The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1893-09-01

bllNu DsiOIB,
! hurried her on, fearing she would
hear the voice and turn back,
Presently we emerged from the wood
and stood by the river, ! as familiar
with the ground, and ledm title friend
directly to the dam.
Most Of the boys are afraid to walk
out on that dam" | said.
"l'd be afraid"
But you're only girl; boy ought
MT to be afraid" With that | started
boldly out, occasionally standing on one
foot and performing sundry antics to
show what brave hoy was Then
came Iart way back and called to her to
come.
"0h, no." she said; "rm afraid"
Afraid You little goosel with me
to hold on toT'
Betwixt her fear and 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 nothingT said.
She shrank back as / led her along.
determined that she should go to point
where the water poured over o portion
OF the dam lower than the rest. turned
my back to step up on the post. 1t was
but moment. | 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 Of
mingled reproach and forgiveness.
could scarcely swim dozen strokes,
but not second had elapsed before ]
was in the food.
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 came
to place where ! caught ghanpse as
came to the surface Of a mah running
along some planks extending into the
river and raised above the water on
posts. My feet became entangled in
weeds 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.
! turned my head aside and saw it was
little fgure-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 | 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 Inc up and carried
me away and laid me for awhile on
bed in Il strange house Then was
driven to the school
The next day my father came and
took ME home, Twas 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 a stimulant 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 ! saw him running along
the planks ii 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 recoy-
cry, but at last was able to travel, and
left without again seeing the little girl
whom | had led into danger only
heard that had been blamed by every
enc.
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
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.
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 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 living1 Was she in her
old home, or far awayp These thoughts
chased each other through my mind and
dreaded to know.