Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-12-20


and sounds. For moment or two
more such was the wayne conclusion
floating through my da1ed mind, nor
was it at once dispelled by perfectly
audible ami Silvery voice, saying:
Try to reach it now; think you
aan; quick, try !" This can be no illu-
sion this can be no phantom born Of a
drowning mans fancy; this is sweet
reality; and in that bending branch
now steadily descending to within my
grip, | see my life restored to me and
my hopes renewed.
have the delicate end Of the bough
in my hand: yes, automatically have
seized It, and already il helps 10 lit me
higher out Of the water.
BE very cautious. says the voice
once more. Take great care or it will
snap. There, wait 81, while pull this
tsrong one down, and that will hold
your weight better, now, SO; and in
another minute | have graSped this
stronger one; manage to raise myself
by it little, and to put the tips 81 my
toes into the fSSuro Of the rocks by
which had SO long held with the tips
OF my fingers.
Then SOFT firm hand is held out IL
me, and taking it, finally, by one sill
llrcme effort, pull myself we'll up
among the underwood and twisted
roots NJ the TOP IT the cliti.
Too exhausted e speak or think, |
threw myself down upon the steep hill
side among the long grass and ferns be-
tween the trees. Then think | really
4 did lose consciousness for awhile. for
do not remember seeing the pretty,
graceful girl who had saved my life
until | found her knerling 1T my side,
endeavoring 70 raise my head u.s. she
4 wiped the streaming water from my
forehead and hair.
Wait here" she said, land | will
run to the ian for help; | won't be long.
1 There. lean against that tree trunk.
Pray STOP" | stammered feebly; 1
shall soon hc all right. am really
very much obliged TO YOU"
"Oh, never mind that, she answered
brightly; "if YOU can walk, SO much
the better. Get up and come along at
once; you must get your wet clothes
OIL
rose and shook myself, feeling very
bowildered, sick and scared
Here--up this way" she cried. Il
think We can get through this way; fol
i low me-
had scarcely started after her as
with a firm, light step she sprang up
the slope among tho trees, when heard
1 from thctop Il cry OF
Hilly-o! Lucy, hilly-ol where are
you?'
Here am" she cried, "all right.
Come down, papa, and give tins gentle
man a hand, | have Just helped him
out of the water-he was nearly
/ drowned.
What eli, my dear? What are
you talking about? Gentleman ont Of
the water-nearly drowned p said n
CHEEKY voice; and looking up | saw two
or three figures coming against the sky
over the crest Of the hill. Then there
was a little hurried talk rs they met my
preserver, and presently my middle
aged friend who had spoken to me about
the weather at the inn the day before,
haI n yise-like hold upon my arm, and
was lending me- very material assistance
in my ascent.
What Il fortunate thing Only 10
think" lie said, "of Lucy happening 10
see you! We were wandering about,
and she had gone on ahead 10y herself
TO look Mt the fall; then NIL Of u sudden
we missed her and wondered what had
become Of her; and then, 10 and be-
huldl all the time SIZE was qualifying
for the Royal Humane Society medal.
4 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 III
the hills after long dronth. its what
they call Il spate' in the Highlands
But stay, you are exhausted; take Il
nip of whisky out Of my flask here"
We had stopped that | might do this,
when Il second young lady, evidently Il
sister OF my guardian angel, came run
ming down towards us, exeaiming:
20, papa, do come UP quick; Lucy
has tainted. She was just beginning
to tell us all about it, when in a mo-
ment she went quite off,
Whereupon, revived by the stimu.
liant, ! fastened up the remainder 81
the slope in company with my new
friend, to find the brave girl quite in.
sensible, her head resting on the lap Of
q lady, evidently her mother.
Then the CHEEKY gentleman put the
whisky flask to his daughters lips, and
lsolicitude, very properly, was turned
from me to her; but she soon revived,
and then, and not till then, allowed my.
self to be hurried of 10 the inn to get
dry clothes. These, and II little hot
stimulant, soon put me to rights, with
no further damage from my ducking
than a few superficial bruises and
scratches.
But what was this tremendous inter.
nal wound that ] suddenly became
conscious ol2-that had not been inilict-
ed by projecting rocks or slippery crags
or foaming water No; Of certainty
that was the result Of = sympathetic
glance from pair Of bright brown
eyes, which had gone straight to my
heart from the moment they had look
cd down upon me in ny peril.
Was On the eve, then, Of another
/