South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-10-24


tered word coward from the lips Of
Logan, they felt that there was craven
spirit about the young man. A coward
we instinctively despise, and yet how
slow we are to elevate that higher
moral courage which enables a man to
brave unjust Judgment, rather than do
what lie thinks TO be wrong, above the
mere brute instinct, which, in moment
Of excitement, forgets all physical con-
sequences.
AS Edward Wilson walked away from
! his companions he felt that lie was res
CARRIED as n coward This was for him
a bitter trial, aud the more so because
there was one in the group of startled
maidens for whose generous regard he
would have sacrificed all but honor.
1t was. perhaps, half an hour after
this unpleasant occurrence, that Logan,
whose heart still burned with an unfor-
giving spirit, encountered Wilson under
circumstances that left him free TO re-
peat his insulting language without dis
turbing the remainder of the party, who
were amusing themselves at some dis
lance, and beyond the range of observa-
ton. lie did not succeed in obtaining
q personal encounter, as lie had desired.
Edward Wilson had been for some
time sitting alone with his unhappy
thoughts, when he was aroused by sud-
den cries of alarm, the tones of which
told his heart too plainly that some inn
minent danger impended.
Springing to his feet lie ran in the d.
rection of the cries and quickly saw the
cause Of excitement.
Recent heavy rains hal swollen the
mountain stream, the turbid waters Of
which were sweeping down with great We
locity. Two young girls, who had been
amusing themselves at some distance
above, in boat that was attached to the
shore by long rope, had, through some
accident, got the fastening loose, and
were now gliding far out in the current,
with atearfully increasing speed. toward
the breast Of milidam. some hundred
yards below, from which the water was
laundering down q height of over twenty
teet. Pale with terror, the poor young
creatures were stretching forth their
hands towards their companions on the
shore, and uttcring heart.rending cries
for sucCor.
1USLhDJ bCIlOu WAS ItCcSSlTy OF I'll
would be lost. The position OF the young
girls had been discovered while they
were yet some distance above, and there
happening to be another boat on the
milldam, and that nigh at hand, Logan
and two other young men had iooscd it
from tho shore. But the danger Of being
carried over the dam. should any ono
venture out in this boat seemed so iuev-
liable that none OF them dared 10 en-
counter the hazard. Now screaming
and wringing their hands. and now urg-
ing these men TO Try and save their COM
panions, stood the young maidenS of the
party, on tue shore wien Wilson dash.
cd through them, and springing into the
boat, cried out:
'Quick, Logan! Take an oar, or all is
lost
But. instead Of this, Logan stepped
back pace or two from the boat, while
bis face grew pale with fear.
Not an instant more was wasted. AT
n glance Wilson saw that if the girls
were saved, it must be by the strength
of his own arm. Bravclv he pushed
from shore, and with giant strength,
horn OF the moment and for the occasion.
from his high, unselfsh purpose, lie
dashed the boat out into the current.
and bending TO the oars, took q direction
at an angle with the other boat. toward
the point where the water was sweeping
over the dam. At every stroke the light
skill sprang forward dozen feet. and
scarcely half minute had elapsed ere
Wilson was beside the other boat.
Both were now within twenty yards Of
the fail and the water was bearing them
down with velocity that strong row
err with every advantage OF bis side.
could scarcely contend against success.
fully. To transfer the frightened girls
from one boat to the Other, in few mo-
nents Of time left ere the down-sweop-
ing current would beat the frail vessel
10 the edge OF the dam, and still retain
an advantage, was, for Wilson, impossi
bic. TO lot his own boat 90 and man
age theirs he saw 10 be equally impos.
sible.
A cry OF despair reached the young
mans cars as The oars dropped from his
grasp into the water.
II was evident 90 the spectators of the
fearful scene that lie had lost his pres
encc Of mind.
Not go, however. In the next mo.
mcnt ne bal sprung into The water. Which.
near The breast of the dam, was not
more than two or three feet deep AZ
ne did so he gra-ped the other boat and
bracing him self firmly against the rush.
ing current, held it. poised few yards
from The point where the foam.Crcslcd
waters lenpcd into the whirlpool below
At Tie same instant his own boat shot
like an arrow over the dam. He hal
gained, however, bur little advantage
IL required his utmost strength 90 keep
she boat hc had grasped from dragging
bin down the fall.
The quickly formed purpose Of Wison.
in thus springng into tho water. had
been TO drag the boat against Che cur
rent 20 the shore. But this he perceiv-
Ell to be Impossible the moment he relt
tIo rool efrr,rfh ,f Clio ,,Y,.-..t g.