The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1892-06-17


clearly on my memory-an expression Of
mingled reproach and forgiveness.
could scarcely swim dozen strokes,
but not a second had elapsed before
was in the flood.
swan and struggled and buffeted to
reach her; all in vain. An eddy whirled
me in different direction. My strength
was soon exhausted. was borne down
the river, sinking and rising, till I came
to a place where caught a glimpse as
came to the surface of man running
along some planks extending into the
river and raised above the water on
posts. My feet became entangled in
weeds. | sank. / heard great roaring
i'll my ears, then oblivion.
When l came to I was lying on my
back. l remember the first thing 1 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 1 saw q man on his
knees beside something he was rubbing.
I turned my head aside and saw it was a
little figure-a girl, Julia. She was cold
} and stark.
My agony was far greater than when
had plunged after her into the stream.
Then hoped and believed that if she
were drowned I would be also. Now ]
saw her beside me lifeless, 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 meup and carried
me away and laid me for awhile on a
bed in IL 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 I re-
covered what load was taken from my
mind to know that by dint of rubbing
and rolling and q stimu1ant she had
| been brought to and had recovered. l
also learned that the man who cared for
us had seen Julia fall and had rescued
her. When / 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 l had led into danger. 1 only
| heard that had been blamed by every
one.
Ten years passed, during which was
constantly haunted by one idea; that
was to 90 back to New England, find
Julia and inplore her forgiveness. The
| years that l must be u boy and depend
ent seemed interminable. At last ]
came of age and received a small fortune
! that had fallen to me, and rs soon as the
papers in the case We're duly signed and
sealed l started east.
1t was just about the same time of the
year and the same hour of the afternoon
as when | first saw Julia that walked
into the old school grounds. I had fully
| intended to go in next door and call for
her, but my courage failed me. / 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.
| was standing at the school entrance
with my hand on the bell when / heard
door in the next. house open and then
shrt. From that moment l could feel
that Julia was near me. She came out
of the house a slender, graceful girl of
nineteen, and picking up arcroquet NAL
let commenced to knock the balls about
l wanted to make myself known, but
dreaded the horror with which she would
regard me when she should know who i
was.
81 beg pardon" said, raising my hat,
'can you tell me if the school is still
there?' pointing to the house.
1T was moved some years ago." she
replied, regarding me with the old hon
est gaze.
Il was one of the scholars"
'sIndeedI' She spoke without any
further encouragement for me to go on.
81 see the wood has not been cut
away" added, glancing toward it.
mo, it does not seem to be-"
"Were you ever there?
''Oh, yes, often"
'tAnd is that old dam still across the
! river9'
81 believe it is.
"Were you ever on the DAMP"
She looked at me curiously. | went
on without waiting for a reply:
sWould you mind showing me the
way to it? 1t is long while since 1 was
| there"
She drew herself up with slight
hauteur. Then thinking that perhaps
was unaccustomed to the conventional
ways of civilized life, she said pleas
antly:
"You have only to walk through the
wood straight back of the house and you
| will come to it."
.sThanlz you," I replied, "but hoped
| you would show me the way"
| She looked puzzled.
..Miss Julia,''I said, altering my tone,
81 once met you when. was boy here
at school"
| 81 knew a number of the scholars"
she said, more interested; "who may
| you be?"
dreaded to tell her. eff you will
| pilot me to the dam," said, 81 will in
form you"
She thought a moment, then turned
and looked out at the wood. With the
quick motion with which she had made
the same move as a child she started for
ward.
We walked side by side to the wood,
through it and out ON the river bank.
There was the water and the dam;
everything as it had been.
''Did you ever try to walk out there?'
/ asked.
.sOnce, when I was child, came
/ here with a boy, and we walked to where
/ the y,O1ra over met with an