Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-11-07
sG WEST VIRGINIA. THURSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 1896

KNOW tnat Sn9 was frightened al
what she had done. 1 was more
burt than words can say, and with q
few swift strokes turned the boats
head homeward. But 1 couldn't
bear to leave the ring behind, and !
determined to dive for it. l Ishipped
my oars and took of my coat. Vir-
gina pretended to take no notice.
Then, watching her closely. began
to unite my shoe laces. Still she
pretended not to see. Then / took
off my belt and shoes and placed the
contents of my trousers pockets in q
little heap in the bottom of the boat
Virginia's eyes met mine, and she
said, tremulously, What are you
going to do, Gsorge?"
Dive for the ring, Virginia"
"Can you swim ?"
/" No"
/ couldn't resist this fib. 1t would
have spoiled it all if 1 had told her
that 1, at Eaton, had held the school
championship for three years in sue
cession.
"George, dear, can't we let the
men dredge for it?"
How should we ever remember
the exact spot where it went down
No, "-this with slight touch of
melodrama--" must take the
risk. And, Virgie, if 1 should not
mot come up, don't you know-tell
them that / fell overheard"
Virginia gave vent to scream
Not one of those staccato notes that
tho rnoptfop oF N ,,,n,,eo ,,,;Il rxo.o.
ally bring from women but a genu-
inc scream of fear.
"George, please-please don'tl l
am so sorry 1 was jealous and cross
and wicked"
And the tears began to show them
selves again, 80, without more ado,
l went to bow and took O header,
l found that the water was only
about ten feet deep, but the ring
was not to be seen. On coming up
for breath, found poor Virginia
brandishing an oar over the side of
the boat, with a view to saving nv
life if possible. seized it with much
show of distress and waited until 1
got my breath Virginia implored
me to come back into the boat, but
was Obdurate. After the third dive
i returned to the surface, triumph
antly holding out the object of my
search. l swan to the side of the
boat, and taking hold of Virginia's
left hand, placed the ring on her
finger. We made many vows and
promises, and 1t was not before some
minutes had expired that began to
realize that I was getting awfully
cold. Clambering back into the boat
with some difficulty, pulled to the
house as quickly as ] could. AS we
came in sight of the lawn, Virginia
exclaimed, "Of course there's that
horrid Mrs. Carruthers waiting for
you"
Horrid, did you say, Virgie?"
"Oh! l forgot, George, dear, hut
Mrs. Carruthers is there at any rate.
What will she think? What shall
! tell her ?"
" Well say l caught a crab and
overbalanced myself into the. wa
ter"
but do 1 look as if I had beer
cryingw
She did, Enthusiastically, but before
had time to answer her we arrived
at the landing stage. Mrs. Carruth-
ers greeted me with:
Why, what on earth have you
been doing?"
"Poor George fell into the water"
replied Virginia, with a winning
smile. "and 1 saved his life with an
oar. Didn't ], George 2"
All through dinner that evening
Mrs. Caruthers chaffed me unmerci-
fully. 1 bore her raillery with great
fortitude, and afterward, when Vir-
ginia and were sitting on the piazza
in front of the house, we made a
solemn resolution that we wouldn't
break our engagement again for a
whole calendar month at the very
most.