Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-07-04


~ HE was only a little girl a trifie
~ younger than myself when 1 met
her the first time near the play
grounds Of the boarding school, where
1 had gone to seek some of my play
mates, but found them all gone.
Though 1 heartily despised girls as a
most infer. or class of beings, Julia,
with her ne eyes, her dimIled chin
and COLDER hair, was better than no
company { all, and was, L imagined,
greatly fla .ered when l asked her if
she would take q walk with me.
We went into the woods until we
came to the old mill down across the
river. 1t was q dangerous place to
cross, and she was at first afraid to
come with me until dared her to do
so.
She shrank back as led her along.
1 determined that she should go to
a point where the water poured over
a portion of the dam lower than the
rest l turned my back to step up on
the post. 1t was but a moment.
heard a cry and saw Julia in the flood.
The expression that was in her eyes is
to this day stamped clearly in my
memory-an expression of mingled re
proach and forgiveness.
could scarcely swim a dozen
strokes but not 4 second had elapsed
before I was in the water.
swan and struggled and buffeted
to reach her, all in vain. An eddy
whirled me in a different direction.
My strength was soon exhausted l
was borne down the river, sinking and
rising, till l came to a place where l
caught a glimpse as l rose to the sur
face of a man running along some
planks extending into the river and
raised above the water on posts. My
feet became entangled in weeds. /
sank. I heard a great roaring in my
ears, then oblivion.
when I came to I was lying on my
back I remember the urst thing l
saw was a light cloud sailing over the
clear blue. There was al air of quiet
and peace in it that contrasted with
my own sensations. Then l saw a man
on his knees beside something he was
rubbing. / turned my head aside and
saw it was a little tigure-a girl, Julia.
She was cold and stark.
My agony was far greater than when
[ had plunged after her into the
stream. Then l hoped and believed
that If she were drowned | would be
also. Now I saw ner beside me life
less. and l lived.
The next day my father came and
took me home. l was i'll after that
too Ill 10 ask about Julia, but when
recovered what load was taken from
my mind to know that by dint of rub
bling and rolling and a stimulant she
had been brought to and had recov
cred. also learned that the man wht
cared for us had seen Julia fall anC
had rescued her. When l saw hin
running along the planks it was to hi
boat che ined to the end.
Ten years passed. during which
was constantly haunted by one idea
that was to go back and find Julia anC
implore her forgiveness. The year
that I must be a boy and dependen
seemed interminable. At last l cam
of age, and received small FORUM
that had fallen to me, and as soon a
the papers in the case were duly sign
ed and sealed l started.
1t was just about the same time o
the year and the came hour of tn
afternoon as when I first saw Juli
that l walked into the old schoc
grounds,
I was standing at the school er
trance with my hand on the bell whe
heard door in the next house ope
and then shut. From that moment,
could feel that Julia was near me.
She came out of the house. a slender
graceful girl of 10, and picking up
tennis bat, commenced to knock tn
balls about
Il beg your pardon" I said, raisin
my hat, "can you tell me if the schoC
IS still there ?'-poindng to the house
1T was moved some years ago." sh
replied. regarding me with the oil
honest gaze.
II was one of the scholars"
'Indeedr' She spoke without an
further encouragement for me to 6
on.
II see the wood has not been Gu
away" / added. glancing toward it.
"No; It does not seem TO be-"