Year: 1877

majestic steamer, wrapped in flames, was
! the center of bright circle of light,
within whose dazzling glare naught was
visible but the turbid waters of the
swollen river. All beyond was shut out
! AZ by thick wall of darkness. @


Boat after boat had departed, filed
with half-clad, frightened passengers,
suddenly aroused to see themselves in
deadly peril


! The last one was about to he showed
| Off, and there was no time TO lose; for
| the scorching blaze, which shot forth
on every side, made it dangerous to re-
main longer in proximity to the fatal
i vessel.


/ Is it certain that none are left p
said IA young man, who had fingered to
the last before entering the boat, and
whose cool, intrepid daring had saved
more than one life that night at the i'm
minent peril of his own.
At any rate, we can take no more
with safety" was the response of an
other passenger, a stylish youth, who,
after running about, wild with fright,
seeking in vain to crowd himself into
one after another of the previous boats,
had at length succeeded in gaining
place in the last.


Pull away. my lads p he called to
the men at the oars we have no time
to waste here :"


\ piercing cry rose above the confu-
sion. Every eye was turned toward the
burning steamer. There, leaning over
| the upper guard, stood a young and
beautiful girl, her face white as the
flowing night robe that enveloped her
form, and her arms stretched forth in
agonized appeal.


Hold p cried Archey Lester, the
young man who had first spoken; "k keep
the boat where she is.' Then, pulling
off coat, vest and boots, he stood ready
spring.


SIT is impossible to reach you through
the flames, he shouted. 'Leap into the
water and I will save you. Do not
fear"


For moment the girl hesitated. But
nearer and nearer ragged the angry ele-
ment. She felt its hot breath ON her
cheek. There was but one escape from
a terrible death With the courage of
desperation she threw herself over the
guard, and the next moment she found
herself supported by the strong arm of
Archey Lester, who had sprung forward
into the water and caught her ere she
could sink.


Archey was "A good swimmer, and
few strokes brought him and his burden
i'll reach of the boat. AS he attempted
to grasp the side, the young man who
had shown so much anxiety to save him
self seized an oar and struck away his
hand


81 tell you there is no room for an
other" he said. ''The boat is nearly
sinking already; besides, You viii over
way, and I'm no swimmer, you see.
Come, boys, pull away t-self-preserva-
ton first of all. I"


And There We're towards enough among
them to overbear the few possessed of
more manly instincts, and the boat was
swiftly rowed away, leaving Archey and
his charge TO take their chances amid the
dangers of the flood and darkness as best
they might.


1t was the morning of Rose Warnings
wedding-day. She did not seem espe-
cially joyous. The match was one OF her
| fathers making. He had set his heart
on marrying his daughter to Edward
| Hardin, the son of an Old friend of his,
equally bent on the match.


Young Hardin had spent several years
abroad, and he and Rose had seen moth
ing of each other since they were chill


dren, and used to call each other sweet
heart in play.


Now that he was man, and she no
longer child, she failed to discover in
him many of the qualities she would


have preferred to find in a sweetheart 10,
earnest.


True, he was well enough in point OF


looks, and was not destitute of accom-.
pGshments. But there was something


lacking, she could hardly tell what.


Anyhow, he was not the man to stir he1


enthusiasm.


/ Nor was there much more of ar,lor OF


Edward Hardin's side At his first meet