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

procure; he could see II flying deiiantly
all day long; at night he could hear its
glorious folds whipping in the wind;
the old loyalist loved to fancy his foe.
men cursiug at 1t from the other side.
nearly three miles away. Ruth hauled
the flag down a little, then ran 1t up to
the masthead again.
At that a tall young fellow came
springing into the clearing, jumping
exultantly over brush.hcaps and trunk.
trees, his queue waggling. his eyes
bright.glad under his three-cornered
hat. Joying that her father had
yielded. he ran forward till he saw
Ruth's tears.
"What, sweetheart! cryingP 1t was
the signal to come on" cried he.
"Ycs, TO soc YOU sooner, George.
Father is ont yonder. But no, he will
never, never consent"
Then you will come with me, love"
he said, taking her hands.
mo. no, l dare not" sobbcd Ruth.
Father would overtake us. He swears
to shoot you on sight Go, George, es.
cape while YOU cam Oh. IL he should
find you here"
but darling love, We need not fear.
We eau escape easily. I know the for
est path. But" then he thought how
weak her pace. 1--WE might cross here
before he could come up" cried Win
throp, looking to where the Squire's
boat was now a distant blotch.
"No. no." W lied Ruth, yet yielding
TO his embrace. This is the las, time
| shall see YOU forever. Go, lovc-for-
ever and forever goodbye. my love,
my love"
Hut he claspcd her in his strong
arms, kissing, imploring, cheering her
and how should true love choose
hopeless rcnuncia,ion?
Tempting, defying. regaininghi lost
ground, drifting down again, trying
hard to tire out and subduc his heart
pangS. Bcdcll dallicd with death more
closely than Yer Often he couli see
the wide, smooth curve where the
green volume first lapseS vastly on u
lazy slope. to shoulder up below Il huge
calm billow. before pitching into the
madness of waves whose confusion of
tossing and tortured crests hurrics on
into the abyss. The afternoon grew
toward the evening before he pulled
steadily b":sc, crawling steadily away
from the roar.rS against tne cruel
green, watching the ominous cloud
with such grim humor rs il under OBJ
Seryation by an overpowering but baf-
He'd enemy.
Approaching his landing shout
drew Bcdelrs glance ashore to group
Of men cNcitedly gesticulating. They
seemed motioning him to watch the
American shore. Turning he saw
boat in midstream. where no craft then
ON the river. except his own skill, could
be- safe. unless manned by several good
rowers. Only two oars were flashing.
Bedell could make out two figures in.
distinctly. IL was clear they were
doomed though still full mile above
the point whence he had come, they
were much farther out than he when
near the rapids. Yet one life might be
saved Instantly Bcdelrs bow turned
outward. and cheers flung to him from
ashore.
At that moment he looked to his own
landing.placc and saw his larger boat
was gone. Turning again he angrily
recognized il. but kept right on-hc
must try TO rescue even thief. He
wondered Ruth had not prevented the
theft, but had no suspicion of the truth.
Always he had refused to let her 60
out upon the river-mortally fearing il
for her.
Thrusting his skin nightly forward
often II glanced. half whirled by up
whclming and spreading spaces of
water the old Loyalist's heart was
qui, Of his pangS, and sore only with
certainty he must abandon one human
soul to death. BY when he could reach
the larger boat his would be too near
the rapids to 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 unconscious Of being in the re.
morseless grasp OF the river. Ruth had
80 often seen her father far lower down
than they had yet driftcd that she did
not realize the truth, and George, come
ing from distant district, was unaware
of the dangers above the falls. He was
also deceived by the streams treach-
erous smoOthness, and instead of half
upward pulled straight across, as II GER
tainly able to land anywhere he might
touch the American shore.
Bcdell 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 IL was relief
to know one was u woman; he had
been anticipating trouble with two men
equally bent on being saved. That the
uan would abandon himself bravely
he, being brave. scarcely doubted. For
a while he thought OF pulling with the
woman 10 the American shore, more
easily to be gained from the point where
the rescue must occur But he rejected
the plan. confident he could win back.
for he had sworn never TO set foot on
that soil. Had Il been possible to save
both he would have been forced, despite
his vow. but the Squire knew that was
impossible-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 well.known ribbon caught his
attention. The old man dropped his
oars, confused with horror. my God.