Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-23

the river. Ruth had so often seen her IA
Their far lower down than they had yet
drifted that she did not realize the truth,
and George. just arrived from q distant
| district, was unaware of the long cataracts
| above the falls. He was also deceived by
| the streams treacherous smoothness and.
| instead OF haf-upward. pulled straight
across as II certainly able to land any
where he might touch the American shore.
| Bedell looked over his shoulder often.
| When he distinguished a woman, he put on
more force. but slackened soon-the pull
| home would tax his endurance, he reflected.
| In some sort Ii was a relief to know that
one Was a woman; he had been anticipa ting
trouble with two men equally bent on being
| saved. That the man would abandon him
self bravely. he. being brave. scarcely
doubted. For q while he thought of pulling
| with the woman to the American shore
more easily to be gained from the point
where the rescue must occur. But he re-
jected the plan. confident he could win
back. for he had sworn never to set foot on
| that soil. Had II been possible to save both,
he would have been forced. despite his vow,
| but the squire knew that was impossible
three would overload his boat beyond es-
| cape.
Having carefully studied landmarks for
| his position Bedell turned to look again at
the doomed boat. At that glance a we'll
known ribbon caught his attention. The
old man dropped his oars, confused with
| horror MY God, my God, it's Ruthr' he
cried. and the whole truth came with
another look. for he had not forgotten
George Winthrop.
Your father stops. Ruth. Perhaps he is
IN pam, suggested George to the Quakins
| girl. she looked back.
| What can 1t beY' she cried, filial love
| returning overmaSteringly.
| Perhaps he is only tired" George affected
carelessness-his FIRST thought being to Sc
cure mis- bride-and pulled hard away to get
| all advantage from Bedelrs stop
Tired? He is in danger OF the falls,
them screamed Ruth. stop! Turn. Back
to him.
Winthrop instantly prepared to obev
Yes. darling" he said. we must not think
| OF ourselves. We must go back to save
nim. Yet his was sore groan at turn
ing; what duty ordered was so hard-he
| enemy.
But while Winthrop was still pulling
| round. the old loyalist resumed rowing viii h
a more rapid stroke that soon brought him
| alongside.
In those moments Of waiting all Bedelrs
| life, his personal hatreds, his loves. his sor-
! rows, had been reviewed before his soul.
He had seen again his sons, the slain in
| battle, In the pride of their young might.
ana the gentle eyes Of Ruth had pleaded
| with him beneath his dead wife's brow.
now poor seemed hate-how mean and Door
seemed all but love and loyalty. Yes, for
| ne had looked through the veil into the
eternal, too, and stood. q trivial creature
before the Almighty, knowing His mea ming
wherefore resolution and deep peace had
| come upon the man
| They wondered at his look No wrath
was there. The old eyes were calm AND
loving. a gertle smile fiickered about his
lips Only that he was very pale Ruth
change. A"pp'
Forgive me- father" she cried. az he
laid hand on their boat
Il do. my child" he answered. "Come
row without an instant delay to me-
1 ~
happy" cried Ruth. heart torn by two
loves. " TWO
Dear. you shall be happy. I was wrong
enid; l did not understand how you loved
| MIN. But come. You hesitate! Winthron
my son. you are in some danger Int MI
BOAT instantly. Both Of you. Take the oars
george. Kiss me, dear. my Ruth. once
more. Goodbye. my little girl Winthrop
| both forever" ~"
AS the old soldier spoke. he stepped into
IN! tn larger boat. instantly releasing the skin
ms imperative gentleness had secured his
| OBJECT without loss of time. and the boat 8
were apart with Winthrop's readiness to
pull. ~
Now row. Row for her life to yonasr
sn1re. bow well up. Away. or the falls
But YOU" cried Winthrop. bending for
| his stroke. Yet he did not comprehend
Becelrs meaning. Till the last the old man
had spoken without excitement Dread Of
Wa
supreme In his thought. and he took the
| sources order for one OF exaggerated eIarr,
ROW, say. with all your strength"
cried Bedell. with flush Of anger that sent
| Concern yourself not for me I am going
| home. Row! for her life winthrop, God
will deliver YOU vet. Goodbye children
Remember always my blessing is freely
| given you"
God bless and keep you forever. father~
cried Ruth, from the distance as her lover
pulled away.
They landed. conscious of having psssea
| a SWIFT current. indeed; but quite unthtnk-
Ing OF the price paid for their safety
Looking back on the darklng river. they
saw nothing Of the old man.
Poor father!' sighed Ruth, how kind
he was! I'm sore-hearted for thinking Of
| him at home. so lonely"
Left alone, Bedell stretched with the
iorg. heavy oars for his own shore. max
| when he no longer feared that they might
turn back with sudden understanding, and
vainiy. to his aid. he dragged the boat
down toward the towering mist Then as
| he gazed at the cloud, rising in two dis
timex volumes came a thought squirting
the loyaiist spirit in an instant. There
after he pulled steadily, powerfully. noting
landmarks anxiously, studying currents.
considering always their trend to or from
| his own shore. Half an hour had gone
when he again dropped into slower motion.
1
between him and the mist Of the American
| fall
Now the old man gave himself I'D to in
tense curiosity looking over down Into the
water with fascinated inquiry He had
never been so far down the river Darling
beside their shadows, deep in the clear
flood. were now larger fishes than he had
ever taken. and all moved up as II hurrying
to escape. How fast the long, trailing,
swaying. single weeds and the crevices in
nat rock whence they SO strangely grew,
went up stream and away as II drawn
backward. The sameness Of the bottom to
| that higher up interested him-where then
did the current begin to sweep clean? He
| should certainly know that soon, he
thought, without a touch of fear having
| utterly &C cepted death when he determined
1t were base to carry his weary old life a
little longer and let Ruth's young love die.
Now the falls heavy monotone was over
borne by terrible sounds-a mingled clash
Ing, shrieking, groaning, and rumbling, as
Of great bolders churned in their bed.
| Bedell was nearing the first long swoop
downward at the rapids head when those
watching him despairingly from the high
bank below the Chippewa rivers mouth
saw him put his boat stern with the cur
rent and cease rowing entirely, facing fair
ly the up-rushing mist to which he was be-
ing hurried. Then they observed him stoop-
| ing. as II writing, for a time And then he
knelt with head bowed down. Kneeling,
| they prayed, too.
Now he was almost on the brink of the
cascades Then he arose, and, glancing
| backward to his home caught sight of his