Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-01-15

PFocuTe lanterns naSteneu away 10 40 SO.
George Wentworth, who was now con-
vinced of his oversight and blamed him
self deeply for 1t, endeavored to relieve
his wife's evident distress, assuring her
that Nell could be in no danger and
would soon be found.
"She is in peril of her life y exclaim-
ed Agnes, as furious blast of wind
shrieked by, hurling snow and hail
against the window panes. "Oh to
think of Nell lost on this dark night. in
such fearful storm The wind and
SOW will soon exhaust her strength,
and she may perish before assistance can
reach her."
"Agnes," implored George, "do not
torture yourself with such unreasonable
fears. You forget that Nell would be
guided by the light from some house
and seek refuge therein" Instead of ac-
cOmplishirg their object his words caus-
ed thought to flash through Mrs. Went
worth's mind that blanched her face to
the hue of death.
George Harold !'' she cried sharp
ly, "hasten down to the lake. Obs for
Heavens sake, hurry, hurry The ice
is not strong. and, if she has taken that
road, the light from Richards windows
will invite her to destruction
The startled looks of the company
showed that Mrs. Wentworth's wild
alarm was not groundless. By this time
the men were prepared for the search,
and they fastened out into the storm,
aef S9%bGGft but their efforts signally failed.
Nearly frantic, she paced up and down
the room, silently praying for her sisters
safety. while they all listened to the
bowling tempest without, and waited
with pale, expectant faces.
On arriving at the crossing the men
divided into parties. each PARTY taking
a different road. Harold, with George
and several others, took the one of which
Agnes had spoken as fraught with such
great danger to her sisters wandering
steps. This road ran north and south
through the village; but short dis
tance north Of the crossing it turned IN
an easterly direction. and the bend bor-
dered the small lake from which the vii
lage derired ito naruo. Tho frst house
north of the crossing was Harold's, and
there was no other between it and Mr..
Richards, which stood farther on beyond
the bend, fronting the lake. All was
dark within the Ellsworth dwelling. but
lights were cleaning across the lake,
like wreckers' beacons, from the windows
of Richards house. No fence divided
the lake from the highway, while late
thaw had weakened the ice, and as all
alike vas blotted from view in snow and
darkness. there was nothing to warn a
stranger that danger and death lay in
the apparent path to safety. Fully real
izing the fearful peril that menaced the
girl if she had strayed that way. the
men hastened on, flashing the light Of
their lanterns in all directions and call
ing out continually. The storm raged
furiously. snow fell in binding clouds
and it was difficult to make headway
against the buffeting wind. They were
little way beyond Harold's place wher
they suddenly paused and gazed at eacf
other for one brief second. CONSERVATION
and horror depicted on every face for
during a lull in the tempest, there came
to their hearing sharp cry of terror.
"Good heavens she has wandered
upon the ice and broken through !" bur'
from the ashy lips of George Wentwcfth.
Then, like the wind, bounded on
They ran around the margin of tae lake.
casting the light of their lanterns over
the snow-covered ice. A coaple OF rods
from the shore large hoe was dlscov
cred. Harold Ellsworth rushed upor
the ice but it cracFd and broke be
meath his feet. sad he was dragged bacl
by his companions. They could find nc
footprints, but this gave them no hope
for their own we're obLiterated almost as
soon as made.
Though almost ce-tain that Nell haC
met her death in ths cold, dark water
of the lake, the met did not give Owe
the search until late in the night. A
last, wearied, dishsartened and horror
stricken, they abandoned the fruitles
work and retired 10 their homes. No
many closed their eyes in Lakeville tina
night or enjoyed that New Years Eve
They thought of the bright young lif
brought to an end in such terribl
manner. The wind moaned sadly thrC
the trees, and the dead lily stems in tn
lake sang wild miserere over the life
less form below.
New Years morning dawned glorious
ly. Not cloud was in the sky. and th
surface of the snow glistened in the ray
of the rising sun. With heavy heal
r Harold Ellsworth took his way towarC
, the barn. He had felt more than pas
ing interest in the lovely girl whom