The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1891-11-20

Betwixt her fear and q disposition
pliable to boy older and stronger than
herself, it was not long before was
leading her out on the dam.
"Don't you see it's nothing?' said.
She shrank back as I led her along. I
determined that she should go to q point
where the water poured over Q portion
| 1f the dam lower than the rest. Iturned
! my back to step up on the post. It was
but moment. I heard cry, and saw
Julia in the food. The expression that
was in her eyes is to this day stamped
clearly ON my memory-an expression or
mingled reproach and forgiveness.
could scarcely swim q dozen strokes,
but not second had elapsed before I
was in the food.
Iswam and struggled and buffeted to
reach her; all in vain. An eddy whirled
me in a different direction. My strength
was soon exhausted. Twas borne down
the river, sinking and rising, till came
to place where caught glimpse as
came to the surface of q man running
along some planks extending into the
river and raised above the water ON
posts. Ny feet became entangled in
weeds. I sank. heard a great roaring
In my ears, then oblivion.
| When came to was lying on my
back. remember the first thing saw
was light cloud sailing over the clear
blue. There was. an air of quiet and
peace in it that contrasted with my own
sensations. Then / saw man on his
knees beside something he was rubbing.
I turned my head aside and saw it was q
little fgure-a girl, Julia. She was cold
and stark.
My agony was far greater than when l
had plunged after her.into the stream.
Then hoped and believed that il she
were drowned would be also. Now ]
saw her beside me ifeless, and lived.
Then some men came. and the man
who was rubbing Julia said to them,
''Take care of the boy; the girl is too
far gone" They took me up and carried
me away and laid me fer awhile on q
bed in a strange house. Then l was
driven to the school.
The next day my father came and
took me home. was i'll after that, too
i'll to ask about Julia, but when re-
covered what load was taken from my
mind to know that by dint Of rubbing
and rolling and stirnulant she had
been brought to and had recovered. /
also learned that the man who cared for
us had seen Julia fall and had rescued
her. When l saw him running along
the planks it was to his boat chained to
the end.
That summer my father removed with
his family to the Pacific coast. He was
obliged to wait some time for my recov-
cry, but at last was able to travel, and
left without again seeing the little girl
whom / had led into danger. I only
heard that / had been blamed by every
one.
Ten years passed, during which was
constantly haunted by one idea; that
was to go back to New England, find
Julia and implore her forgiveness. The
years that must be a boy and depend
ent seemed interminable. AT last I
came of age and received small fortune
that had fallen to me, and as soon as the
papers in the case were duly signed and
sealed started east.
It was just about the same time of the
year and the same hour of the afternoon
as when / first saw Julia that I, walked
into the old school grounds. had fully
intended to go in next door and call for
her, but my courage failed me. I had
heard nothing of her for years. Was she
dead? Was she living? Was she in her
old home. or far away? These thoughts
chased each other through my mind and
I dreaded to know.
Twas standing at the school entrance
with my hand on the bell when I heard
door in the next house open and then
shut. From that moment could feel
that Julia was near me. She came out
of the house a slender, graceful girl of
nineteen, and picking up croquet mail
let commenced to knock the balls about.
I wanted to make myself known, but
dreaded the horror with which she wonld
regard me when she should know who
was.
81 beg pardon" said, raising my hat,
"can you tell me if the school Ia still
thereT pointing to the house.
"It was moved some years ago." she
replied, regarding me with the old hon.
est gaze.
II was one of the scholars"
"Indeed!' She spoke without any
further encouragelnents for me to 60 on.
"I see the wood has not been cut
away" added, glancing toward it.
"No, it does not seem to be-"
"Were you ever there?
"Oh, yes, often"
"And is that old dam still across the
river?"
81 believe it is"
"Were you ever on the dam!"
She looked at me curiously. ] went
on without waiting for reply:
"Would You mind showing me the
way to it? It is long while since I was
there"
She drew herself up with slight
hauteur. Then thinking that perhaps
was unaccustomed to tho conventional
ways Of civilized life, she said pleas-
antly:
"You have only to walk through the
wood straight back Of tho house and you
| will come to it."
"Thank you," replied, ''but I hoped
you would show me the way
She looked puzzled.
.Miss Julia" !" I said, altering my tone,
| "I once met you when was q boy here
at school"
"I knew number Of the scholars" I"
she said, more interested; "who may
you be7'
dreaded to tell her. eff you Win
pilot me to the dam" said, 81 Will In
form you"
She thought q moment, then. turned