Ellsworth American., 1876-06-29


there are IN wrestling matches or horse
races To run for the girls, bow-a-days. or
wild colts to break. Marsten, | think.
would 20 over the five barred gate AS clean
As whistle, while that prig Of an Erwin
'Oh, bother,' cried Bessie, as she swept
| from the room.
The lptle city of L-stood Just above
the rapids of a beautiful river OF the West.
The winter OF 1871, like most preceding
winters. had filled the river in front OF the
little city with gorged ice that completely
bound in its hurrying current. except tor "A
narrow ribbon of open water, where the
stream was the swiitest.
The winter had embargoed Is
business in this wise on the day when
Marsden took his way again down town.
still rapt in his hopes of Bessie.
\ neishbor saluted him rs he passed.
Did you hear about the Cherryble,
Johnf" said he.
John bowed and smiled so full Of
thoughts of Bessie that he did not compre-
hcnd. lucid moment revealed the some
what remarkable fact that everybody was
hurrying down the side streets towards the
river. There was an air ef excitement
about their movements that half reused
him. \ friend brushed against him at a
corner. hurrying riverward.
Excuse me, John" he said, I'm hur-
rying to see the Cherrybe
The Cherrybe, whats the matter with
the Cherryble?"
But the hurrying friend was already out
of hearing. Another friend. however, came
up at that moment, [in that little city ev-
etbody was friend OF every body else1,
and he replied 10 Johns bewidered .qucs-
tioniHg.
"why, don't you know? She's caught
in the lce-gorge and is going over the
rocks"
Then John and his friend FASTENED along
together with gatherin. crowds, aud were
soon on board the plateau. called the le-
wee. where a greater crowd had now gath
cred than Ia the busiest days of -
busy season.
Ia the middle of the stream, nesting now
iiist "a ain-t the huge buttrcssrd fort OF an
ice-gOTge above the eddy, lay the stout lit
tie ferry boat, Cherry BILE. Her wheels were
stopped by the cloggiug ice. though dense
volumes of smoke Uulged Out OF her chin
neys, and little curls OF steam shot upward
from her escape pipes. lndl>tinct figures
no larger than rats in a trap, were hurry
ing excitedy over her deck. and group
oi them were busy In the pilot-house. VAN
ly Juggling al a wheel that wuuld not turn.
Between her aud the shore. the dark
rush OF the current before it reaches the
rapids was visible. where the ice had not
secured firm fooihoid, aud down this
swinh pathway. tall, fairy palaces crown
ed with snow, took their stately way ia a
long procession OF complacent grandeur
until they struck the boi-terous rapid, and
were hurled hcadlong into the .upro.riou.
eddics.
John Marsdcn knew all the rocks and
chutes oi the rapids by heart, aud n couI-
pretended the danger OF the Cherryblc on
the instant.
Meredith" said he. graspins his friend.
arm. This il fearful"
"lt is fearful, What can be d1ne7'
'rhry must have 4 line run out To them -.
replied Mar.den. sharply; and they must
have somebody on board who knows the
chutc>
Tom Meredith looked up quietly u,to hi,
fricul', face, startled by the pthy earnest
ue,, OF hi, tone.
''It wonld be terrible dangerous to AT
tempt it," said he, huskiy.
That gorge against which they rest, .
continued John, with his clear blue eye
still bent on the distant therrybe, lis
strong enough to hold them for week
probably but they will want bread. There
may be forty passengers there. They must
have communication with the shore at
once"
But how to do il. john
The crowd that had exhIu. .ted itself with
,houtin: vain hopes to the wrecked pass
engcrs had rested hopclessly. and many OF
the men composing II had already gather
ed about John Marsden, who was admitted
to be an oracle on river mstters. Tney,
too. concurred with Tom Meredith that
the Cherrybe ought to have communca-
ylfr ba shnF,. a hnf hnty N
cure 1t was with them, and with him, an
uususwerable problem. Jonn had little
further Ia say. His blue eyes still gazcd
toward the rapids and the wrecked steam
er. but they seemed TO be gazing even be-
yond them into vacancy, and his thoughts
seemed 10 be- tar away from crowd or Cher
ryb ble. suddenly he seized his friends arm
and together they walked away toward
the little ferry wharf far up the stream,
whence the il-fated steamer had but AN
hour before started on her disastrous yoy-
age. The knots OF men who gathered about
this oracle of the rapids intutively followed
them. In front of one Of the numerou,
small ship stores that stood "n the street
facing the levee was little old woman,
watching with dozen companions. the
threatened vessel.
Missy" said John to her, could yOu
let me have about a thousand yards Of
ships cord, The Ferry Company VIII pay
| for it?''
"Ah shure, wild pleasure. Mr.. Marsden.
Is somebody going TO take IL TO them folks 2
Yes. missy. And will you let me have
pen. ink, and note paper in your little bac X
room. for a few minutes! Excuse me, Tom,
| but must be alone.
John Marsden came out of the little back
room in about ten minutes, and, taking
| the long line OF ships cord upon his shoul-
| der continued his way without word, 10
| the little ferry wharf. followed by the now
silent crowd. He spoke few words to the
fcrry-keeper. who pointed, at the conciu.
| sion of their conversation, to II stout, IRON
| bound skin that hoated inside the narrow
! slip. The oars lay idly in it. and short
! hawser held it TO 10 the pier.
That will do" said John. unite 1t.
John" said Meredith, huskily, "what
| are you going TO do!
I'm going 10 get IL line to her."
yourself John-are you going your
self"
"Yes. I'm going myself If Heaven favor:
me-"
| John gave a few words of instruction to
| Tom Meredith and two or three picked
men of the crowd in regard to the rigging
OF rope bridge or cable which he hoped
| TO draw over Will his siliaiitt ithc "AlS'' IN
| should reach the boat, and also relative tt
the careful handling OF the line AS ne paid
il out, so that 1t should not be caught 10 th'
Jagged foes Of ice. Then he drew fom
Meredith to one side, and said?
Il wish you'd tell mother, Tom, to-nlgh
however my venture ends. She may be un
easy about me unless she knows where
am. She's strong and can bear it, but. !
never reach the boat, break 1t to ne
gently as you can"
Meredith silently bowed his head
And Tom" continued Marsden In
lower tone, and more slowly, "what tel
you now Is in holy confidence. never to b
divul2ed.'
"Yes,r
Give this letter to its address when
when | am goue'-and he handed Ton
Meredith the note which he had written Il
missy's back room. Tom could not hell
seeing the superscriptiOu: "Miss Bessl
Alden, Bentley Place
Tossing the line into the bottom Of tn
bost. and giving an end 20 Meredith, job
Marsden leaped in. and with stroke 9
his oars was swiftly on his way tothe dart
, ly flowing ice-current outside. The lttl