tales for fifteen-第15章

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the　full　brilliancy　and　beauty　of　his　application　of
the　mountain　to　their　driver；　when　they　reached　the
pass　itself。　The　road　was　barely　sufficient　to　suffer
two　carriages　to　move　by　each　other　without
touching；　being　from　necessity　dug　out　of　the　base
of　the　mountain；　a　precipice　of　many　feet　led　to　the
river；　which　was　high　and　turbulent　at　the　time；
there　was　no　railing　nor　any　protection　on　the　side
next　the　waterand　in　endeavouring　to　avoid　the
unprotected　side　of　the　road；　two　wagons　had　met
a　short　time　before；　and　one　of　them　lost　a　wheel
in　the　encounterits　owner　had　gone　to　a　distance
for　assistance；　leaving　the　vehicle　where　it　had
fallen。　The　horses　of　Antonio；　unaccustomed　to
such　a　sight；　were　with　some　difficulty　driven　by
the　loaded　wagon；　and　when　nearly　past　the　object；
took　a　sudden　fright　at　its　top；　which　was　flapping
in　the　wind。　All　the　skill　and　exertions　of　Antonio　to
prevent　their　backing　was　useless；　and　carriage　and
horses　would　inevitably　have　gone　off　the　bank
together；　had　not　Charles；　with　admirable　presence
of　mind；　opened　a　door；　and　springing　out；　placed　a
billet　of　wood；　which　had　been　used　as　a　base　for　a
lever　in　lifting　the　broken　wagon；　under　one　of　the
wheels。　This　checked　the　horses　until　Antonio　had
time　to　rally　them；　and；　by　using　the　whip　with
energy；　bring　them　into　the　road　again。　He　certainly
showed　great　dexterity　as　a　coachman。　But；
unhappily；　the　movement　of　Charles　had　been
misunderstood　by　Julia；　and；　throwing　open　the
door；　with　the　blindness　of　fear；　she　sprang　from
the　carriage　also：　it　was　on　the　side　next　the
water；　and　her　first　leap　was　over　the　bank；　the　hill
was　not　perpendicular；　but　too　steep　for　Julia　to
recover　her　balanceand　partly　running；　and　partly
falling；　the　unfortunate　girl　was　plunged　into　the
rapid　river。　Charles　heard　the　screams　of　Miss
Emmerson；　and　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　dress　of
Julia　as　she　sprang　from　the　carriage。　He　ran　to　the
bank　just　in　time　to　see　her　fall　into　the　water。

｛St。　Anthony's　Nose　=　this　incident　probably
occurred　at　a　place　on　the　Mohawk　River　called
today　The　Noses；　between　Fonda　and　Palatine
Bridge；　there　is　another　St。　Anthony's　Nose　on　the
Hudson　River｝

〃Oh；　God！〃　he　cried；　〃Julia！my　Julia！〃and；　without
seeming　to　touch　the　earth；　he　flew　down　the　bank；
and　threw　himself　headlong　into　the　stream。　His
great　exertions　and　nervous　arms　soon　brought　him
alongside　of　Julia；　and；　happily　for　them　both；　an
eddy　in　the　waters　drew　them　to　the　land。　With
some　difficulty　Charles　was　enabled　to　reach　the
shore　with　his　burthen。

Julia　was　not　insensible；　nor　in　the　least　injured。
Her　aunt　was　soon　by　her　side；　and　folding　her　in
her　arms；　poured　out　her　feelings　in　a　torrent　of
tears。　Charles　would　not；　however；　suffer　any　delay；
or　expressions　of　gratitudebut；　forcing　both　aunt
and　niece　into　the　carriage；　bid　Anthony　drive
rapidly　to　a　tavern　known　to　be　at　no　great
distance。

On　their　arrival；　both　Julia　and　Charles　immediately
clad　themselves　in　dry　clotheswhen　Miss
Emmerson　commanded　the　presence　of　the　young
man　in　her　own　room。　On　entering；　Charles　found
Julia　sitting　by　a　fire；　a　thousand　times　handsomer；
if　possible；　than　ever。　Her　eyes　were　beaming　with
gratitude；　and　her　countenance　was　glowing　with
the　excitement　produced　by　the　danger　that　she
had　encountered。

〃Ah！　Charles；　my　dear　cousin；〃　cried　Julia；　rising　and
meeting　him　with　both　hands　extended；　〃I　owe　my
life　to　your　bravery　and　presence　of　mind。〃

〃And　mine　too；　Charles。〃　said　Miss　Emmerson；　〃but
for　you；　we　should　have　all　gone　off　the　hill
together。〃

〃Yes；　if　Anthony　had　not　managed　the　horses
admirably；　you　might　have　gone　indeed；〃　said
Charles；　with　a　modest　wish　to　get　rid　of　their
praise。　But　this　was　an　unlucky　speech　for　Charles：
he　had；　unconsciously　presented　the　image　of　a
rival；　at　the　moment　that　he　hoped　he　filled　all　the
thoughts　of　Julia。

〃Ah；　Antonio！〃　she　cried；　〃poor　Antonio！and　where
is　he？Why　do　you　not　send　for　him；　dear　aunt？〃

〃What；　my　love；　into　my　bed…chamber！〃　said　Miss
Emmerson；　in　surprise；　〃fear　has　made　the　girl
crazy！But；　Charles；　where　is　Anthony？〃

〃In　the　stable；　with　the　horses；　I　believe；〃　said　the
youth〃no；　here　he　is；　under　the　window；　leading
them　to　the　pump。〃

〃Give　him　this　money；〃　said　Miss　Emmerson；　〃and
tell　him　it　is　for　his　admirable　skill　in　saving　my
life。〃

Julia　saw　the　danger　of　an　exposure　if　she
interfered；　yet　she　had　the　curiosity　to　go　to　the
window；　and　see　how　Antonio　would　conduct　in　the
mortifying　dilemma。

〃Here；　Anthony；〃　said　Charles；　〃Miss　Emmerson　has
sent　you　ten　dollars；　for　driving　so　well；　and　saving
the　carriage。〃

〃Ah！　sir；　it　is　no　matterI　can　ask　nothing　for　that；
I'm　sure。〃

But　Charles；　accustomed　to　the　backwardness　of
the　common　Americans　to　receive　more　than　the
price　stipulated；　still　extended　his　hand　towards
the　man。　Julia　saw　his　embarrassment；　and
knowing　of　no　other　expedient　by　which　to　relieve
him；　said；　in　a　voice　of　persuasion

〃Take　it　for　my　sake；　Antonioif　it　be　unworthy　of
you；　still；　take　it；　to　oblige　me。〃

The　man　no　longer　hesitated；　but　took　the　money；
and　gave　Julia　a　look　and　a　bow　that　sunk　deep
into　the　tablet　of　her　memorywhile　Charles
thought　him　extremely　well　paid　for　what　he　had
done；　but　made　due　allowances　for　the　excited
state　of　his　cousin's　feelings。

〃You　perceive；〃　said　Miss　Emmerson；　with　a　smile；
as　Julia　withdrew　from　the　window；　〃if　Charles　be　a
little　afraid　of　lightning；　he　has　no　dread　of　the
water。〃

〃Ah！　I　retract　my　error；〃　cried　Julia；　〃Charles　must
be　brave；　or　he　never　could　have　acted　so　coolly；
and　so　well。〃

〃Very　true；　my　love；〃　said　Miss　Emmerson；
excessively　gratified　to　hear　her　niece　praise　the
youth；　〃it　is　the　surest　test　of　courage　when　men
behave　with　presence　of　mind　in　novel　situations。
Those　accustomed　to　particular　dangers　easily
discharge　their　duties；　because　they　know；　as　it
were　instinctively；　what　is　to　be　done。　Thus　with
Tonyhe　did　well；　but；　I　doubt　not；　he　was　horribly
frightenedand　for　the　world　he　could　not　have
done　what　Charles　did。〃

〃Not　Antonio！〃　echoed　Julia；　thrown　a　little　off　her
guard〃I　would　pledge　my　life；　aunt；　that　Antonio
would　have　done　as　much；　if　not　more；　than
Charles！〃

〃Why　did　he　not；　then？…It　was　his　place　to　stop
the　carriage…why　did　he　not？〃

〃It　was　his　place；〃　said　Julia；　〃to　manage　the
horses；　and　you　acknowledge　that　he　did　it　well。
Duties　incurred；　no　matter　how　unworthy　of　us；
must　be　discharged；　and　although　we　may　be
conscious　that　our　merit　or　our　birth　entitles　us　to　a
different　station　from　the　one　we　fill；　yet　a　noble
mind　will　not　cease　to　perform　its　duty；　even　in
poverty　and　disgrace。〃

Miss　Emmerson　listened　in　surprise；　but　as　her
niece　often　talked　in　a　manner　that　she　did　not
comprehend；　she　attributed　it　to　the　improvements
in　education；　and　was　satisfied。　But　Julia　had
furnished　herself　with　a　clue　to　what　had
occasioned　her　some　uneasiness。　At　one　time　she
thought　Antonio　ought　to　have　left　carriage；　horses；
every　thing；　and　flown　to　her　rescue；　as　Charles　had
done；　but　now　she　saw　that　the　probity　of　his　soul
forbade　it。　He　had；　doubtless；　by　secret　means；
induced　the　owner　of　the　horses　to　entrust　them　to
his　keeping…and　could　he；　a　soldier；　one　used　to
trust　and　responsibility；　forget　his　duty　in　the
moment　of　need？　Sooner　would　the　sentinel　quit
his　post　unrelieved…sooner　the　gallant　soldier　turn
his　back　on　his　enemy…or　sooner　would　Antonio
forget　his　Julia！

With　this　view　of　the　propriety　of　his　conduct；　Julia
was　filled　with　the　desire　to　let　him　know　that　she
approved　of　what　he　had　done。　Surely；　if　any　thing
can　be　mortifying　to　a　lover；　thought　our　heroine；　it
must　be　to　see　a　rival　save　the　life　of　his　mistress；
while　imperious　duty　chains　him　to　another　task。

Young　as　Julia　was；　she　had　already　learnt；　that　it
is　not　enough　for　our　happiness　that　we　have　the
consciousness　of　doing　right；　but　it　is　necessary
that　others　should　think　we　have　done　so　too。

Accordingly；　early　the　following　morning　she　arose；
and　wandered　around　the　house；　in　hopes　that
cha