The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-03-12

boat veered suddenly around, and began
to glide stern-foremost after the fast.ds-
appearing oar, Belle Blount gave utter
ance to the horror-stricken exclamation
which was trembling upon every lip
" We are in the rapids !"
" And drifting toward the falls !" muir
INJURED Nora turning pale.
" My God ~ said Julian Ferrean, in a
hoarse whisper, and sank back white
and faint into the seat from which he
had arisen.
Tom Revere clutched his oar In Her
culean effort to head the boat toward the
nearest shore. Slowly the bow came
half way around, wavered fora moment
and then there was cracking sound,
and the frail oar snappedin twain Tom
fell backward among us, and the broken
pieces of our last oar darted down the
rapids.
A dead silence fell upon us all. We
looked into each others faces, and saw
no hope. Every moment swept us
nearer to the cataract, and the current
rushed downward with such fearful We
locity that no mortal man could swim
ashore 1t was an awful doom that
stared us in the face, That was q time
that tried our souls, and every one of
us came out in true colors then.
Suddenly there was crash, IA shock
and jar that threw us all from our places
and nearly overturned the boat. We
were among the rocks and as we struck
the boat was held fast for little space
upon the hidden crag. Then were our
heats laid bare, our secrets revealed, and
every man turned, with loves forgetful-
ness of self, to the woman he loved best,
all save one. Nora threw herself into
my arms, and clasped her to my heart;
Tom Revere threw his arm about the
waist of Annie Grierson and Eustace
Hardy knelt supporting the trembling
form of Edna Reese Harry Blount and
his sister clasped hands, and calmly
waited; and when Sidney Phillips bent
over Belle, and spoke quick request
she lifted her pale lips and kissed him in
SllGutts Nlll tIub lOOh VI ICSlEHullOll
which was fast settling upon all our
faces-save one.
thought understood human nature,
but should never have taken Julian
Ferrean for coward. He was not Il
braggart, but there was an airabout him
which made one think he could be very
brave, given the occasion; and now
not girl screamed when we struck. but
Julian Ferrean shrieked aloud and fell
down in the boat, covering in affect ter
ror at the feet of Blanche Chetwoode.
Tney say that women love bravery in
a man above other qualities but per-
haps there was so much of the mascu-
line in Blanche Chetwoode's nature that
she could dispense with q superabun-
dance of manly spirit in the man she
loved thought then, and think still
that she and Julian ought to have chang
ed sexes, for she was the better man of
the two. She seemed to feel no con-
tempt for his more than womanish
weakness. / believe it appeared to her
as natural and excusable as Edna Reese Is
| terror seemed to the lover who held her
in his arms. She bent over the fellow
as he groveled, moaning and whimper-
ing, before her, and spoke to him in ten
der, pitiful accents, as if he had been a
frightened child,-
Julian do not give way in this man.
ner. Look up, Julian, and try to think
of the other world where we shall soon
be all together"
go Heaven, have mercy!H was all he
answered; and he shrunk closer down
nearer and nearer to her.
The boat began to CRATE and creak
another instant and we looked to see 1t
part, and launch us into the torrent.
Men clasped their loved ones closer, and
| women murmured low-toned prayers
but Julian threw up his hands with q
cry, and clung to Blanche Chetwoode' IS
| garments.
= Blanche! Blanchel my darling
take hold of me! If / must die, let me
die in your arms, for love you'll" he
cried, in an agony of fright, to this
woman whom he had known but day.
And believe he fell in love with her in
that very hour of trial for her strength
and calmness. Yes, L believe it was
then and there that they loved, each
drawn to the other by those qualities
that were lacking in themselves.
She drew his head upon her bosom,
! and tried TO Quiet his moaning. and