Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-01-02

horse, worn and weary before the battle fighting
with the waters 1t was struggle for life, and the
horse bravely held his own, but when the current
seized him in its might it tossed him. helpless, from
his feet and swept him down the stream. His rider
had dropped the rein and fallen forward, lay grasp
ing the neck with both arms whether dead or alive
no man could tell.
IL was then as il was seen all in flash OF time
how fast they sweeping down the stream
( girl with eyes opened to their shining full set her
I firm lips together, and before a hand could be
stretched toward her. put foot fearlessly upon the
dead tree longing to be afioat and away, and
along its slippery and rotten trunk 1t was deed
so daring, and so wrapped about with DEATH that no
one could have done it carefully and lived The old
tree danced up and down and half rolled, and the
river dragged it little harder, but kept BY all the
gods at once it held. Thank the one great God, it
held
Hunting rapidly among the old roots, the girls
hand finally found stout one, and, trusting it,
/ she fixed secure footing and watched the horses
head. Now it escaped rock lodged almost in its
way; now some drift from the mountains seemed to
turn it from its course, and it came given to
the clutch OF the current sweeping on to death and
destruction. The girls luminous eye never wav-
cred, and just horse and man came abreast Of her
She leaned out over the turbid seethe and called in
shril, womanish treble that pierced the sullen
roar of water, Come up Jack get up, sir holloa,
Jack now, Jack r
Almost exhausted, the horse gathered all his
strength at the sound of human VOICE, ard put
forth mighty effort to free himself from his icy
bonds It's wonderful tale to tell, but he cut the
current in twain and swept in toward land under
shelter of the old tree, which turned the rush and
gave him still water to swim in. Turning weaker
and weaker, they would yet have been lost, but the
girl ran again along the topping log encouraging
the faint animal with the sound of her voice, and
when shalower water was reached she boldly sprang
into it, and seizIng the drooTang rein led the way
to lond. Quick to respond to the force of her
! spring, the great trunk sunk lower for a moment,
then uplifted by the water, slowly htaved like
breath, its dead branches uncenched their hands,
and silently it drifted away with the current that
caught it in an instants time.
More wondrous still the tale tell, horse and
rider lived liced, l say, spite of the thousand
dangers that had beset them. Oh they were willing
hands that mnstered to both, and soft hearts that
made men weep the task, but never had any
before seen such face as Angie Moore's 1t was
fair and calm yet shining and joyful as the face
of angel.
:" My sins are all washed away" she said, smiling,
to one of the women.
Sure, sure, you never had any SINS" answered
the woman, falling back little, as from something
toe grand and noble for her to approach
Sep Wright had long season of illness and pros
tration. He was delicate, boy and man, by nature,
and cripple beside; and it of the accidents
of Providence that he survived what would have
killed strong man.
His wandering wits were slowly finding their way
back again, when he began to puzzle at seeing
Angie wherever he looked He called her to him
finally and looked her over.
81 don't know" ne said slowly, "a but you're just
a shape formed out OF a tree or a rock. Over there
on the mountains he stepped from every bush I met
and walked along with me- striking me across the
face with his switch again. and mocking"
Her face redeemed, for in his wanderings he had
told the insult of the oaken switch, but she replied
softly and happily, q really Angie Moore, Sep.
I'm taking care Of you-father and the boys and
me and you're at our house, and this is my room.
Schools let out"
He turned his face away from her, and moved his
head uneasily on his pillow. +" 1t seems to me l re-
member, there was letter. s'pose l must
have lost it,"
mo" she answered, " it was saved, but it was
wet through, and dried it carefully by the fire."
al must tell you; ought to, and it's what lived
through everything to tell. You can't think it's
selfshness makes me tell it, when put myself at
stake to bring you that letter, can you 1 don't
think anything now of how he beat me in his COW
ardy strength it small thing beside the
great things that have happened. But l couldn't
bear to trust you with one who was so cruel. Be-
side that Angie, with his promise to you yet warm
on his lips he set up a swindling trick on his way
to the city, and as it happened drew your own
father into the game. He left Harding's Hill with
your six months earnings in his pocket, and ah .
Angie, that's what became of the $50 you meant to
buy books with %
al knew it," she answered quietly, " knew it
three months ago. Father and had our talk out
about it, and when he gave me the whole history
OF it and the look OF the man who robbed him /
knew very well. wrote letter begging for no
answer if my suspicion was true, but praying for
immediate reply if we were wrong. No answer
came, Sep and II would have given so much for
one" Her eyes were filed with tears at recollection
Of the desolate, burning longing emptiness that had
crowded SO many weeks.
"Well, Angie" Sep said, I" don't count that
last trip made in vain when I've brought you letter
at last. But don't marry him, Angie; he's cold,
crnel man in his heart"
If you'd just let me tel you about 1t, Sep. I've
never had anyone to be confidential with in all my
life" she said, pleadingly. "When he went away
he was to be new man. He was here for having
been a bad man, but can't realize what Il bad man
lob he iFret
giIl's love as if he had been "A good man. He
wrote that he had gone wrong just once, for one
five minutes since he left me, and that wss at the
place where he first took stage from here. He said
he did not know what devil possessed him then but
the thing so easy he couldn't help it. The old
man." aud she biushed red as crimson, was so
simple minded and so easy be cheated he couldn't
resist him Then father told me his story, and be-
hold it was my father that had been cheated, and
my money that had been stolen. cold horror
filled when the fact was plain. Cheat my father
take my money and ! marry him? Oh, never
His past life had been forgiven by his friends; bis
family had recognized him again ; he was honestly
a better he had resisted hundred tempta-
tinns, but he stunned into sence, and
never dared write again, when he knew that one
sin was done against me and mine. But love does
not die at viii, and hungered and thrsted for lust
another line from him, and put you, Sep the best
friend ever had, in the balance against that one
line"
The tears were dropping silently over her checks
as she famed almost into passion OF fercenes and
added, " But would never have written him q let
ter in answer, and somehow when | stood month
ago on that old log, with the river dizzvinp and
leapng around me, and leaning out over that hur-
rylug dreadful water, the love went | know not
where and said to myself in that moment Of danger
| was free as bird and happier than ii | had
wings"
'Ange," said the sick man, and his voice
trembed as mans will at such moment "Tm a
cripple and never anybody, but | could make
you happier dear, than thai other man.
"Oh Sep, don't p she exclaimed, as he drew the
hand on his pillow down TO his lips
You end me we're boy and girl together Angie
and ever since mother died, and you were SO good
to her and to me, I've loved you so well, and I'd
never have grudged that man his happiness ii he
could have made YOURS, toe, dear" he urged
It's too soen," she objected, "and a woman
can't jump from one love to the next as from one
steppng-stone to the other" But for all that, an
air that was half Of mourning, half OF eoquetry dis
turbed the poise Of her head
You can't jump too soon, when I've waited
and waited WITH al that longing shut within me YOU
felt when you pned away Postmistress of Saints
| Rest"
Wait half year" she objected, shrinking into
pretty shyness.
vii not wait five minutes" he replied, his ear
nestuess making him MASTER and then as be took
the sacred lip touch from her, he whispered, IS oh
my darling I"
"Yoa'l never read the letter brought, dear. y
he said anxiously, a moment later.
Not unless you give me leave" she answered