The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-10-02

agony By plunging headlong into the
river when was restrained by seeing
her come ont upon the platform and
look towards US. For moment. SEEM
ingly resigned to her fate, she made no
sign; then she recognized me and
stretched out her arms appealingly.
"A groan of sympathy went up from
the throng of spectators. On my part
answered her with wild cry Of love
and despair.
"Was there no way to save herr Here
was the opportunity had spoken Of. Of
giving up my life for her. Oh, how
gladly l would do it, if there were only
hint of chance. At that moment my
eyes rested upon the three telegraph
wires, still suspended between the shore
and the piers. A hope and plan
flashed into my mind like an inspiration.
If only they would bear my weight.
knelt down and examined their fasten-
ing; tl.ey were Topped over stout hooks.
buried in the solid woodwork. If the
opposite attachment proved equally
strong. might cross in safety. But !
must risk that.
II arose and spoke to the crowd. who
had been watching me pityingly. They
thought from my actions that 1 had
gone mad.
Friends I said, calmly. 4 have
found way to reach her. If you will
help me, God willing. will save her. ,
II pointed to the telegraph wires and
explained my plans. There was a uni
versal protesting cry.
Madness! Sheer waste of life! Sure
death! The wires won't hold the weight
of child
"But persisted, argued. threatened.
swore that if they refused to aid me,
would try it unaided. Finally, one Of
the men, mechanic, who had been ex-
,amining the wires, joined the group.
There is a chance, boys; mighty
slim one. admit; but who Of you
wouldn't risk his neck to save his wife:
and as this here girl is the young mans
sweetheart, l reckon there amt much
difference. So l vote we give him q
hand
"His rough eloquence evoked cheer
of approval. and a dozen men
fastened to offer their assistance. had
already settled upon the course I ought
to pursue. l called for rope, and a
hosting apparatus near by was speedily
stripped of its 800 feet of stout cable.
hurriedly constructed a sling, such as
hOuse-painters sometimes use, with a
loop. which passed over the wires, the
latter being fortunately placed SO near
together that my weight would be
equally distributed over all these. l
got into my sling, fastened the end Of
the rope about my waist, with directions
to secure it firmly to the shore, and pay
it out as l advanced, and amid a
breathless silence began my perilous
| journey.
las swung outward over the gulf.
for moment my head swan and my
heart throbbed violently. But the sight
of my darling. crouched upon the plat
form of the car, with her hands clasped
together as if in prayer, renewed my
courage and went bravely on.
IF the wires should part with my
weight. If the fas.enings ut the other end
were defective, if knot should slip, l
should be plunged to instant destruc-
ton. knew it, but the fear had passed
away. If must die, now could death
be met more fitly than in the name of
love?
my progress down the slope of the
wires was not difficult, for my own
weight assisted me. 1t was on the up
ward curve, towards the pier. that nv
real struggle began. Painfully, few
bearing upon my loins, l drew myself
along, hand over hand. In the increas.
ing fury of the g:.le l was dashed to and
fro on my slender support, sometimes so
tiercely that l was almost head down.
ward over the hell of water beneath.
cat last, painting and exhausted, l
reached the buttress of the pier and
drew myself upon it. A faint cheer
from the shore hailed the success of the
first part of my endeavOr, but the more
perilous portion still remained to be ac-
complished. unbound the rope from
my waist. and slipping the loop of my
sling over it. knotted it firmly TO a pro-
jecting beam.
Picking my way over the violently
swaying fabric. Preached the car where
Octavia sat. She had watched my slow
progress with CHASTITY face and starting
eyes, but she'smilcd with sad COM
posture as mounted the platform.
"'You have rlsked your life for me,
she said. why have you done it?'
".For the sake of the love which you
called fancy l replied. Did 1 not
tell the truth?'
| "'Forgive me- she answered; 4 did
not know my own heart. In the face
of death have learned it. If we escape
together am yours. all yours; if not
".We die together interrupted.
But come, there is not moment to
lose. The piers are quaking like reeds.
| Il made her enter the car and remove
all of her superiluous clothing; then
wrapping her in her waterproof. lifted
her in my arms and bore her to the
starting point of our terrific journey.
Il secured myself in the sling and,
holding on with one hand, assisted her
down with the other She clasped her
arms about my neck and, burying her
face in my bosom. left me free to act.
.'Our movement over the wet rope,
flung about by the force of the wind,
was terribly slow. There were mo-
ments when 1 was compelled to pause
and hold ON for mere life. But 1 was
laboring for that which was infinitely
dearer to ME than life and seemed to