Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-01-29

| front OF tue mouse. IL was clear
beautiful night, just the sort for
sleigh-ride, aud not so cold but wha
there was continual drip, drip, q
the caves of the house. The tinkle q
the falling drops, however, with now
and then the crash of a lOOsened icicle
fell on his ears with painful jar
Could it be possible that such q mar
had nerves? But now, swiftly down
the road there came q sound Of bells,
and the vision Of sleigh WAS haltec
for moment by the gate.
"Howland !" shouted deep, hoarst
voice. "Ah, YOU are up, are you
Well, there's big rise in the river
and it's . comm this way fast. I've
been just a racin' down the road 10
warn folks not to try the ice, but
reckon I've come As far as l need
Can YOU give me sleep and break
fast,'
"Of course can,' promptly replied
Curt. land you've done right-good
neighborly thing. It's Jake Robinson,
isn't it?'
That's my name,' heartily respond
ed the stranger land I've only tried
TO do as I'd be done by."
We'll, than," said Curt, ..you 90 in.
to the house and 60 10 bed. III hitch
up my team and see if can make out
to keep the sleighing-party from mis-
chief. There must be time enough for
that, yet, seeing the quilting comes
first"
"Iil stable my horse, replied the
philanthropic Jake, "but l don't 60 in.
to no bed, 50 longs there's anybody
likely TO be in danger. Drag out
your sleigh. Is that it? Well, there's
room in it for moren two. there is.
Curt Howland's movements were al
ways good deal more rapid and de-
cisve than they seemed, and it was
marvellous how quickly he and Jake
were whirling down toward the GUS
tomary crossing. In one thing, how
ever, Curt had been wofully mistaken,
and that was in the probable nour for
the quilting to break up. Even while
he was putting the harness on his good
team there were terrible perils gath.
erIng around the gay slcigh-riders.
Not only had the ''bce" dispersed. but
already had dozen different sets of
bells rang fast and far on the frozen
river, and already the first symptoms
of the coming rise" were beginning
TO show themselves in the ominous
groaning Of the ice as the tide beneath
it strained aud lifted at its frosty fet-
tiers. Beyond doubt they would be
broken ere long.
"lIark !" exclaimed Curt, as he drove
out from the shore. "Did you hear
that: We shall hardly have time TO
get across. I'm afraid"
Then they won't need no warnin, -
coolly remarked Jake.
"Iark.' again cried Curt Rowland,
but hoarsely this tin" and with sop
thing like pam In tue intensity OF h,.-
utterance. Il did hear it There's !,
team coming down the river at u run -
Jake Robinson himself heard it now,
and exclaimed:
1T does sound mighty like q runa-
way, | declare. Just hark 10 them
bells y
Curtis breath would have come even
faster and his heart would have jump
cd more iiercelv, if lie had known the
whole truth. The horses of the sleigh.
Ing party had recognized the signs OF
approaching danger much more
promptly than had their masters. nor
had it been at all difficult, in most cases,
for their skillful drivers 10 head the
frightened but willing brutes toward
safety and the shore. The single ex-
ception had been in the young and
stylish but ill-brohA span over which
Size Herring held the reins, for the gay
young lawyer was not only not n
'skillful driver" but he had failed to
understand the situation ut first, and
he had lashed his poor colts merciless.
ly for their trembling refusal to go for
ward. Even when he consented u
wheel them, he had not been able u
guide them landward, for great heaye
and groan of the ice around him had
just then nearly scared the senses out
Of both him and his quadrupeds. In
moment more the fright Of the latter
was a wild RUNAWAY right down the
river, and certainly mad one good re-
suit, for it bore the sleigh and its oc.
cupants swiftly away from what was
fast becoming an angry tumuit ol
cracking, tossing, grinding fragments
All this Curt Rowland did not know
but. nevertheless, he drove straight
| forward instantly, with dim idea OF
giving help to somebody. Well fol-
him that he did SO, for, in less than
half 4 minute, he found himself spin
ming along at almost racing speed, be-
hind light sleigh, in which there
shortly arose q female form. which ht
knew only too we'll, while clear, firu
voice exclaimed:
30 Curt, the ice is breaking! Drive
ashore right away!"
And he had shouted, in reply:
Head 'em for the island, Sile /: you
can bring 'em in there. I'll follow
right on. Don't be scared.-Faith,
won't leave you"
And then another form had risen ir
the sleigh, and Faith Murray her.el
caught the falling reins as Sile Her
ring dropped them aud sprang out up
on the ice. 1t was rash and foolisf
thing to do. and Curt reined in jus
long enough to say
That's it, Jake jump out and dras
him ashore, while l 60 on after th'
runaways."
Jake obeyed heroically, and he fount
that Sile Herring did indeed requir.
"dragging' to get him ashore, ate
that wild spring and thump upon tn
ice.
Faith was alone in her sleigh now
and but little sorry for that, to tell tn,
truth, or even that she had the rein.
in her own hands, for she knew how 4