The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-06-23

water. Every inch gained is valuable"
" l am going too quickly, Abel. You
can never save me. Is that my dear
mother on the bank?" cit is, MARTHA"
replied Abel, solemnly, at the same
time pulling vigorously; "but silence
now"
The two boats were drawing near,
while both were setting down with
great velocity on the rapids. Martha
was in light bark canoe, which lay
almost on the surface Of the water. A
few minutes more, and Martha and
Abel were parallel to each other at
distance of about dozen yards. Abel
leaped to his feet and looked around.
They were within thirty feet of the
rapids and two hundred of the falls, in
the very middle of the stream. All
hope of Abel catching the canoe was
now gone. She, it seemed, could not
be saved. They could not be saved.
The young man gazed at the moonlit
isle, the shore, his fathers home, the
aged mother kneeling on the shore,
while old Jacks and Abel's mother
stood motionless near the threshold of
their house. MARTHA cried Abel, in
voice calm and collected, though
husky, "act with courage and spirit.
One minute, and we part perhaps for
ever. Rouse all your courage, think of
your mother and your future husband
and let the thought give you the energy
of man. Lie down quickly in the
canoe. Lie still and move not. The
fall is swelled by the rain, and the
white rock is hidden. That is dear
girl! Move not for your life. Adieu!"
No more words were spoken. Martha,
as she was bid, lay at full length in the
bottom of the light bark canoe, and the
next instant was sucked into the rapids.
Round and round whirled the frail boat,
and then, entering the very center of
the quick-fiowing stream, it darted along
and was lost sight of over the falls.
Abel pulled like mailman for the
shore, guiding his boat slightly up the
stream. "My child, my child!'' cried
the agonized mother, as he leaped
upon the bank. Boy" said his father,
severely, "what have you done with
Martha?' Father, stay me not!
Martha is in the hands of Providence.
Follow me, and few minutes will de-
eide her fate"
The mother and Abels whole family
ran with the young man along the
shore, following the portage of the
falls. They soon reached the nook in
which lay the boat used by the Jacks
for fishing under the cataract. AS Abel
expected, the high tide and the great
volume of waters considerably lessened
the height of the fall, which was also
wider than usual. Where is my
child?" cried the Widow Curtis once
more. Abel made no reply, but, leap
ing into the boat, pulled across the
stream. The two falls, one on each
side of Cuth Island, made of course a
very strong current in this part of the
river, but where the two currents met
the one counteracted the other, and the
volume of water being very great three
back-waters ensued, one going back to
the island point. the other two along
the shore. Abel pulled for the still
water in the center, and in few min
utes had the intense satisfaction of
seeing the frail bark-canoe lying mo-
tionless on the very edge of the eddy.
Martha" he cried, in low, agonized
voice. No answer was given, and in a
few minutes more he was alongside.
There she lay in the pale moonlight, as
calm as an infant on its mothers bosom,
but to all appearance lifeless. Abel
lifted her hurriedly into his boat and
sprinkled her marble face with water.
A deep sigh, low, wailing sigh of
pain, and then burst of tears and
laughter, proclaimed the victory of
youth and nature over death. ooh,
Abel, how have 1 been saved?" said the
trembling and agitated girl, clasping
her lovers two hands. ''By thy cour-
age and trust in Providence, dear
Martha" replied Abel, in a low tone.
And these two simple, unsophisticated
children of nature knelt, and, with the
roaring cataract on each side and the
, their hearts. ''Let us 90 to my
mother" after an instant's pause; and
+ Abel, without another word, struck out
most exciting scene. Tears and ques-
strangely mixed with each other, and
then the whole party returned to old
, Jacks house.
, 1t appeared that Martha, knowing
: her mothers character, and aware of
/ the influence of a storm upon her
! mind, had determined as soon as
the moon rose to cross over and re-
y assure the widow as to her own safety.
Sue tOOh ueT IldSler DdTh CdllOc, anu,
f starting a good way above the site of
! the bridge, began pulling across. When
: well in the stream beam of wood
! checked her progress. Eager to push
!, it from her path she let go her paddles,
! which she had forgotten to fasten to
the rowlocks, and they fell into the
y stream. She caught desperately at the
snag, but in vain; and then she gave
p the wailing cry which mother and lover
had both heard. Old Jacks warmly
v commended Abel's presence of mind
] in giving the advice he did, but far
more the calm courage of Martha in
following it, while all felt that under
+ any circumstances the escape was
. next to miraculous. Old Jacks insisted
! on Martha's returning no more to serv-
. ice, and, taking upon himself the duties
! af patriarch, decided that the marriage
, should be celebrated two months sooner
f than was originally intended. A week
p later Abel and Martha were man and
( wife. -ETchange.
:. COLD water in the name of a disci-
| ciple shall be warmed at the hearth in
p Zion and run to account: nav, it will