Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-08-22

| but pOWerleSS. At first she was buoyed
| up by her clothes, and particularly by
| pettcoae of some material that did not
| drink water. But as her other clothes
became soaked and heavy, she sank to
her chin, and death stared her in the
| face.
She lost hope. and being no common
| spirit, she gained resignation; she left
| screaming, and said to Everett, pray
for me-"
But the next moment hope revived,
| and fear with it-this is law of nature
| for man, baTeheaded and his hair
flying, came galloping on a barebacked
| pony, shouting and screaming with ter
ror louder than both the women. He
| urged the pony furiously to the stream;
then the beast planted his feet together,
and with the impulse thus given Hope
| threw himself over the pOny's head into
| the water, and had his arm round his
| child in a moment. He dashed out with
the other hand across the stream. But
| 1t was so powerful now as it neared the
lasher that they made far more way on
ward to destruction than they did across
the stream; still they did near the bank
little. But the lasher roared nearer
and nearer, and the stream pulled them
to it with iron force. They were close
to it now. Then willow bough gave
| them one chance. Hope grasped it,and
pulled with iron strength. From the
bough he got to the branch, and finally
clutched the stem of the tree, Just as
his feet were lifted up by the rushing
water, and both lives hung upon that
WillOW-tree. The girl was on his left
arm, and his right arm round the will
low.
Grace" said he, feigning calmness.
Put your arm around my neck, Mary"
"YeS, dear" said she, firmly.
Nov don't hurry yourself-there's no
danger; move slowly across me, and hold
my right arm very tight"
She did so.
Nov take hold of the bank with your
left hand; but don't let go of me-"
Eyes, dear" said the little heroine,
whose fear was gone now she had Hope
to take care of her.
Then Hope clutched the tree with his
left hand, pushed Mary on shore with
| his right, and very soon had her in his
arms on terra frna.
But now came a change that con-
founded Mary BARLEY, to whom man
was a very superior being; only not al
ways Ineligible.
The brave man fell to shaking like an
aspen leaf; the strong man to sobbing
and gasping, and kissing the girl wild
ly. "Oh, my child! my child!"
Then Mary, of course, must gulp and
cry little for sympathy; but her quick
changing spirit soon shook it off, and
she patted his cheek and kissed him,
and then began to comfort him, if you
please. Good, dear, kind Mr. Hope"
said she. LA! don't go on like that.
You were SO brave in the water, and
now the danger is over. I've had a duck
ing, that is all. Ha! ha! hal" and the
| little wretch began to laugh.
ooh, my child" said he, 'hoW can you
laugh? You have been near eternity,
and if you had been lost, what should
oh Godl"
Mary turned very grave. Eyes" said
she. Il have been near eternity. 1t
would not have mattered to you-you
are such q good man-but / should have
caught it for disobedience. But, dear
Mr.. Hope, let me tell you that the mo-
ment you put your arm round me | felt
just as safe i'll the water as on dry land;
so you see [ have had longer to get oveI
it than you have; that accounts for my
laughing. No, it doesn't; I'm giddy
glg9llng girl, with no depth Of character,
and not worthy Of all this affection.
Why does everybody love me2 They
ought to be ashamed Of themselves"
Hope told her she was little angel,
and everybody was right to love her;
indeed, they deserved to be hanged if
they did not,
Mary fixed on the word angel. eff I
was an angel" she said, Il shouldn't be
hungry, and [ am, awfully. Oh please
CO." home; papa is SO pUnctuai. Nj Nj
Hope, are you going to tell papa? Be
cause if you are, just you take me and
throw me in again. I'd rather be drown
ed than scolded." This with defiant
attitude and flashing eyes.)
mo, no." said Hope; 81 will not tell
him, to vex him, and get you scolded."
Then let us run home"
She took his hand, and he ran with
her like playmate, and OIL the fathers
heart leaped and glOwed at this sweet
cOmpaniOnship after danger and terror.
When they got near the house Mary
BARLEY began to walk and think. She
had very thinking cOuntenance at
times, and Hope watched her, and Won
dered what were her thoughts. She was
very grave, so probably she was think
ing how very near she had been to the
other world.
Standing on the doorstep, whilst he
stood on the gravel, she let him know
her thoughts. All her life, and even at
this tender age, she had very searching
eyes; they were gray now, though they
had been blue. She put her hands to
her waist, and she bent those searching
eyes on William Hope.
"Mr. Hope" said she, in a resolute
sort of way.
"My DEAR" said he, eagerly.
You tOre me better than papa does
that S all"
And having administered this infor-
nation as adry fact that might be worth
looking into at leisure, she passed
thOughtfully into the house,
CHAPTER VI.
SHARP PRACTICE.
Hope paid visit to his native place
in Derbyshire, and his poor relations
and Mr.. BARLEY upon his report; for
Hope was one of those choice spirits
who praise the bridge that carries them
safe over the stream Of adversely.
He returned to Sussex with all the
news. and amongst the rest, that Colo
mel Clifford had a farm coming vacant.
Walter Clifford had insisted on a high
er rent at the conclusion of the term,
but the tenant had demurred.
BARLEY paid little attention at the
time; but by-and-by he said, did you
not see signs of coal on Colonel Cliff
ford's property?
"That | did and on this very farm and
told him so. But he is behind the age.
| have no patience with him. Take one
of those old iron ramrods that used to
load the old musket, and cover that
ramrod with prejudiceS a foot and a
half deep, and there you have Colonel
Clifford"
"Well, but a tenant would not be
bound by his prejudices."
" & fpTantf +ono71f taEQC M riCrht