The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-11-03
GOOD-BY TO LIFE.
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Win heard the splash Of his body in
the water, and waited, horror-struck,
for any further sound, but nothing met
his ears save the wash Of the waves.
He struggled to free himself, so that
he might try and save his would-be
murderer, but though he strained until
the cords cut into his wrists II was use
less.
The fisherman had done his work
only too well, and had himself kept
back the help that might, perhaps,
have saved him.
And as the utter imposslbility of free
ing himself and the increasing peril of
his own situation became apparent TO
VIII, pity for his dead rival gave place
to horror at the death so slowly but
relentlessly approaching He tried to
wriggle up by clasping the mast with
his legs; he found It impossible, and
blank despair began to creep over him.
The tide had already turned and was
creeping through the broken bulwarks,
and soon the first gwaFe came gently
washing along the asck, nearly reach
ing his feet. Again he strained and
tugged at his bonds in vain. He turned
his eyes longlngly toward the boat,
which had been mOored TO the side of
the schooner, and then indeed he gave
up hope, for 1t was gone.
The rope had been too loosely tied
and there was the boat, already fifty
yards away, drifting with the incom-
ing tide.
The sun was dipping toward the cliffs
overhanging his sweethearts cottage
and he knew that he had but an hour
or two longer to live unless help came,
and that he felt was almost impossible
Soon the water reached his knees
then in little ripples circled round his
waist.
Another half-hour passed, and the
cliffs were lost to view, while the
lights began to twinkle in the village
and along the little wooden pier High.
er and higher rose the water until II
reached his shoulders, and he began to
feel chill and numb. Presently the
beat-beat of steamers paddles came
waited over the shimmering sea, and
with wild thrill of hope he turned his
head.
Yes, there she was, gliding along
swiftly and smoothly, her portfolios
and saloons brightly lit and the strains
of the band coming to him cheerily as
she churned her homeward course, the
passengers joining in song in happy
content after the pleasures Of the day
Oh, If he could only get rid Of that
suffocating gag his cries might be
heard. But no sound came from his
aching throat, and the pleasure steam.
er glided ON her way.
And now the water reached his chin
and he knew his life could be number.
ed by minutes only. He fixed his weary
eyes upon one light that glimmered
starlike ON the side of the cliff, away
from the others He knew 1t came from
the little room where his love would be
waiting and wondering what kept him
AS he looked the light seemed to &c
out for an instant; then it appeared
again; again disappeared, and once
more flashed into sight What did II
mean? Suddenly 1t struck him that II
was something on the surface of the
water which kept coming between his
eyes and the light. Could it be boat
He strained his ears, and fancied he
could hear the rattle of the oars in the
rowlocks. Yes, yes, 1t was boat
coming straight toward him, too. And
at last a struggling moonbeam came
slanting across the sea, and doubt gave
place to certainty, for, although still q