The Wahpeton times., 1891-04-16


would not retract, he consented to
serve me. Though could plainly see
that he liked not the business. He asked
me If had any instructions to give
him.
"Only two items" replied. "First
! will fight with pistols-and second;.
AS my nerves are unstrung, Iwould
like that the affair be put off till to-
morrow morning.
Walker went out with the adjutant;
and when he returned he informed me
Jhat the arrangements were all made.
we were to meet at seven o'clock on
the following neutrality-suspicious., pis-
distance, twelve paces-our sec
onds to toss for choice of position
to fire at the word of command.
After dinner l sat down alone to ar
range my affairs. wrote several let
ters, which l sealed, and enclosed in a
single envelope, to be sent off by nv
clerk in case l should fall. Ny prop
erty gave into Walkers charge, with
instructions how to dispose of it.
when matters had been thus arranged
1t was well towards evening; and TAX
ing light cane in my hand, 1 walked
out for a breath of.fresh air.
Not far from the camp were Morgan's
Falls, wild, romantic spot. Where
the water of the river tumbled over O.
huge bed OF broken rocks; and towards
this spot I bent my steps. Just above
the falls was q bridge of logs, from
which could be obtained one of the
grandest scenes that ever blessed the
eye of an artist. As I reached the
summit of an eminence near the falls
saw woman and child standing
upon the bridge; but lost sight Of
them as Idesended into the shrubbery.
was just emerging from the thicket,
when O sharp, piercing cry OF agony
Droke upon my ears. sprang to the
bridge, and there l saw the woman
alone! She was wringing her hands,
and shrieking like crazy creature. /
was not many seconds in comprehend
ing the truth. Below the brid dge, float
ing away on the troubled water,
saw the child, it's spreading garments
buoying it up; and l could hear the
tiny voice calling. "AIamma! Mann
ma!'
There was not a moment to lose.
The child was going nearer and nearer
to the falls-nearer and nearer to it's
death! 1t was a fearful risk for me;
for the chances were that J. should be
taken over into the kissing boiling
surge below the rocks. But what was
the risk to me then? If 1 died in the
river, | should not stand in the way of
Major Farwell's bullet. had better,
a thousand times, give up my life thus,
than throw it away in the duel. The
woman saw me, and appealed to me
for help; but my coat was off before
she discovered me, and in moment
more l was in the water, striking out
with all my power.
The child was half way from the
bridge to the falls when started; but
I swan rapidly, and caught it just as
waters began to gather for the plunge.
1t was a girl; not more than three or
four years old, with bright golden ring
let's; large blue eyes, and a face like O
cherub. She clasped her arms about
my neck, and called me "Papa."
20, papa, papa-good papa-don't
let Kitty go into that wicked place
down there!''
With all my might Iheld up the child,
and struck for the shore; but it was
not to be. mad been drawn into the
swift current, and no mortal could
have withstood it. The prospect of
the morrow took from me all fears of
the present, and was more calm and
collected that might otherwise have
been. As soon as l realized that I
must go over the falls turned every
thought to saving the child; for, even
in those few short moments, the little
darling had won strangely and deeply
upon my love.
Nearer and nearer!-swifter and
swifter!-the roar of the mad waters
growing louder and louder!-until at
length the edgewas reached. Close to
my bosom l Ibore the child, shielding
it as well as could; and in moment
more my eyes were closed beneath the
boiling flood. Down-down-down-
then around like a top,-then away
over a bed ofsmooth rocks; and when
l finally opened my eyes saw the
shore not far off and quickly discov-
cred that l could stand upon my feet,
with my head out of water.
reached the shore Just as three or
four soldiers came down from the
mule-path,, and they helped me to a
bed of moss, and took the child from
my arms.
Was the child safe?
They told me, yes. looked up and
saw the cherub smile, and then my
brain whirled, as it had whirled in the
flood, and I sank into the arms of
one of my men, dizzy and faint.
When l came to myself was upon
my own bed, and Walker and my or
derly were by my side. Istarted up
and looked around, and was not long
in remembering what had happened.
My first inquiry was for the child 1
had saved.
"The nurse took it away" replied
my orderly, "and it was alive and
we'll.
"Whose child was it?"
"But neither Walker nor the orderly
knew. The woman who had it in
charge was q stranger, and anxiety
on my account had prevented their
asking her many questions.
1t was now eight o'clock, and had
been in my quarters an hour. arose,
feeling quite sore, and my left arm
was SO lame that could not lift it.
l took little warm wine, and eat O
light supper, and by ten o'clock 1 felt
quite strong.