The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-04-22


geline opened one of the low, French win
dows, and stepping out on the terrace,
crossed the lawn, and then the meadows,
reaching the Dracut farmhouse in few
minutes, drenched to the skin
Mr.. Ashcroft called that evening to ask
Edith to ride to Lily Pond with him, the
next morning. He made no allusion what
ever to Argeline's escapade, and she occu-
pied herself with book while he remain
ed. Edith went out on the piazza with
him. He put shawl around her, his arm
with it; she rested her head on his arm,
and they talked in subdued voices. Edith
was fourteen now, and royalty beautiful
Argeline saw them, and wondered from
whence arose the sharp pain at her heart.
She dashed down the window and went up
to bed.
Late in October, she was walking with
Edith on the shore of the lake. 1t was
near sunset, and everything was wrapped
in glory of crimson and gold. Great piles
of amber clouds reclined against the bosom
of the west, and light breeze swept down
from Mount Belknap, ruffling the water
into tiny ripples, and stirring weirdly in
the forest branches.
Argeline sat down on great rock, and
gazed out listlessly over tho blue sheet of
water. Edith united little boat that float
ed near, and stepped into it. She bent her
head, letting her heavy curls trail along in
the WATER as the little craft with almost
imperceptible motion receded from the
shore.
Argeline looked up with something like
alarm in her face.
"Come back, quick, Edith % she cried
fuse the oars-you will upset that frail
she'll if you go further out where there is
current"
The beautiful child arose quickly to seizo
the oars-the boat careened-in another in
slant she was in the water, and before she
could utter single cry, it had closed over
her. Argeline sprang forward-she would
have lost her own life in the vain attempt
at recovering Edith-but a strong hand
forced her back.
Remain where you are," said Eugene
Ashcroft, 81 will attend to Edith"
She closed her eyes, and sat down.
Strangely enough, after she had heard his
voice, she felt no more fear A moment
afterwards, she had Edith in her arms,
pale, cold and wet as she was. Ashcroft
stood by, silently regarding them. He held
out his hand to Argeline.
"Wili you touch my hand now, Miss
Vernon ?"
The fingers she extended were locked mp
in his firm clasp. He held her thus all the
way to the house. Edith went in, and left
them together at the door. Their eyes
met. Something Argeline saw in his that
made the crimson come to her very tenn
pies. She tore her hand away, and left
him without word.
The first week in November, there came
q terrible rain-storm. Dwellers in sea.
coast towns can hardly form any idea of
what " "freshet'' is like in one of the
mountain valleys. The little streams
swelled to mighty rivers, and went tumb-
ling, snow-white into the lake-low lands
were inundated = roads submerged and
bridges swept away.
Just below Ashcroft Hall, the road cross
ed violent little stream known as Thun-
der Run, on bridge more than twenty
feet from its bed; but in times of great
rains, this brook frequently rose to an un-
precedented height-sometime taking off
the very planking itself.
Towards sunset, the rain having ceased,
Argeline threw on her shawl, and went out
through the wet grass to see the water
foam over the rocks. 1t was quite, o long
walk to the bridge, and she followed the
course of the stream, thus increasing the
distance by, at least, one-half. 1t began
to grow dark, early night was coming on.
She quickened her steps, and reached the
bridge. The water roared madly through
the narrow gorge, overfowing the banks in
some places, and casting the spray, cold
and drenching, over the figure Of Argeline
She went nearer-good heaven the cover
ing Of the bridge was gone only the two
fstringers" remained llo
The water had fallen little, evidently;
it was not entirely up to the timbers, now; {;
but some time during the afternoon it had
been above them. She stood moment,
looking at the ruin, then turned to go home
but lightning-like thought flashed through
her brain that rooted her to the spot. She
had heard Edith say that Mr. Ashcroft had
ridden horseback to Frinton, and would
return that very night sometime before
nine o'clock He must be near there then,