The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-05-26
SELECT STORY.
THE OLD WELL.
BY CLYDE RAYMOND.

$50 YOU want to know if l ever had
a romance? q said Aunt Margaret, lean
ing back in her easy chair, with mild,
reflective look upon her peaceful face
eyes, something did happen to me
once that may seem like one to you,
although l never thought of calling it
by that name"
'Let's hear it, auntie, please" | an
swered, pushing the velvet hassock
nearer to her, and giving an extra shake
to the bright coal fire.
The night was somewhat cold and
clustering outside, but that only made
Aunt Margarets room, with its warm
hued furniture, its softly-cusbioned
easy chairs, its glowing fire and shaded
astral lamp, look all the more inviting.
She was distant relative who had
come to pay us a long promised visit,
and from my first glance at her fine,
stately figure and her noble, placid
countenance, knowing that she had
never married, l got the notion into my
head that she must have had romance
Her hair was still brown and abundant,
while her eyes shone clear and blue as
a young girls. And yet Aunt Margaret
was well past fifty.
"Well, my DEAR" she began, smiling
softly, "'once upon time,' as the story
books say, l was young, and considered
rather pretty
"Oh, no need to tell me that, Aun,
Margaret ! interrupted, gazing with
unfeigned admiration at the handsome
face into which a delicate rose-oolol
came so brightly at the memory of hel
girlish loveliness. "You might easily
carry off the palm of beauty from III
now, if you felt so inclined"
She smiled again as she saw how
sincere was my tribute to her charms
and resumed her story:
81 had of course my share of admir-
ers among the village youth, and wa
a great favorite at balls, quilting parties
husking bees, and all the other enter
tainments of village society; yet
reached the age of 20 heart whole ant
fancy-free, still keeping house for m.
widowed father, as had done almos
from childhood, and never caring t
make any change,
"Because the right one hadn't com
along, Aunte, said, eagerly, thinking
of my "bonnie Charlie" with his curl
locks and lightsome heart, and wonder
ing how girls in any age of the worl
could have loved, married and live,
happily without ever having know
the sunlight of his presence.
| "Well, Madge, he came at last, cor
tinued Aunt Margaret, with gentl
sigh which seemed to watt her fla
back into the happy past, "and tn
manner of his coming was one that
can never forget. Our house stood a
one end of the street, and in far col
ner of the lot stood an old well, neg
lected and unused for years, save by II
silly girls, who found it a romanti
spot to try our fortunes by on Hal
lowe'en. But it was very dangerou,
being unprotected by curb or fence
and standing as it did close to the put
lie road. had often begged my fathe
to make it more secure, but he neglect
ed it until my prophecy of danger fror
it was at last fulfilled,
"One dark, starless evening in OctC
ber, returning from visit to neigh
bor's, ! was passing the old well, whe
suddenly low groan of agony caugt
my ear. Instantly realized the awfl
truth that some traveller had fallen int
the dark and dangerous pit, and m
heart stood still with horror But onl
for moment. | saw the need of il
stant action, and, leaning over the edg
of the black, yawning hole, / calle
loudly to the person within not to d.
spair, for would soon bring him a
sstance.
"Then rushing to the house, an
calling wildly at every step for help,
began an eager, trembling search for
rope, which | soon had knotted frml
around stout, crooked old pear TIRE
standing near the well. Then i calle
again to the poor, groaning victim b
low, | bade him grasp the rope tigh
| ly and let me pull him up. But it W,
no use. My only answer was anoth,
moan, so low and deep that | though
the poor wretch was dying
"What to do | did not know. n
help had come, and ! feared to lose
moment by going after it. But W;
young and strong and nerved with II
courage of desperation, so | did N,
hesitate long. How | managed it su
cessfully never could tell, but l /
myself down by the rope until ! reac
ed the bottom of that dark abyss an
found the helpless being, whom Pro,
dence had sent Inc to rescue, too mu(
injured TO move limb.
"As gently and quickly as could,
that awful situation, i fastened Il
rope around his body and lifted him
more convenient position to be draw
up; then hand over hand, like a sailo
and blistering the skin M | went,
slowly climbed to the top again, whe
| found my father and two or thr
anxious neighbors just beginning
realize what had occurred. 1t was W,
they had come, for my girls strengt
try as would, could never have draw
that large, strong man to the surfa,
nor could he have lived much long