The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-11-17

one OF the tnlcKlY- growing young ASH
saplings, the roots of which projected
from the earthly top of the rock a yard
or two above. .... ......,... ....... -.
Oh, how / longed for a giants arm
that l might touch that bough! Twice
made futile effort to spring out of the
water at it, but only exhausted myself
and had the greatest. difficulty in regain.
ing my support ...........
Was I sinking and losing conscious
ness? and is this to be the end, l thought
with that music still in my ears? AND
10! what vision is that l behold? Surely
an angels face looking down from amidst
the leafy roof above me! Yes; my life
must be passing away in dream OF
beautiful sights and sounds. For mo-
ment or two more such was the vague
conclusion floating through my dazed
mind, norwas it at once dispelled by per
fectly audible and silvery voice saying
TRY to reach it now; l think you can
quick, tryp This Can be no Illusion
that no phantom born of a drowning
mans fancy; this is sweet reality; and
in that bending branch, now steadily de-
scending to within my grip, I see my life
restored to me and my hopes renewed.
have the delicate end of the bough
in my hand; yes, automatically l have
seized it, and already it helps to lift me
higher out of the water.
BE very cautious" says the voice
once more. "Take great care or it will
snap. There, wait so whilst pull this
strong one down, and that will hold your
weight better; now, so;" and in another
minute I have grasped this stronger one
| manage to raise myself by it little,
and to put the tips of my toes into the
assure of the rocks by which l had SC
long held with the tips of my fingers.
Then soft, firm hand is held out to
me, and taking it l finally, with one su-
preme effort, pull myself well up among
the underwood and twisted roots at the
top of the cliff.
Too exhausted to speak or think ]
throw myself down upon the steep hill
side among the long grass and ferns be-
tween the trees. Then l think | really
did lose consciousness for 3 while, for
do not remember seeing the pretty, grace
full girl who had saved my life until
found her kneeling at my side, endeavor-
ing to raise my head as she wiped the
streaming water from my forehead and
hair. ...
"Wait here" she said, "and l will
run to the inn for help; l won't be long.
There, lean against that tree trunk"
pray STOP" l stammered feebly;
shall soon be all right. l am really very
much obliged to you"
"Oh, never mind that" she answered
brightly; &C if you can walk, so much the
better. Get up and come along at once;
you must get your wet clothes Off"
l rose and shook myself, feeling very
bewildered, sick and scared.
" Here-up this way" she cried. "I
think we can get through the wood this
way; follow me-"
l had scarcely started after her, as
with firm, light step she sprang up the
slope among the trees, when heard from
the top a cry of; "Hilly-ol Lucy, hilly-o!
where are you?"
Here am" she cried, call right.
Come down, papa, and give this gentle
man hand. lhave just helped him out
of the water. He was nearly drowned"
What? En-, my dear? What are you
talking h2pft' GenRttd~"sa Said "t Of the
voice; and looking up saw two or three
figures coming against the sky over the
crest of the hill Then there was lit
tie hurried talk as they met my preserv-
er, and presently my middle-aged friend,
who had spoken to me about the weather
at the inn the day before, had vise-like
hold upon my arm, and was lending me
very material assistance in my ascent
What fortunate thing! Only to
think" he said, "of Lucy happening to
see you! We were wandering about, and
she had gone on ahead by herself to look
at the fall; then all of sudden we
missed her and wondered what had be-
come of her; and then, 10 and behold! all
the time she was qualifyingfor the Royal
Humane Society's medal. You are not
accustomed to mountain rivers, sir, | am
afraid; they are very treacherous, and are
often suddenly swollen in this way when
rain begins in the hills after a long
drought; it's what they call spate' in
the Highlands"
We had stopped, when second young
lady, evidently sister of my guardian
angel, came running down toward US,
exdaiming: ..
go papa, do come up quick; Lucy has
tainted! She was just beginning to tel
US all about it, when in moment she
went quite off" ...
Whereupon, revived by the stimulant
FASTENED up the remainder of the slope
in company with my new friends, to fine
the brave girl quite insensible, her heaG
resting in the lap of lady, evidently hel
mother.
Then the CHEEKY gentleman put {
little stimulant to his daughters lips, ant
all solicitude, very properly, was turned
from me to her; but she soon revived, anC
then, but not till then, allowed myself
to be hurried off to the inn to get dry
clothes. These, and little hot stimu
liant, soon put me to rights, with NJ
further damage from my ducking than {
few superficial bruises and scratches.
But what was this tremendous in
ternal wound that suddenly became
suspicious of?-that had not been in
flicted by projecting rocks, or slipper.
crags, or foaming water! No; of Ger
tainty that was the result of sympa
thetic glance from pair of brown eyes
which had gone straight to my heart iron
the moment they had looked down upol
| me in nv peril ... .....