Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-06-11

and searched the crowd in every direc-
ton, scanning the faces and figures.
But among them he saw neither fea.
lures nor form bearing any resemblance
to those of the beautiful Kate Clinton.
"Oh!' thought be, "she's been play
ing a little trick, to surprise me. She has
slipped in under the river bank, and while
am rushing to and fro in search of Der,
she is, no doubt, standiug in the shadow
of hemlock. quietly laughing at me-"
Yielding to this conjecture he once
more piled his skates and went rapidly
back down the river-keeping close
aIonside the bank and scanning every
spot overshadowed by the dark fronds of
the hemlocks.
But no Kate Clinton was there, either
in moonlight or shadow; nor was there
any score made by skates upon the in-
shore ice.
1t now occurred to him that he might
discover where she had gone by getting
upon the track of her skates and follow
ING it up. With this intent he FASTENED
to the spot where he had left her stand
ing.
On reaching it a cold thrill shot through
his frame, as if the blood had suddenly
become frozen within his veins. In ad
dition to the two sets of skate tracks.
left by himself and the young lady in
their up and down excursions, he now
saw n third, whose bold scores upon the
70. houa ham from tho
feet of a man. There were confused
curves and zigzaggings, as if there had
been struggle, or some slight difficulty
at starting; but beyond that point there
were two sets of straight continuous fur
rows running parallel, side by side, as if
the skaters had gone away with Joined
hands.
The direction was down the river
toward homo.
At glance Frank Hill recognized the
thin tiny score left by the slender steel
blades on the feet of Miss Clinton But
the man who had gone skating so close
by her side-who was he?
A painful suspicion shot through his
brain. He remembered that shortly
after leaving the honse they had passed
man upon the ice, who was also on
skates. They had brushed SO near him
as to see who he was, and. in the moon
light, had beheld countenance bearing
a most sinister cast. 1t was the face of
Charles Lansing, whom Frank knew to
be rival sutton for the hand of Kate
Clinton.
The man had madc his appearance in
the neighborhood some three months
before; coming no one knew whence. -
In fact, there was nothing known Of him
except his name, and this might have
easily been an assumed one. He put up
at the principal hotel Of tie village; APP
peared to have money and to be gen.
tlemau of birth and education. Was
Charles Lansing the man who had come
to Miss Clinton on the ice and carried
her away with him. 1t could be no
other; for Hill now remembered having
heard the ring of skates behind, as they
were coming up the river from the place
where Lansing had been seen, and
shortly after they had passed him.
The first thought of Kate Clinton's
lover was of most painful nature. 1t
was, in fact, a bitter pang of jealousy.
Had the whole thing been pre-arranged,
and had she willingly gone away with
this stranger, who. though a stranger to
others, might be better known to her?
Lansing, if not what might be called
handsome young man, was good
looking enough to give cause for jeal-
ousy.
1t was fearful reflection for Frank
Hill; but. fortunately it did not long en-
dure. 1t passed like spasm; another,
nearly rs painful taking its place. He
recalled rumor that had been for some
days current in tho ueighbordood.-of a
strangeuess observed in the behavior Of
the hotel guest, that had caused doubts
about bis sanity. And moro forcibly
came back to Frank Hills mind, what
he had heard that very morning-how
Lansing bad presented himself at the
house of Miss Clinton's father, proposed
marriage to her, aud when refused, had
acted in such a strange manufacturer
ing wild speeches, and threats against
the life of tie young lady-that it be-
came necessary to use force in rem owing
him from the premises.
Could this be the explanation of the
disappearance? Was the maniac now
in the act of carrying out the menace be
had made--so,ne terrible mode of ven
geance under the wild promptings of in
sanity!
The thought came quick. for this
whole series of surprises and coujectures
did not occupy three seconds of time.
And with the last OF these. Frank Hill
threw all his stsength toto propulsive
effort, and shot off like an arrow down
the river.
A bend was soon passed. beyond
which there was stretch of clear ice ex.
tending for more than mile Away a.
the farther end, two forms were dimly
discernible; and upon the still frosty air
could be heard the faint ringing of
skates, at intervals repeating their
strokes.
Frank Hill had no doubt about one of
these being she of whom he was in
search. and. nerved by the sight, he
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