Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-02-04

round. tho old loyalist resumed rowing
with . moro rapid stroke that soon
brought him alongside.
IN those moments Of waiting oil Be.
dcll'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 tho
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 loyaltyi
Yes, for she had looked through the
veil into the eternal, too, and stood, o
trivial creature, before the Almighty.
knowing His meaning. Wherefore
resolution and deep peace had come
upon the man.
They wondered at this look. No
wrath was there. The old eyes were
calm and loving, a gentle smile flick.
cred about his lips. Only that b, was
very pale Ruth would have been wholly
glad for the happy change.
Forgive me. father!" she said, as
she laid her hand on his boat.
81 do. my child" he answered.
"Comc now without an instant's delay
to me-"
"Oh, father, II you would let Us be
happy" cried Ruth. heart.torn by two
loves.
Dear. you shall DO happy. was
wrong. child; did not understand how
YOU loved him. But come! You hest
tate! Winthrop, my son. you are In
some danger. Into this boat instantly!
Both of you! Take the oars, George.
Kiss mo dear, my Ruth, once more.
Goodbye, my little girl. Winthrop,
be good to her. And may God bless
you both forcver!"
As the old soldier spoke he stepped
into the larger boat. instantly releasing
the skill. His imperative gentleness
had secured his object without lost
time, and the boats were apart with
Wnthrop's readiness to pull
Now row! Row for her lie to yon.
der shore! Bow well up! Away. or
the falls will have her"
but you?" cried Winthrop, bending
for his stroke. Yet he did not comprc-
bend Bedell's meaning. Till the last
the old man had spoken wi,hou, excite
men,. Dread Of the river was not on
George; his bliss was supreme in his
thought. and he took the Squire's order
for one Of exaggerated alarm.
Row, I say. with all your strength"
cried Bedcll. with Hash Of anger that
sent the young fellow away instantly.
Row! Concern yourself not for me.
am going home. Row for her life,
Winthrop! God will deliver you yet.
Goodbye, children. Remember all ays
my blessing is freely given YOU"
God bless and keep you forever,
father" cried Ruth from the distance.
as her lover pulled away.
They landed, conscious of having
passed swift current, indeed. but
quite unthinking Of the price paid for
their safety.
Looking back on the darkling river
they saw nothing Of the old man.
Poor father" sighed Ruth, show
kind nc was. I'm sorc-hcartCd for
thinking OF him at home, so lonely"
Left alone. Bedcll stretched with his
long. heavy oars for his own shore,
making appearance Of strong cxertion.
But when he no longer feared that they
might turn back with sudden under
standing, and vainly, to his cid. he
dragged the boat slowly, watching her
swift drift downtown towards the
towering mist. Then, as he gazed at
the cloud, rising in two distinct vol
umes, came thought squirting the
Loyalis, spirit in an instant. There
after he pulled steadily, powerfully.
noting landmarks anxiously. studying
currents, considering always their
trend TO or from his own shore. Haitian
hour had gone when he again dropped
into slower motion. Then he could
see Goat Islands upper end between
him and the mist of the American
Fall.
Now the old man gave himself up to
intense curiosity, looking over down
into the water with fascinated inquiry.
He had never been so far down the
river. Darling beside their shadows,
deep in the clear Hood, were now larger
fishes than he had ever taken. and all
moved up rs IL hurrying to escape
How fast the long, trailing. swaying'
single weeds and the crcvices In flat
rock whence they so strangely grew,
went up stream and away as IL drawn
backward. The Sameness Of the bot.
tom to that higher up interested him
where then did the current begin to
clean? He should certainly know
that soon. he thought, without n touch
of fear. having utterly accepted death
when he determined it were base to
carry his weary old life a little longer
and let Ruth's young love die. Now
the Falls heavy monotone was over.
orne by terrible sounds-a mingled
clashing, shricking, grooming an.
rumbling. as Of great boulders churnet
in their beds.
Bedell was nearing the first long
swoop downward at the rapids head
when those watching him despairingly
from the high bank below the Chip
pcwa Rivers mouth, saw him put his
boat stern with the current and cease
rowing entirely, facing fairly the up.
rising mist to which he was being
hurled. Then they observed him
STOPPING, as IL writing. for a time.
And then he knel, with head bowed
down. Kneeling, they prayed, too.
Now he was almost on the brink OF
the cascades. Then he arose. and,
CHANGING backward TO his home,
caught sight Of his friends on the high
.Lo., r.lr,l,, a.. ,yayed m farewell