The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-01-26

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think if she saw him now, tattered,
ghastly, freezing?
Presently he fell into a species
of delirium. He thought be was
on his way back to the farm
back to Primrose. The frownlng
rows of houses on either hand
seemed to stretch away into the
smiling, sunlit fields about his
fathers house. Yonder was The
tree where he had often met
Primrose when the days toll was
over.
The hard pavement looked like
the winding, dusty road he knew
80 well-ay, and could he not
smell the alder-blossoms in the
morning air?
He laughed aloud as he strobe
along. He tried to sing an old
air that be knew, and wept, he
thought, for joy.
Poor soul! He did not see how
the chance wayfarers shrunk back
from him, imagining him a dan
gerons maniac.
So he walked on straight to-
ward the riverside, where the
water ran black and ugly beneath b
the docks and piers. For a mo-
ment it's sound seemed to recall
bis scattered senses. He paused
and looked vaguely around him.
He saw in the distance woman's
figure Fastening toward him, but
be took no notice Of it. His fan
cy went wild again, and he made
toward the river.
sHark = he shouted, the mill
stream | shall soon be home!'
In another instant he had
plunged into the water.
He was conscious of an icy
thrill, the whirling of the lights
along the shore, a shrill cry in e
woman's voice, and a heavy
plunge into the ;ver beside him.
| Then. as a slender arm was flung
around him and a voice, strangely
familiar, spoke some smothered
words of endearment into his dull
ear, be became insensible.
A long, dreamy interval seemed
to eIapse anG be awoke to con.
sclousness in the broad light OF
day. The room in " hlch he lay
was his own chamber at the farm.
Was this the reality? Had all
the past been merely a hideous
dream He knew that be was
very weak, and that he must have
been very near to death.
While he lay confusedly speeu,
lating upon his position, the door
opened and Primrose entered.
She looked sadder and paler than
when be had parted with her a
year before but a bright warm
smile broke over her face as she
saw that he was awake.
My poor WalterP she SAID
kneeling beside him, and covering
her face with her hands.
1T is all true, then T whispered
he.
YES she sobbed. You have
been very sick. We were both
very near to death, Walter.'
you know that l did not intend
to close my weakness and failure
with a crime he sad, earnestly
4 thought, Primrose, that / was
on my way to you and home. !
was mad with hunger and hard
ship
i know-I know she sobbed
i have learned all the sorrowtu
story. l had not heard from yot
for so long that l feared some
thing. had befallen you. l came
to the city to see you. All Gay
had searched for you IN vain. L
was the act of Providence that
saw you at nightfall on your way
to the river. Your tattere(
clothes, your poor: pale face an(
wild manner told me all. / hur
ried after you but did not reaci
you until you had fallen into tn
water. | knew l could hold yol
up if aid came speedily. 1t az
come, Walter, at the last mo
ment, and You were saved.
With misty eyes he looke'
down at her.
You were willing to sacrihc
your dear lite for one so WORTHLESS
as mine,' be said, chokingly. Nv b.
. did you do it?'
4 loved you, Walter she re
J piled, simply.