The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-02-27

slope, TO shoulder up below huge calm
blllow, before pitching into the mad
ness OF waves whose confusion of toss
! ing and tortured Crests hurries to the
abyss. The afternoon grew toward
evening before he pulled steadily home.
crawling steadily away from the roarers
against the cruel green, watching the
ominous cloud with some such grim
humor as If under observation by an
overpowering but baffled enemy
Approaching his landing, shout drew
Bedell'S glance ashore to a group of
men eXcitedly gesticulating. They
seemed motioning him to watch the
American shore. Turning, he saw a
boat in midstream, where no craft then
on the river, except his own skift., could
be safe, unless manned by several good
rowers. Only two oars were flashing.
Bedell could make out two figures in
distinctly. 1t was clear they were
doomed though still full mile above
the point whence he had come, they
were much farther out than lie when
near the rapids. Yet one life might be
saved Instantly Bedell's bow turned
| outward and cheers were flung to him
from ashore.
At that moment he looked to his own
landing place and saw his larger boat
was gone. Turning again he angrily
recognized it, but kept right on-he
must try to rescue even a thief. He
wondered Ruth had not prevented the
thief, but had no suspicion of the truth.
Always he had refused to let her so out
upon tie river, MORALLY fearing it for
her.
Thrusting his skiff nightly forward
often it glanced, half whirIed by up
whelming and spreading spaces of
water-the old Loyalist's heart was quit
of his pangs, and sore only with GER
tainty that he must abandon one human
soul to death But when he could reach
the larger boat his would be too near
the rapids for escape with three.
When George saw Bedell in pursuit
he bent to his ash more strongly, and
Ruth, trembling to remember her
fathers threats, urged her lover to speed.
They feared the pursuer only, quite I'M
conscious of being in the remorseless
grasp of the river. Ruth had so often
seen her father far lower down than they
had yet drifted that she did not realize
the truth, and George, coming from a
| distant district, was unaware of the long
cataraCts above the falls. He was also
deceived by the streams treacherous
Smoothness, and, instead of half upward,
pulled straight across, as if certainly
able to land anywhere he might touch
the American shore.
Bedell looked over his shoulder often.
When he distinguished a woman he
put on more force, but slackened soon
the pull home would tax his endurance
| he reflected. In some sort it was a
relief to know one was woman he
had anticipated trouble with two men
equally bent on being saved. That the
man would abandon himself bravely he,
beng brave, scarcely doubted. For a
while he thought Of pulling, with the
woman, to the American shore, more
easily to be gained from the point where
the rescue must occur. But he rejected
the plan, confident he could row back,
for he had sworn never to set foot on
that soil. Had it been possible to save
both he would have been forced, de-
spite his vow, but the Squire knew that
was impossble-three would overload
his boat beyond escape.
Having carefully studied landmarks
for his position Bedell turned to look
again at the doomed boat At that
glance a well-known ribbon caught his
attention . The old man dropped his
oars, confused with horror. "My God,
my God, it's Ruth - he cried, and the
whole truth came with another look,
for he had not forgotten George Win
throp.
"Your father stops, Ruth fear he
suffers pain" said George to the Quak-
ing girl. She looked back.
"What can it be?" she cried, filial
love returning overmasteringly.
"Mayhap he is but tired" George
affected carelessness-his first thought
being to secure his bride-and pulled
hard away to get all advantage from
Bedell's stop.
"rired he is in danger of the falls
them ~ screamed Ruth. stop, Turn
Back to him r'
| Winthrop instantly prepared to obey.
Eyes, darling,' he said, eve must
not think of ourselves. We must 90
back to save hin. p Yet his was sore
groan at turning, what duty ordered
was SO hard-he must give up his love
for the sake of his enemy.
But while Winthrop was still pulling
round, the old Loyalist resumed rowing
with more rapid stroke that soon
brought him alongside.
In those moments of waiting all
Bedell's life days-his personal hatreds,
his loves, his sorrows-had been re-
viewed before his soul. He had seen
again his sons, the slain in battle, in
the pride of their young might, and the
gentle eyes Of Ruth had pleaded with
him beneath his dead wife's brow
How poor seemed hate-how mean and
poor seemed all but love and loyalty
| Yes for he had looked throuoL tho Wa;