The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-06-14

1
whirled swiftly arozxd AID sank beneath
the turbid waters. A sunken limb had
struck his legs from under him.
Wisely the traveller had freed his feet
from the stirrups, and though the struggles
of his horse carried him under, he did not
lose his grasp upon the girls arm, and
| quickly fought his way to the surface. Toss
ing the dripping hair from his eyes, he took
in the situation at glance.
The furious current lad swept them
past the one practicable lapdig-place up
on the nearest, or southern side of the
| stream. The northern bank no human be-
ing could have gained, at that point. BY
an abrupt bend in the river, the current
swept across to the southern shore, beat
ing fcrcely against the rocky wall.
There was little time for thought. The
man had just time enough to realize their
peril, to change his position SO that he
might save the girl from the shock at his
own expense, when the tumbling waters
hurled them violently against the rock wall.
just how it was accomplished, the young
man could never tell, but a few seconds later
the young couple were crouching upon a
narrow ledge of rock, almost blinded by
the spray that dashed over them, only
saved from being torn from their precari-
Gus foothold by the fierce wind that fairly
pinned them to the wall
The twilight was fast waning, but it
lasted long enough for the young man to
assure himself that there was no method
Of escape from the ledge save by plunging
into the angry food at their feet
S"Courage !" he said, pressing the lit
tie hand that clung to his arm. CAT least
our lives are saved"
"Tf the storm would only break but if
it keeps on, the river will rise and wash
us away" I"
"We must hope for the best. Tt cannot
rise much higher, for it is already begin
ning to overflow the other bank
He could say no more. With renewed
violence the wind dashed fereely upon
them, crushing them against the rock
with force that took their breath
away. Then came sudden, wh,rling ed
dy that relieved the crushing pressure and
caused them to totter upon the slippery
ledge. For one horrible moment it seemed
as though they must fall again into the
merciless waves, to meet their death; but
only for an instant. A second sharp gust
forced them back once more against the
wall.
Better the spray than the food, !"
shouted the man, with hclf-reckless
laugh, as he crouched low down and drew
the girl beside him. "Lucky we can't get
any wetter; and it's safer this way"
The girl made no resistance as his arm
was gently wound around her waist,
drawing her close to his side. A warm
glow filled the young mans heart as he
saw how trustingly she nestled beside him :,
her chill hands clasping his arm, one
cheek pressed against his dripping coat.
He looked down upon her face, and saw
that it was very fair-despite the lines of
terror left by her fierce struggle for life
with the mad waters. lie felt her shiver
as the fierce blast struck them. and when
there came another lull he gently removed
her hands and took off his heavy coat,
wrapping it tightly around her, despite
her objections.
eff you refuse, I'll throw it into the
river" he said, in voice that told his
earnestness, and she no longer refused
but pressed the closer to, him that he might
share the covering.
The night had fallen now, and tile dark
ness became intense, unrelieyed even by a
passing CLEAN of lightning. The fury Of
the storm seemed to augment rather than
decrease, and despite, his confidently ex.
| pressed belief, the traveller felt that the
rising waters would soon sweep them from
the ledge-to death inevitable. He knew
that the water was drawing near them
for now the waves beat ineessantly against
their feet, more than once fairly covering
their heads, and only by cIingng despA
ate!y to the ragged points of rock could
they retain their position until, during a
brief luIl, he drove his stout knife deer
| into crevice in the wall. To this he
fastened his belt, passing one arm through
the loop, holding his companion elcsely
with the other.
And thus that terrible night was passed
a night that will long be remembered by
! hundreds of the inhabitants of the Yer.
million valley besides the two with whom
this sketch deals All night the furious
storm ragged. The river oyerran its banks
and when daylight came and the storm
gradually died away, the entire yalley~wa:
flooded from hill to hill.
Y But the first di m rays of the sun fount
the young couple alive, though pale ant
haggard from their long fight with deati
|