Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-05-20

" L wish she would not stand on tnat
rickety plank" said to myself; and,
even as the thought rose in my mind,
she moved, started, lost her balance,
and, with one wild effort to save her
self, fell with splash into the river,
and saw the water close over her.
With wild cry sprang up and at.
tempted to throw myself out OF the
window; for-O Heavenl there was my
wife battling for life In the dark, cold
water, and so near, and yet powcrless
to save her. la
'"Nclly, darling shouted, keep
up--1 am comingp
Then my arms were seized from be.
hind, and o voice exclaimed; care you
madpn
There was short, desperate strug.
gle; but my companion was stronger
than and held me fast.
"Let me go!" | cried. "She has risen
again! l must save herl o Heaven,
she has sunkr'
100 late, too late! saw the white
arms flung upward wildly; caught a
glimpse of the agony of the terror
stricken face; and then she sank, and the
dark river glided on unruffled.
1t was all over in q few moments.
The train went on with undiminshed
speed; and my companion, still holding
me with grip like iron, forced me
back into the carriage away from the
window.
Don't lookr' he said, excitedly, foI
he. too, had seen all. "Who was
shep"
Mute, helpless, with an awful feeling
of horror chilling my heart, hid my
face in my hands, and, in the agony
and revulsion of feeling, felt must &c
mad. To have been so near, to have
seen it all, and yet have been so utterly
powerless to save her, my sweet, gentle
wife.
The first half hour after it had hap
pened was blank, a complete, hope
less blank. Twas conscious of nothing
but an awful bewildering desire to take
my own life, to put an end to an exist
ence that would be filed with nothing
now but despair and misery; for wha'
was life without Nellyp
"Who was she?" repeated my fellow
traveller, who sat opposite to me.
"My wife," l answered; and then
relapsed into silence.
He turned very pale, and presently
uttered some well-meant words OF com
fort, but stopped him.
Don't said; al shall have plenty
of time for consolation by and by"
was still trembling from the shock
and could not realize my awful loss yet
felt utterly desperate. yet was able tt
do nothing. AS long as l live shal
never forget that terrible iourney-tha
] L. l.,1f \ l,- nft do
since that l did not go mad.
The train still dashed on; being an ex
press, it itstopped atfew stations. My onl
wish now was to get back again as 500
as possible, to see all that remained Q
her, the Joy and very sunshine of m
life. knew was bearing my troubl
badly, and felt it was unmanly to Civ
way like woman; but buried m,
face and groaned when the memory c
the bright, sweet face arose, and
seemed to feel her soft arms clingin
round my neck.
Again the desire to end my sorrow
ut once returned to me, and would nt
be driven away.
"What is life without herp' TIL
words haunted me till at last the yer
clang and rattle of the train seemed {
repeat them. A kind of mi
rose before my eyes, and, TO
getting that l was not alone. /
last took out my knife and opened i
{ 1t was instantly wrenched from me an
, flung out of the window.
"Heaven forgive you," said my fe
: low-traveler, sternly, "for meditatin
, such a sin! Bear this trial like mai
a a.I not 1;l,a cpwartHs
! felt like some hunted animal at ba,
The horrible scene was being enacte
1 again and again in my memory, and
8 seemed to see the white face and ii
/, struggling arms. Nelly was dead nov
S floating to and fro with the ebb and flo
: of the dark cold river.
1 The express still dashed on, fyir
Q past green fields and peaceful hom
: steads. Would it never stop? At la
a it slackened speed and drew up at st
: tion. got out, feeling strangely gidt
3 and bewildcred.
: "Let may stay with YOU" urged n
traveller, the man who had wit
!. in the last two hours saved my Ii
!, twice.
/ mo" replied. "You can do n
It no good, thank you allthe same. Iw
g wait for the down -train-I shall be bt
ter alone"
h He wrung my hand, aud tears sto,
d in his eyes.
1t "Promise me-" he said, !" that y,
b won't think of doing what you thoug
y of just now. don't want to preac
@ but remember, He who sends the tri
h sends the strength to bear it. too.'"
Vt l have never seen him since, and ha
often wondered who he was. shou
7; like to see his kind face and pleasa
dark eyes again.
d promised what he asked; and the
few earnest words did more to quell
t. desperate thoughts that were madde
ing me than any sermon.
d Staggering like one just recover
f. from a long illness, walked up
,. platform and asked when the next trf
le would be passing down. l suppo
st there must have been something stran
it about my appearance, for little gro
1T soon congregated about me, and sol
Is one asked if was i'll.
"The next down-train, sirp" said I
4 stationmaster, hurrying up, "2:15, sil
ly 1t was only ten now--mOre than fc
ID hours to wait! Was he sure that "
At the only trainP could never wait fo
l hours in the state of mind was in.
"Can driver" asked, needless
ID distance, eagerly scanning the lit
g crowd around. ~ will pay any mon
ID to get back to Morley at once"
ID The station-master interposed aga
"Couldn'' get a vehicle of any s.
III to-day, sir, if you was to pay thu
sand pounds-all off to the races"
" Is there no luggage train, or al
thingp must get back"
+. "Sure there will be cattle-train
TX one, SIR" volunteered a porter.
your ionor is in great hurry, may
IN they would give you a lift on
Y, engine"
d, In the relief OF mind this intelligeI
ie gave me astonished the Irishman
in putting five shillings into his hand; q
he was profuse in his thanks and bic
II. | A a Al I. ~