Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-08-12
" CHARLESTOWN THURSDAY, AUGUST Il, 1869.


and fro in search of her, she is, 10 doubt stand
ing in the shadow Of hemlock, laughing at
me-"
Yielding to this conjecture he once more
piled his skates, and went rapidly back down
the river, keeping close alongside the bank, and
scanning every spot ovcrshadowed by the dark
frcnts of the hemlocks.
But no Kate Clinton was there, either IN
moonlight or shadow; nor was there any score
made by skates on the inshore ice.
1t now occurred to him that be might dis
cover where she was gone, by getting upon the
track of her skates, and following up. With
this intent. he hastened to the spot where he
had left her standing.
On reaching it, cold thrill shot through his
frame, as if the blood had suddenly become
frozen within his veins. In addition to the
two sets of skate tracks, left by himself and the
young lady in their up and down excursions,
he now saw q third whose bold scores upon the
ice. showed them to have been from the feet OF
a man There were confused curves and zig
zags, as if there had been struggle, or some
sligth difficulty in starting; but beyond that
poiut there were two sets of straight continu-
GUS furrows, running parallel, and side by side,
as if the skaters had gone away with joined
hands!
The direction was down the riycr-towafd
home.
At glance Frank Hill recognized the thin
tiny score, LEFT by the slender steel blade On the
feet of Miss Clinton. But the man who had
gone skating so close by her sidc-who was he y!
A painful suspicion shot through his brain.
He remem bercd that shortly after leaving the
house they had passed a man upon the ice,
who was also on skates. They had brushed
so near him, as to see who he was, and in the
moonlight had be held a countenance bearing
most sinister cast. 1t was the face OF Chas.
Lansing. whom Frank knew to be rival
suitor for the hand of Kate Clinton.
This man had made his appearance in the
neichborhood. some three months before COM
inc no one knew whence. In fact, there was
nothing known of him, but his name; and this
might easily be an assumed one. He put up
at the principal hotel in the village, appeared
to have plenty of money, and to be gentle
man Of birth and education Was Charles
Lansing the man who had come to Miss Gin
ton on the ice and carried her away with him
II could be no OF. er; for Hill now remembered
having heard the ring Of skates behind, as they
were coming up the river from the place where
Lansing had Iecn seen, and shortly after they
had passed him.
The first thought Of Kate Clinton's lover was
one of most painful nature. 1t was, in fact
bitter pang of jealousy, Had the whole
thing been pre-arranged, and had she Willingly
gone away with this stranger, who, though
stranger to Others, might be better known t'
her? Lansing, if not what might be called
handsome man, was good-looknS enough t
give cause for jealousy.
It was fearful reflection for Frank Hill
but fortunately, it did not long endure. /
passed like a spasm another, nearly as pam
full, taking its place. lie recalled arumor tha
had been for some days curreut in the neigh
hood-of a strangeness observed in the beba
vior Of the hotel guest, tha; had caused doubt
about his sanity And it more forcibly cam
back to Frank Hills mind that he had hear
that very norning-how Lansing had presented
himself at the house Of Miss Clntons father
proposed marriage to her, and when refused
had acted in such manner-uttering wil'
speeches aud threats against the life Of th
Young lady-that it became necessary to US
force in removing him from the premises.
Could this be the explanation of the disap
pearance? Was the maniac now in the act 0
carrying out the menace he had madc-som
terrible mode of vengeance under the wild
promptings of insanity?
The thonght came quick, for this series 0
surprises and conjecture did not occupy tbre'
seconds of time. And with the last of tbes'
Frank Hill threw all his strength into a pro
pulsive effort, and shot off Ike an arrow dowr
the river.
a bend was soon passed, beyond which
there was stream Of clear ice extendin;
away more than a mile. Away at the farthe
end two forms were disccrnib!e, and upon th
still, frosty air could be heard the ringing o
skates, at intervals repeating their strokes.
Frank Hill had ro doubt about one Of thes
being she of whom he was in search and
nerved by the sight he threw fresh visor int
bis limbs, and few over the smooth surface
like bird upon the wing.
On, past rock, and tree, and bill, aud farm
houses sleeping in silence; on, in long sweep
ing strides, his eyes flashing, but fixed upoI
the forms, every moment getting more clearI.
disceraible as the distance became lesscncd b.
his speed.
/ And now he is near enough to see that i
was Lansing.
Tue latter glancing back over his shoulder
recognized bis pur5ucr; and, taking iresI
hold on the wrist of bis apparently unwillin;
partner. he forced her onward with increascC
velocity.
I She had looked back, aud saw who wa
coming after. The silver light Of the moon
f,llinr upou her face, showed an expression 0