The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-05-16

he was. did not wonder that Ruth had
lost her heart to him. AT length his eye
rested on us. In an instant he was be-.
side Us. He put his arm about Ruth ms
II they had parted with kisses but yes
terday, looked quickly back and said as
his face blanched and his lips shut close:
1--WE can onlysaye ourselves. Gomez
He swung Ruth lightly through the case
ment, clasped me by the arm, and we
fled away from the house OF feasting
with the brides heart-rcnding shrek in
our ears and the mothers banched face
uptUrned in hopeless prayer ever before
our eyes as we dashed out into the night
and joined in the wild scramble for life.
The blackness Of the night, the roar
ing Of the wind and the increasing thun-
der Of the river were enough TO appall
the stoutest heart. But we were hurried
on, stumbling over roots and stumps
caught and torn by vines and briars,
dashed against trees blythe raging wind,
spattered by the spray of the rising wa
ter until we reached the place where
Frank had left his boat
The river was full Of floating trees,
The ruins OF houses, and all the debris
which the mad water had wrested from
its conquerors. The current was so
strong il seemed certain death 10 trust
ourselves to il, but 10 was the only
chance. We stepped in the boat and
each seized an oar. Wepushed ont and
the fight for life began We were driven
against huge floating logs, again and
again almost overturned, caught in tho
branches of some great tree that rushed
down the current and which in the dark
ness we could not see. Cries Of terror
reached us now and then, but the thun-
der Of the liberated river filled the air.
1t seemed the triumphing Of tho river
god as he swallowed his victims. the hui
man sacrifice TO his power.
We were trying to force our way.
through the crevasse up TO higher ground
when suddenly bonfire some one had
lighted hours before blazed up, and we
saw clinging in the branches Of q tree
rushing past us the bride clasped tight
" in the arms of her husband. Was tho
prophecy to be fulfilled, "never wife
or mother"p Though the attempt
was madness, we stroye TO reach them.
Fortunately both Ruth and myself were
accomplished oarswomen and accus-
toned to the river Frank stood up and
called to them while we bent to our oars
with all our strength. The bridegroom
heard us and waved his hand in ac-
acknowledgement. Then Frank took the
oars, Ruth the pole that was used to
keep us from coliding with the floating
masses and we rowed down the current
after the great tree with its living bur-
den. A jutting bluff for a moment shut
out the view of the bonfire. When it
shone upon the floating tree again, only
the bare trunk and dripping branches
were to be seen. Ruth uttered moan
of terror Frank changed our course
and we shot off into the darkness again.
After hours of desperate fighting for our
lives, the faint light Of dawn came TO
our aid, and at last we were able TO
land.
As soon as our feet were on firm
ground again Ruth turned to Frank and
held out both her hands with tears in
her eyes and trembling lips, but said no
word. He drew her TO him and kissed
her again and again. They were saved
for each other, but thought of Major
Grant with "a sigh.
We found him at the house Of o friend
miles back from the river, where he had
been borne for safety, but tho excitement
and eXertion had been too great for his
strength, and he was suffering from
severe hemorrhage which was wasting
his life-blood. Ruth went at once 10
him leading Frank by the hand.
Some hours after, rs the sun was set
ting, we were all called to his room.
Ruth knelt on the floor at his bedside
with her face buried in her hands, and
the Majors hand rested on hor head.
The dark curling hair lay in damp
rings on his white forehead, and the
large sad eyes were lifted Us II in prayer.
His lips moved. Ruth, dear" he
whispered. She raised her head. He
drew her to him with yearning in his
eyes that would not be refused Their
lips met in one last, long kiss. Then
he reached out and taking Franks hand
put Ruth's into it, and blessed them with
u look of unutterable love till the lighs
faded from his eyes forever.
Mary 4. ASb}eH IN our Continent
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