The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-05-28
sank. heard a great roaring in my
ears. then Oblivion. -

"
back. / remember the first thing /
saw was a light cloud sailing over the
clear blue. There was an air of quiet
and peace in it that contrasted with
my own sensations. Then I saw a man
on his knees beside something he was
rubbing. l turned my head aside, and
saw it was a little fgure-Julia. She
was cold and stark.
The next day my father came and
took me home. I was still after that,
too i'll to ask about Julia; but when
I recovered, what a load was taken.
from my mind to know that, by dint
of rubbing and rolling and a stimu-
liant, she had been brought to and re-.
covered. I also learned that the man
who had cared for us had seen Julia
fall, and had rescued her. When I saw
him running along the planks, it was
to his boat chained to the end.
That summer my father removed,
with his family, to Scranton, Pennsyl-
vania. He was obliged to wait some
time for my recovery, but, as last, /
was able to travel, and left, without
seeing the little girl whom had led
into danger. I only heard that had
been blamed by every one.
Zen years passed., during when i
was constantly haunted by one idea;
that was to go back and find Julia
and implore her forgiveness. The
years that must be boy and de-
pendent 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 We're
duly signed and settled, started.
s + inc oh f11n of f1,N
year, and the same hour Of the after
noon, as when I first saw Julia that
I walked into the old school grounds.
I had fully intended to go in next door
and inquire for her, but my courage
failed me. had heard nothing of her
for years. Was she dead? Was she
away? These thoughts chased each
other through my mind, and dreaded
to know.
L was standing at the school en-
trance, with my hand on the bell
when I heard a door in the next house
open and then shut From that mo-
ment could feel that Julia was near
me. She came out of the house, q
slender, graceful girl of nineteen, and,
picking up a tennis racket, commenced
to knock the balls about. n
l wanted to make myself known,
but dreaded the horror with which
she would regard me when she should
know who I was.
II beg your pardon I said, raising
my hat, ''can you tell me if the school
is still there?' pointing to the house.
1T has not been occupied as a
school-hOuse for some years. she re-
piled, regarding me with the old hon
est gaze. .G.@-. ..... ..-1N
Il was one of the scholars there,
ten years ago." $500 ry
"Indeed!' She spoke without any
further encoura cement for me to go
on. --l p. .t.~
II 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" .-
"And is that old dam still across
the river?"
II believe it isl ST..
She looked at me curiously. I haz-
arded another question:: .e
Would you mind showing me the
way to it? 1t is a long while since 1
was there" ~ ss.s'.' -
She drew herself up with slight
hauteur. Then, thinking that, per-
ventional ways of civilized life, she
said, pleasantly:
''You have only to walk through the
wood straight, at the back Of the
house, and you will come to ito
''Thank you," replied, "but hoped
you would show me the way
She looked puzzled. -.-
"Miss julia I said, altering my
tone, Il once met you when I was a
boy here at school,"
Il knew a number of scholars" she
said, more interested; who may YOU
hep"
[ dreaded to tell her. eff you will
pilot me to the DAM" 1 said, Il will
inform you"
She thought a moment, then turned,
and looked out at the wood. With
the impulSive motion with which she
had made the same move as a child,
she started forward.
We walked side by side to the wood,
through it, 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?" I asked. ~ 70
sOnce, when 1 was a child I came
here with a boy, and we walked to
"nc1eE tue water pOufS over. met
with an accident I fell in"
The boy overpersuaded you, I sup
pose?'
1t was difficult for me to conceal
a certain trepidation at the mention
of my fault.
mo, went of my own accord"
HE certainly must have been to
blame. He was older and stronger
than you.''
"On the contrary she said, slight
~ irritated, che jumped after me, like
the noble little fellow that he was.''
turned away on pretense Of ex-
amining boat down the river.
"Aa my rate, he must have begged
your forgiveness on his knees for per
uniting you to go into such danger
L never saw him again. He went
away
fancied-at least hoped could
detect tinge of sadness in her voice.
I have often wished she went on,
that he would come back, as the
other scholars sometimes do, as YOU
are now, and let me tell him how
much thank him for his noble effort. y
"Julia.'I said, suddenly turning and
facing her This is too much. am