want to take that one chance"
Marsden had stopped and gazed in won
der at the defiant and yet pleading man be-
fore him. You are desperate"' - he said
Il don't want a lecture. mind you, said
Erwin savagly. Il want help. viii you
? let me go, OF will you have the town ring
ing with my disgrace Tomorrow
A vivid thought of Bessie flashed through
-