Til 15 TIMES, NEW HL00MF1ELP, l'A., MAltCIl 12, 1878. Vows Made to bo Broken. CONCH,' DUD. "I WISH," said Belle lUount, as we came to the riverside, "that we could take a gall ; It would be delightful tills warm day." " Why can't we V" asked Annie Oi ler noli. " There's a boat." Of course everybody Immediately i lamored for a sail ; and Julian Ferrean, Tom Hevere, and myself were Instituted a committee to " Investigate" the boat, which lay rocking on the ripples Just u little out from the shore. It .proved to be ft great, hulking allklr, nearly as large as a whaler's boat,and half full of water. 'I'o add to Its unpromising appearance, there was but one pair of oars, and these not of the strongest. Also the craft was tpulte destitute of any steering appara tus. However, all the ladles were eager for a sail, and we, In our gallantry, de cided that these difficulties could be sur mounted. Ho we went manfully to work, ull the masculines of the party except l'hllllps, who utterly declined to soil his white hands and wet his patent leathers, even in the service of Belle Blount. Harry indignantly declared that he should not accompany us unless he earned his pas sage; while Kdna Iteeso curled her Hp very perceptibly, and Annie (irierson murmured to Hello, In a contemptuous undertone, " Belle, dear, you ought to keep your cavalier in a glass case 1" Belle laughed good-humoredly, anil ran her handsome, flushing eyes over the lounging figure and listless face of her escort, as she frankly exclaimed, " What a lazy fellow you are, Sidney l'hllllps 1" " Weally I'm cwushed." And Sidney spread his handkerchief over a stone be fore he sat down upon it to contemplate our Industry. . We dragged the boat ashore, turned it upside down to tip the water out cull ed leaves and grass with which to cleanse it of the mud which had Bettled on the bottom; made a temporary dry floor by laying down a couple of long, stout boards which we found upon the shore ; and finally summoned the ladles to come and witness the result. They were in raptures, and declared it to be " splen did." Forthwith we all seated ourselves in the boat, bestowing ourselves as we chose; for, though there was a scarcity of seats, there was plenty of room. Ju lian Ferrean and Blanche Chetwoode sat down In the bow, and It seemed perfect ly proper that they should have the highest and dryest seat ; for certainly we all considered Julian a little superior to us other men, perhaps because the Indies set him at so high a valuation ; or perhaps because he so considered him self. And as for Miss Chetwoode, she seemed more like a goddess than a mor tal girl, as she sat there at the head of the boat, her black dress and lace man tilla falling In most artistic drapery around her stately figure. Be'.le Blount sat at the stern, and Sid ney reclined on the dry boards at her fee ; while the rest of the party sat up on those same lucky boards, except Harry and I, who took the oarsman's seat and the one pair of oars, an oar apiece, and we pushed out into the river. How merry we were I How we sang songs and laughed, and grew witty as to jokes, and brilliant as to compliments! And Death, with his utmost horror, was almost spreading his dark wings over us every one ! Why had we no forebod ing of It V Why did none of those mys terious presentiments come to any of us such as people tell us they experience in hours of unconscious danger t For we were on the verge of deadly peril. Growing tired at last of propelling this boat load of youth and beauty, I rested oh my oar, and called to Tom Revere, "Come and take my place, Revere; you are a rowlst, are you not V" "Capital one," answered Tom, leav ing Annie Grierson's side reluctantly but " good-naturedly ; and, giving Sidney Phillips a shove, he politely observed to that reclining individual, "Get up, Lazy Lawrence, and take Blount' oar. You're a complete dead head." " I aw don't wow," luzily returned Sidney. " Come and learn, then." " Can't possibly. Pway excuse me, my deah felluh ; this oppwesslve heat takes all the enawgy out of a fellah." " As if you ever had a particle of en ergy in your composition, you incorrigi ble Idler 1" exclaimed Julian Fcrrean, as became forward to relieve Harry. In rising to relinquish bis oar, Harry inadvertently let it slip from his hold. He made a snatch to recover it, but it had floated beyond reach ere his fingers touched the water. Half a dozen hands -were outstretched to grasp it, but it es caped them all, and sped away before us with such- arrow-like swiftness that we were startled. None of us had noticed where we were, nor how fast we had lfn moving, until now and, as the boat veered suddenly around, and bognn to glide stern-foremost after the fast-disappearing oar, Belle Blount gave utter ance to the horror-stricken exclamation which was trembling upon every lip, "We are In the rapids 1" ,l And drifting toward the falls!" mur. inured Nora turning pale. " My God !" said Julian Ferrean, In a hoarse whisper, and sank back white and faint Into the seat from which he had arisen. Tom Revere (.hitched his oar In a Her culean effort to head the boat toward the nearest shore. Slowly the bow came half May around, wavered fora moment and then there was a cracking sound, and the frail oar snapped In twain ! Tom fell backward among us, and the broken pieces of our last oar darted down the rapids. A dead silence fell upon us all. We looked Into each other's faces, and saw no hope. Kvery moment swept us nearer to the cataract, and the current rushed downward with such fearful ve locity that no mortal man could swim ashore. It was an awful doom that stared us In the face, That was a time that tiled our souls, and every one of us came out In true colors then. Suddenly there was a crash, a shock and Jar that threw us all from our places and nearly overturned the boat. We were among the rocks ; and as we struck the boat was held fast for a little space upon the hidden crag. Then were our heal ts laid bare, our secrets rcvealed,and every man turned, with love's forgetful ness of self, to the woman beloved best, all save one. Nora threw herself Into my arms, and I clasped her tomy heart; Tom Revere threw ills arm about the waist of Annie Grlerson ; and Kustace Hardy knelt supporting the trembling form of Kdna Reese. Harry Blount and his sister clasped hands, and calmly waited; and when Sidney l'hllllps bent over Belle, and spoke a quick request she lifted her pale lips and kissed him In silence, with that look of resignation Which was fust settling upon all our faces save one. 1 thought I understood human nature, but I should never have taken Julian Ferrean for a coward. He was not a braggart, but there was an alrabout him which made one think he could be very brave, given the occasion ; and now not a girl screamed when we struck, but Julian Ferrean shrieked aloud and fell down in the boat, cowering in abject ter ror at the feet of Blanche Chetwoode. Tney say that women love bravery in a man above other qualities ; but per haps there was so much of the mascu line In Blanche Chetwoode's nature that she could dispense with a superabun dance of manly spirit in the man she loved. I thought then, and think still, that she and Julian ought tohavechang ed sexes, for she was the better man of the two. She seemed to feel no con tempt for his more than womanish weakness. I believe It appeared to her as natural and excusable as Edna Reese's terror seemed to the lover who held her in his arms. She bent over the fellow as he groveled, moaning and whimper ing, before her, and spoke to him in ten der, pitiful accents, as if he had been a frightened child, " Julian do not give way in this man ner. Look up, Julian, and try to think of the other world where we shall soon be all together." ' " O Heaven, have mercy !" was all he answered; and he shrunk closer doWn nearer and nearer to her. The boat began to grate and creak ; another instant and we looked to see it part, and launch us into the torrent. Men clasped their loved ones closer, and women murmured low-toned prayers; but Julian threw up his hands with a cry, and clung to Blanche Chetwoode's garments. "Blanche! Blanche I my darling! take hold of ine! If I must die, let me die in jour arms, for I love you!" he cried, in an agony of fright, to this woman whom he had known but a day. And I believe he fell in love with her in that very hour of trial for her strength and calmness. Yes, I believe it was then and there that they loved, each drawn to the other by those qualities that were lacking in themselves. She drew his head upon her bosom, and tried to quiet his moaning ; and I, who saw it all, despised him less for be ing almost dignified by the love of a woman so far his superior. It Is taking me a long time to tell of it but we huug upon that rock perhaps not more than two minutes. When the boat began to sway and creak, we thought that surely she was going to pieces; but it was not so. For a few seconds she strained and shivered like a living thing, and then the rushing water swept her oft", and wo durted onward towanl the cataract. At that moment, when hope seemed an idle thought, rose up our preserver, the hero of the occasion, no other than Sidney l'hllllps! "By Jove!' He started up with u shout that made us all Jnmp, and with a suddenness that half capsized the boat, and seized hold of one of the long, wide boards which had been laid over the bottom of the boat. " Let me have this board, quick!" he shouted, pulling at It frantically; and we all scrambled off with unopmprehend lng obedience. In breaking away from the rock the boat had been whirled about, and was drifting now with her bow ahead; hut already she was beginning to swing around again, when Sidney l'hllllps took the stout board and plunged It Into the water at the stern, resting it inn deep notch which had once held the tiller. Tugging with all his might at his Improvised rudder, he succeeded 1 is turning the boat's head down theBtreani again. . But the pulling up of that board had disclosed a new fact. I do not say a new peril, for when death Is certain, as It then seemed to us all, nothing can add to the awful conviction. In breaking away from the rock the boat had sprung a leak, and the water was pouring In through the parted Joint. We saw It, but never gave a thought to it until Sidney cried, "By Jove! we've fpwung a leak! Bwandon ! Fcrweanl There's two dip pers In the ouddy. Take 'em and go to balling, or she will sink !" It Is strange tome now with what unquestioning alacrity I sprang to obey what seemed so useless a command. If we were to die, why not as well drown here as under the cataract? But I thought of nothing save prompt obedi ence. There and then Sidney 1'hllllpH was my master. I felt that, and obeyed him. " For wean !" he shouted again. "(Julck I say ! (Julck ! What is the mattah with Ferwean ?' For the first time he noticed Ferrean 's condition, and he uttered that exclama tion in a tone of pure astonishment. " Don't waste word9 on him ; he's Idi otic with fright. I've Been fellows in that condition in the army," said Tom Revere, as he possessed himself of the only remaining dipper aud commenced to bail. Sidney gave one look of blank wonder at the groveling figure of Julian ; such cowardice was evidently beyond his comprehension. Then, still straining at the long sweep with which he kept us headed aright, he turned to the rest of us, and, with a look In his face that was a revelatlou to us all, he said, " We have yet one chance for life I" Nobody uttered a word, but all eyes were fixed on him. " You all know Bwown's mill-flume above the falls V" he said. We all knew of it the Bluice of which I have spoken that carried water-power to the factory. " This curwent will carwy us within ten feet of it," Sidney continued, In the same steady tones. " The watah wuns through the flume as swift as these wap ids. There must be a stwong eddy at its mouth ; and if we can head the boat that way, we may be dwawn into the flume. It is narwow, and we can catch hold of the twees, and save ourselves. I'm going to twy it." Heaven I how sweet life became in that moment ! How our hearts leaped with the quick impulse of returning hope ! " Now, then, you fellahs, boll for deah life!" said our commander, tugging at Ills sweep, as the fierce current threaten, ed to shift the boat, in spite of his ut most efforts. " Only keep us afloat, and we may be saved. If we pass that flume, though, we're bound to go ovah the catawacf" In the midst of our deadly peril I rec ollect how I almost smiled at the ghast ly ludlcrousness of Sidney Phillip's fop pish lisp. It was not a natural defect but had been so long a studied affecta tion that it had become second nature, and clung to bim now in this hour of his supreme heroism. But, in other respects, who could have known Sidney Phillips? All the lazy, drawling languor of ar) hour ago had vanished. He stood there, master of the situation, with his white face and firm set lips, with gray eyes blazing", and di lated nostrils, holding the rudder with a grip that made the cords stand out like ropes upon his slim, white hands. The task he had undertaken was evidently too much for his strength, and he called to Harry Blount, " Ilarwy, come and help me hold this wudduh ; I can't stand this confounded stwain." In an instaut Harry was beside him, and Sidney said, in tones that cut the air, they were so keen and clt ar, " Catch hold there ; that's it. We are getting neah the falls. Hold on now like gwlm death." We were shooting forward with fear ful swiftness. Ahead of us we saw the tossing waters and white mists of the eataraet. Its thunder filled our ears, and bushed our very heart-beats. Sud denly we saw the narrow opening in the bank whfch was our only hope. Into it rushed current of water in a swift, smooth green slop that made us dizzy to look upow.- "Now, Harwy!" spoke Sidney, Inn quick, hoarse whisper. " Head her for the flume! Now!" One mighty effort. Two strong men working for life and love against that surging torrent! The boat wavered for an Instant, aud then wheeled around nnd slid down that long, smooth slope, without o shake or tremor, and shot swiftly into the flume. A sickening falntness came over me then, such as I novel1 feltbefore or since. It lasted but an Instant, audi fell to balling vigorously. Belle Blount struck her hands together, with a sharp "Ah!" Nora burst Into tears; and Julian Fer rean started up as we rushed under the bending branches of a tree, and made a spring to catch them. "Sit down, you Idiot, or I'll brain you !" thundered Sldney,wfth menacing eyes. "Do you want todwown usnowV" Julian shrank down In silence, fearing the wrath of that man more than he feared death. On we swept. The narrow banks were so close on either hand that we could almost touch them ; but we dared not arrest the boat while It moved at such u rate of velocity. The current slackened at lnst, and we began to move less rapidly. Sidney had left Harry to hold the rudder alone; and coming carefully forward, he took a coll of rope from the cuddy, and began to fasten It firmly to an Iron ring In the bow. Then lie stood up, and looked ahead. In advance of us, a great tree threw Us branches quite across the canal and they bent so low as to touch the water. "Catch hold of those bwanches with one hand, and hang on to the boat with the othah, all of you," he said, in n clear, distinct voice. We all obeyed. As we swept In among the wet branches, we clung to them, and to the boat also; but Sidney, with the rope in his hand, leaped ashore. He fas tened the rope to a stout sapling ; and in three minutes we were all standing, safe at last, on terra Jlrma. As Sidney took Belle Blount from her brother's arms, and lifted her up the bank, he strained her to his heart in a long, passionate embrauce, and the tears poured down his cheeks like rain. "Belle! Bellle!" he uttered, in chok lug sobs. " Sidney !" she answered softly, with her head on his breast. ' And then the storm of emotion was over, and he released her from his clasp ing arms. And, as we all stood there, he uncovered his head, and bowed it,1 saying, in tones of the deepest rever ence. "God be thanked !" With bare, bent heads, we all respond ed to that prayer of thank, the most heart-felt prayer I ever listened to. We stood In silence for a moment, Then Sidney turned, and held out his hand to Belle. She placed her own within it, and without a word we fol lowed them as they led the way to the road thut was near at hand. We walked back to Chetwoode Hall In perfect silence. There was no necessi ty for speech, and nobody spoke. As we entered at the gate, Rose Fer rean and Roy come forward to meet us but the saucy gmllo died out of Rose's face, and the boyish mischief fled from Roy's, as they noted our sober faces nnd wet, disheveled appearance. ' Why, what on earth has happened to otl ?" cried Rose. "How did yu all get so wet?" " Did you aw catch any fish, Miss Wose?" ad Kidney Philips was him self again. The explanation sensation that followed our arnvl 8 tae shall be "skipped," as al all le rest of that eventful day, until Mie time arrived, when, refreshed by " tea," and somewhat reconstructed as to dress, and revived as to spirits, we assembled in the parlor to make our adleux. Then It was that Sidney Phillips spoke. "Does anybody wemenbnh anything about an antlmatwlmonlul awangement that was contwived heah a few houahs ago?" That was a crusher. Everybody look ed at his neighbor in blank confusion. The gentlemen finally began to laagh, and the ladles to blush, and the in domitable Sidney continued : "Allow me to make a statement and a proposition. Belle, my angel, don't run oil'. You undahstaud, ladles and gentlemen, that Belle and your hum ble servant are anxious to entah Into that aw pwosewlbed state of matwitnouy," Here Belle blushed to tte roots of her hair, and said hastily. "Sidney Phillips!" But he langhed, and proceeded, w ith tzreut gravity. " And, to the best of my observation, all othah membahs of this cluts are in the same pwedlcanient. Now S move that oor antlmatwimoirfai club-be mutu ally dissolved." " Second the motion,"" eried-IV squeez ing Nora Chetwoode's hnd Nobody objected, antV our anllaiatri monlal club" was awriis)j1y diwolved on the spot, by mutual consent, after enjoying a turbulent existence of about five hours' duration. Since then, several niarrlaires have tnken placo among tt members, the first of which was that of Julian Ferrean and Blanche Chetwoode. He followed her tome to the city, and married hei there ; and there ho remained. We do not miss him from our set ; for none of us forget what a poltroon he showed himself In that trying hour which held us all up n our true colors, and our former ad miration for him Is altered to contempt. Sidney Phillips Is our " lion" now. We no longer despise him for his lazi ness, and we rather admire his foppish ways and his super-extra neatness of apparel. Whenever a leader is wauled In any undertaking, be It for pleasure or profit, and anybody Is superfluous enough to ask who shall fill the position . the rest of us answer with one voice, Harry Blount's usually. , "Phillips, of course." Sidney married Belle Blount, and I am going to marry little Nora. As for Rose Ferrean there has been no engagement announced, to be sure; but after our league was dissolved, that night, I saw her standing on the veran da, while Harry wrapped her shawl about her, preparatory to accompanying her home, and I heard him say. ' Rose, I think you took a very sensi ble view of the marriage question this morning. Tell me, darling, do you con- slder me at all desirable V" "Oh, don't be silly V" was the reply of Rose. But I fancy she did not think lilui very foolish, judging from the fact that she offered no remonstrance of which . I will not particularize. VEGETINE Purifies the Blood, Renovates and la- Tlgorates the Whole System. ITS MEDICAL PHOI'ETVm: iKF. AllerntlTC, Tonic, Solvent nnd jHureuc. VEGETIXE. ' llvliabfe Evidence. ' Mr. II. Tl. Rtevens. 1 Dearislr. I will mint cheerful. ly add my testimony to I lie gieat number you have already receiv ed in favor ol yur great ami 5ood medicine, Vegetine. for I o not think enough can besuid In Its praise, fur I was troubled over furty years with that dread ful disease.Catarrh.anrt had such bad coiigblng-spells that. It would seem as though I could never breathe any more, and Vegetlne has cured me; and I do feel to thank (Jod all the time that there Issueh a good medicine as Vege tine, and 1 also think that it Is one of the best medicines for coughs, and weak, sinking feel ings at the stomach, and advise everybody to take the Vegetlne. for 1 can assure them It Is one of the best medicines that ever was. Mjis. L. (.(!( K. Cor. Magalne & Walnut Ms., Cambridge. Mass. vegetine. vegetixe. vegetixe. vegetixe. vegetixe. vegetixe. vegetixe. vegetixf. OIVKH HEALTH. hTKKNfiTH, AM APPETITE. My daughter has received great benefit from the use of Vegetlne. Her declining health wasa source of great anxiely to all her friends A lew bottles of Vegetlne restor ed her health, strength, aud a iietUe. N. H T1LDEN. Insurance and Real Kslute A'g't. Ho. 4.' Sears lluildlil; ,"m':is. llastuH I CANNOT BE EXCELLED. VEGET1TE. VEGETIXE. VEGETIXE. VEGEHXE. Chailestown, , Mas, It. It. Htevens. Iear Sir. This Is to certify that I have used your "Blood Prepara tion," In my family for several yearn, aud tiilni t!'t. for Scrofu la and Cankerous Humor aail Kheumatic Affections. It cannot be excelled ; and as a blood puri fier or spring medicine. It is the best thing 1 have ever used, and 1 have u ted almost everything. 1 can cheerfully recommend it to anyone In uecd of au'.U a medi cine. Yours resDectfullv. Mas. A. A. DlNrtMOKE. $9. IV Kuss-ll St. VEGETISE. ! VALUABLE RKM EI) V, South Bostoe, Feb. 7, W Mr, Htevens. Dear 1r, I have taMn aeverul bottles of your Vegetlne. and am convinced if Ins valuable remedy for Dvsoeusla. Kidney Comnltflnt VEGETIXE. i and general debility of tlx ty- VEGETIXE. I "l'can heartily recommend itt.f i all suffering from the abw uoin. ! plaints. , Votirs retctfunj Mil. M. Parker. VIHETI.1E. i ' AtntI" "" V K 13 'V I IV i: Prepared H. K. STEVENS, Boston, Mass. Yeg-etlne Is Soltl ty March 5. 187A. all' DritgrurW?. REMOVAL. The undersigned hs removed hi Leather and HasHess Stortr from Front to High Street. nrr the Penti'a'., Freight Depot, w here he will have ou hand, anj will aell at REDUCED PMC!; Leather and Harness ul all klmh-. Having- good workmen, and by buyli.g at the lowest ciuJi prlve.i. I fear uoeom petition. Market prices paid In cash for Bar?-. Hh'es and Skins. Thankful for past tivor. 1 lollcit a con tinuance of the same. F. 8. Hiaukets, Kobe, and fciho ludings made speciality, JOS.M. HAVI.KV. Duncannon. Julyl. IsT tf
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