The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-01-08

inc W0tef'S edge, not great way Iaftler
down. stream, but in the very middle OF
the river. She thought it strange stop
ping.place, at first, until she recalled how
bluff and steep were the banks on either
side of the river for miles below the &C.
customed crossing"
Straight for the island, then, and Curt
Howland's sleigh was close behind her;
but, even as her wild young team sprang
up the low ACTIVITY, there came to Faiths
ears a sharp, quick, swapping sound; the
reins were jerked from her hands, and she
found herself suddenly sitting still in her
light cutter, while the colts went madly
on, with the pole and its attachments
thing tor "irons" to snap, under such cir
for moment, Curt Rowland felt a good
deal more inclined to hearty thanksgiy-
ing.
"Jump in, Faith. Jump in !" he shouted,
cheerily, as he drove alongside the cutter.
Don't you see you'll be my only passcn-
ger?"
Even in that moment of awful peril,
however, Faiths obstinacy yielded slow
ly, and she was replying, half argumenta-
lively:
'But, Curt, how will you ever get ashore !?
Don't you see that the ice is breaking
Won't we be safer on the island: "-when
she found herself caught up in strong
arms and lifted, with or without her will,
to snug place among the blankets and
buffalO-rObeS at the bottom of the big
sleigh.
1.-The river is rising. There is a great
flood coming DOWN. exclaimed Curt.
I'm half an hour the island will be under
water, and everything on it swept away.
I'd never have known if Jake Robinson
hadn't warned me. I hitchcd up and
came out as soon as got the news. Thank
God!"
Faith Murray felt glow and melting
at her heart as she listened, but she made
no reply. The situation certainly seemed
hardly to favor much conversation, for
Curt was driving fiercely up the river
again, and everywhere the signs of the
approaching "break-up" were growing
more and more fearful and threatening.
why don't you drive down." she
asked.
The rapids are only half frozen" re.
piled Curt, "ani we should surely be lost
if we got into them. Besides, the water
is shallower up here, and the horses will
find their footing sooner after we break
in"
after we break in!'' repeated Faith, to
herself "Why, the sleigh will go right
to the bottom. He is terribly cool about
it,"
1t was cool subject, perhaps, and
Faith felt the icy shoulders creep over
her, in spite of her courage, as she noted
how far they yet were from any possible
landing place.
And now the booming, moaning sound
that Faith had heard once before that
evening, began to fill their ears, and the
sleigh Slid hither and thither on the un-
dulating surface, and Curt dashed his
faithful, powerful span to their utmost ex
ertion. Every minute seemed an hour;
but now, at last, Curt exclaimed, exul,ing-
ly:
"Hurrah, Faith! We are beyond the
the deep channel, I think. Back there
the current is swift, and the ice will break
and pile. Its breaking now! See it,
see the great cakes go over and over:"
But, Curt" responded the almost shiv-
ering beauty, ''don't you see that the ice
because it piles up out yonder? can
Curt, dear, it is dreadful to be drowned,
brought you out here, too. Can't you
swim ashore:-O Curt, I've been so very
bad to you!"
You wait moment!' shouted the sim
minded young athlete, as he gave his
team the lash a. ain. "If we can only get
little nearer the edge of the icc.-Ha!
there it comes! Down in the bottom OF
the boat, Faith, | must use my oars! -
overwhelmingly
Faith Murray had hid her face in the
furs that almost covered her as she stoop-
ed, but she heard wild, fierce, trighten-
ed neigh; great splashing plunge, as the
horses went into the water; the cracking
of ice, mingled with the roaring sound OF
the flood; and then, instead of the arctic
bath for which she had prepared herself,
she was conscious of an easy, rocking,
floating motion, and the music of row.
locks, as the oars were flung strongly back
and forth by the sinewy arms OF Curt
Rowland.
Then, at last, her establishment got the
better of her fear, and she looked timidly
out from her hiding place; but the color
came fast into her cheeks again as she did
SO.
"The boat, Curt?" she said.
ayes, the old boat herself" he replied.
II put it ON instead Of the sleigh-box, to
come after you with, just for the fun of it,
and covered it all over with robes and
blankets. l only expected good laugh,
but now it has saved both our lives. You
didn't mean to put your foot in my sleigh
and the boat at the same time, did you,
Faith:"
70 Curt forgive mew was all the an.
swer that came just then, and Faith felt
specially relieved at the remark which in.
stantly followed.
There are the horses-safe on their
feet in the shadows and making for the
shore. Well be there, too, in five min
| utes. Just look at the lanterns along
| shore! There must be twenty menu
Down went Faith Murray head among
the furs again, but, in spite of the roaring
| water and the rattle Of the rowlOcks, she
could plainly hear the exultant, happy
almost cooling tones of a deep, musical
| voice, that repeated her name over, and
over, and over, with other words thai
seemed to be fitted wonderfully well both
| to name and voice.
1.-THE boat and the sleigh, both!"
How strangely her rash and cruel words
| had come to naught, and what man
| among men was Curtis Rowland!
When at last the square PROV of the
skitf grated on the ice and gravel at the
| margin, and the strong arms once more
caught her up and bore her onward, Faith
Murray's blushing face was ready to mes
tie close to Curtis shoulder, and she whis.
pered:
mo other boat but yours, if you'll for
give memo, not as long rs live!''-Ap
| pleton's Journal.
A Winning Way.
THERB once lived in certain household
| a damSal from the green isle of Erin