Osage Valley banner., 1880-04-08

ing the motions ana the expressions OF
my countenance, doubtless imagining
that was still delirous.
" Lucy--Miss AmesP' l said.
She started back as 1 uttered the
name, as though unwilling that should
discover her real thoughts; but, in a
moment recovering all self f.possession,
she looked calmly toward nue., and
asked, with q tone of affected indiffer-
ence:
"Do you feel easier now2"
.. s.Indeed. scarcely know how / do
feel, - / replied, |" bnt there is pain
and soreness in my head, and, ia fact,
in all my limbs. | must have been bad
ly hurt.
had dim recollection of the occur
renee above narrated, and ! felt sur
prised that should have awakened to
life. The pain which felt, on regain
| ing my reason, increased now moment
arily. A physician was at hand, and
every effort was made by him, rs well
as the members of Mr Ames's family,
Cin whose house ] was then lying), in
which also Lucy and Mr.. Wesley Joined,
to alleviate my sufferings.
| In spite Of all their attentions my
pains rapidly augmented, and in short
time was again lost in the unconscious
delirium Of fever. In my vague dream
legs was again on the narrow bridge,
bending every effort, and straining
every nerve, 10 remove the piece of
wood that bound me there. Again
was chained TO the huge rock, in which
| unconscious laborers were drilling holes
which they filed with powder to blow
! the unseemly mass TO atoms. Fiends,
shapeless and hideous, flew about me,
chattering in glde---demons danced on
the sharp edges of the rock, chuckling
again like the measured puff OF the en-
CINE; and at intervals they stopped to
| bind the chains closer, until the links
festered into the very flesh, and turned
my blood to gall with the poison in
which they had been dipped. Caverns
yawned on every side to receive me.
| All at once was heard the long shrill
whistle Of the engine, and voices, that
| seemed the very agony of despair,
screamed on every side, "The trainl
/ the trainin
But all this passed away. was well
| again, and could walk about the house
with the aid of a crutch, for had left
one foot suspended in the bridge where
/ had so miraculously escaped death.
Lucy had re-assurcd me Of her love; not
indeed by words, but by her actions.
Long and patiently had she watched by
my side; and to her more than any
other do | owe the preservation Of my
life. No words had passed between us
in relation TO the subject which had
so nearly separated us, yet there
seemed 10 be tacit acknowledgment
Of the error on my part, and a
cheerful forgiveness on hers. But one
day, when we CHANGED TO be alone,
REQUIRED to the folly of which had
been guilty, and more formally asked
her forgiveness.
Freely do forgive you," she said,
4" II, indeed, you have been guilty oi
any act which would seem 10 require it
You doubtless acted according to YOU
earnest inclination, which I would moi
wish TO oppose. / supposed your only
object was to secure the hand Of another
in leaving me, and that ~
"Lucy, Lucyl" | exclaimed, "it wa:
not SOL was mad; | was fool!
believed too rashly, but now | believe
nothing; will not even credit what
! cNI- 19NA AiAA liliF AAhAl A'N II AthH
pened that on one or two occasions
after eXcusing yourself from accompa
, nying me 10 an evenings visit or party
| should afterward meet you returnn!
) home in company with Mr.. WesieyPh
/ " Still jealous, l see, - said Lucy.
r No, no, / replied but"
1 "Iisten, then, she said, interruptin!
4 me, "and | will explain all, which
I might have done sooner had you re
D quested II. | was anxious 10 improve IN
; singing, and as this was probably tn
e only opportunity / should ever have,
y had engaged to take private lessons q
1 Mr.. Wesley. / did not think it neco'
Y sary to tell every one why was so ofte
n seen in the company Of that gentleman
}. who, must assure you, is not ouly
1 very amiable young man, but Is oi
k gagged 10 my cousin, with whom no h
5 ducement could cause him to break h
9 compact" "
il "But why did he delay 50 long
come to my assistance, when l W.
Y about 10 be crushed by the trainp"
k He did, indeed, make all the has
Ie in his power" replied Lucy; +" but
Il company with her brother, arrived
] | moMeHl 700 laltt NiltH ~ Wo'iiA h"'
n been madness TO have gone on d
% bridge, In the diml light they saw you IA
"a into the water, which, fortunately, WI
h. deep and rapid, and consequently fr'
o from ice. They fastened 10 the bar
" of the stream, and In few momen
5. succeeded in resouing you from Oh
second danger, and bore you 70 Il
house,
$. "Friends, thank God all friopdsl
a could not help uttering, after Ii
ly tening to Lucy's explanation Of 1
/ that had transpired. i was hapl
ID again, though manned for life, o IA