The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1866-02-21


, Ashes eyes giittered meaningiy.
'Whai shall be the stakes We contend for
Miss Vance |!
Whatever you please she answered
quite saucily.
Very well ! accept the condition. !
shall be yourself, if yon please
She bIushed, bot was too high spirited
too reract.
so be it. Bu, you must catch me fairly
i claim that
Right. We are boih gentlemen, think,
bowing to Churchill, who stood LILLE
apart.
'AiiOns, she said gaily bul in spite Of
her eye seldom seen there. She could see
that by The way they looked al each other.
! What if Ashe woul and, again, what if
Churchill won ? She dared not think lesl
they should Tecede.
They started of fairly-all together. Asia
went straight up The lake toward the head
waters The gentlemen followed her None
OF the parry as yet exerted themselves
! They gIided on easily, saving their strength
| for he final contest Swiiter aud swifter
| few The slight figure of the girl, the dis
! lance between Ter and her followers mate
rally heightened, and the race began 10
earnest.
People called out thai it was dangerous
to go so near The mouth OF the Rocky River,
The principal tributary of Lake Aus;rice
but they did moi heed the warning. They
were too much excited to think of peril
On went Asia, the scarlet feather stream
ing out behind herlike war flag and her
sivery voice OF defiance now and then
| floating back 10 them.
! The color and texture OF the ice was diff
! erent here. !. was dark, and they could
see The water gliding beneath. Sill they
would not hesitate 10 follow where she
dared 10 lead Them.
Asia swepl around the last point OF land
out into the broadest part of the lake, op-
posiIe the month of Rocky River. The gem
rlemen followed Ache was ahead, Church
| III was a little heavier, and not so agile.
Ashes handsome face cleaned and his
eyes sparkled as be sped on; the ice bend,
! ing beneath his weight, and the water bub-
bling through the air holes with hoafse
| souGd. BE knew how insecure vas his
footing, ne knew the risk be ran; but Asia
! little before him was beckoniDg Kim on.
He made the sIiemptto advance; but the
ice cracked beneath his feet; The waller was
ankle deep, and il was fightlulIy esideni
that the lake was breaking Up.
Good God = he cried, 'all is lost 2
To go on was death He was not ready
to sacrifice himself for the desperate chance
of ouiskaiing Aria Vance.
He turned qoicky, and like lightning
gided back 10 where Inc ice was yeI i1-
tact Gathering his strength for an instant,
be made for the shore.
ChurchiIl's eagle eye took ir The scene
at a glance. His brea h came quick, and
his heart beat like billows of The sea. And
mis- great strength served him. Over tie
yielding ice he glidsd on, gaining percep-
tibIy on The scarlet feather. A moment
more and be should be beside her.
Suddenly she stopped transfxed with
horror; al last she realized The deadly peril
Of her position.
Churchill strained every nerve, never for
second losing sight OF the graceful figure
standing SO irigidly erect amid the roar and
tumult all around.
Another instanl-it seemed hours 10 him
and he had thrown his arm around her.
i have won you,' cried he hoarsely.
Cba fh nd har s.
gers clung 10 his arm with the grip of de-
spair
%, Verne, we are lost she cried.
we musl trust 10 the waller See it j.
growing deeper
Even as he spoke his ieet were swept
from under him; the whole mass OF ice
heaved aud groaned and then large cakes
driiled tum ulluousIy around.
Churchill was a strong swimmer, and bal
tied bravely for the victory. Sometimes it
seemed as if he must go down; but his
will was like iron, and his strength indom-
table.
He fought his way through the massive
cakes of ice, Torn and bleeding, but never
despairing.
AT last he caught the plant branch of a
willow which swept far out over The water,
and by its aid drew himself and his burden
10 The shore.
Asia looked into his face with wide open
ey es, and glow of crimson stealing over
the ghasiIy whiteness of her countenance.
Have | won fairly, Asia g
'Yes; you have won,' she said aVerIing
her eyes.
Il do not hold you to i, unless you will it.
Are you mine freely g
'And what then I? she asked softly.
asia y their eyes met.