National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-03-03

A few days since, on the lake shore
not more than a dozen miles from
Plattsbur2h, young man of about
% years of age was ont upon the
ice in company with u lady about
five years his junior, engaged in the
pleasat pastime of "sliding the light
fantastic heel" The ice was not
particularly suited for this near the
shore on account Of it's roughncss,
but was of more even surface at
the distance of couple of miles
out, and to that distance they ac-
cordingly ventured. But there the
glittering surface over which they
sped, proved like too many other
bright and enticing fields, delusive
and dangerous, for when skating at
some little distance from his fair
companion, the gentleman suddenl,
found the ice giving way beneath
him, and in il moment later was sub.
merged in the water and engaged in
vain struggle to extricate himself
from his perilous position.
On witnessing the accident, true
to her wOmanly instincts, she utter
ed IA piercing scream, and then, after
II moments pause, skated desper-
ately toward, him, and probably
would have shared his fate and boil,
gone to the bottom together, had he
not warned her off by cry. For a
while then, she watched his efforts to
regain his foothold IL ION the treach.
erous surface of the ice, which at
each attempt that he made would
break again and but increase the
peril. AT length, despairing of sue.
cess. he besought her to hasten to
the shore as quickly as possible, bnt
She well knew that this would bc in
vain, and that he must perish be-
fore it could be procured, and she
de 'ermined to undertake the matter
herself Her first proceeding was
to remove her jacket, but that was
too miscrably short to serve her pur.
pose,-then her dress quickly fol-
lowed suit, and the two were tied
together, aud then appearing like IA
spirit of the ice, with the cold wind
playing with her garments, and be.
its cold ca,psSes upon her
uncovered shoulders, she endeavor.
ed to approach sufficiently near to
him to throw enc end to him, but
the bending ice warned her off each
time. She had an idea, but with
the mate mOdcsty of her sex, for a
moment he>itated-but it was only
for moment, for was there not a
life to save, and lie dear to her
The fair hands were for moment
amid the folds of her white flowing
drapery, and then something fell
upon the lce-a queer combination
of tape and steel bands, or to drop
the mystlcal--a h OPP skirt. The
skirt was quickly severed into two
or three pieces, and quickly affixed
TO the dress and jacket, and their
combined length was found sufficient
to reach him. and planting the cdg,
rs of her skates firmly arainst the
surface of the ice, she had but little
in rendering him sufficient
assistance to enable him to regain
his foothold upon the ice.
Few were the words then spoken. (
The jacket was replaced over the
icy cold shoulders, the torn dress
rolled up and the remnants of the
most serviceable article of all, left
upon the ice, and the only point
worthy of notice is, that she com.
PEELED him to skate in advance of
her on the route hOmewards.
AT the earnest request of parties
we must maintain secrecy regarding
heir names, although it is extreme
y probable that they will soon be-
come known, for fame has a vigi-
ant eye. Therefore we can only
DestOw one plaudit upon our heroic
ioung cOuntrywoman for her gallant
'ct, and venture the surmise that il
marriage should succeed this 70
mantle episode, that she will never
De refused new crinoline when it is
lsked for!-S. Adams Transcript.