Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-03-26

morning. and whose picturesque uniforms
formed no slight addition to the brill
fancy of the "coup dell"
There were many equestrians, too, of
both sexes, whose constant and rapid
movement gave life to the panorama.
Bitterly cold as was the air, it caused
bright eyes to sparkle, and fair cheeks
to flush, whilst oft-repeated peals of sill
very laughter as some contretempS hap
pened to unskilful or unlucky skaters
showed that here, at least, were the
light hearts and buoyant spirits which
are so marked a characteristic of our
happy tured English girls.
Lila, to Franks intense disgust and
indignation, was carrying on decided
Irritation with Lieutenant Tregennis.
She did Rot care one single straw for
the young officer but she was piqued
and angry with Frank, and, moreover,
jealous of his marked attention to the
three young ladies he was esccrting !;
and she wished to show him that she
had no intention of "wearing the will
low" and that "there are as good fish
In the sea as ever came out of it."
So she laughed and chatted with her
military cavalier, and to all appearance
made herself perfectly happy. In the
course of their badinage it had oozed out
that the lieutenant really had sent the
valentine in the unknown hand, and as
it would appear with something more
than a -.ssaRnrary pnoanins- .9-A@a-----
leap year, too thought Lila, as
her admirers attentions grew more and
more marked. "How awkward for me I"
"Now, Miss Marchant !" cried the
lieutenant, gaily-he had been on the
point of saying Lilla-'I challenge you
to race to the other end of the pond"
Lila laughingly accepted the chal-
lenge.
"Once, twice, thrice and away !" said
young Tregennis, and away shot the 4-HN
foures ..T~l-e- care of that airhole %
suddenly exclaimed the officer, as one
was seen just ahead.
But the caution came too late. Lilla's
slight form, a little in advance of her
companion, was going at a greater ve-
locity than his heavier one could do,
and she was unable to stop herself.
Crash. crash, frightened scream, a
sharp crack, and the unfortunate girl
lnomentarily disappeared beneath the
ice.
Aghast at the suddenness of the acci-
dent, young Tregennis stood gasping and
staring at the hole wherein Lila had
disappeared, quite unequal to the emer-
gency, and unable to offer any assistance
beyond calling aloud for that help which
he might himself have rendered. But
many other gentlemen-Frank at their
head-who had been watching the race,
of course witnessed the catastrophe, and
skated towards the spot with all posi-
BILE speed. To throw off his overcoat and
Jump into the water-for the ice was
now sufficiently broken all around to al
low of twenty persons plunging In if
necessary-was with Frank the work Of
a moment
The water in this part of the pond
was at least ten feet deep, and Lila was
therefore in extreme peril, the intense
coldness of the weather being likely to
induce immediate numbness and insen-
sibility. Fortunately, however, Frank
was almost as much at home in the wa.
ter as Captain Webb, and seizing Lila
by her long and beautiful hair-which
she wore loose according to the present
fashion-just as she was about to disap
pear he drew her on to the ice amid the
ringing cheers of the spectators.
Poor Lila in what pitiable statt
she was to be sure, as she stood on tn,
ice shivering, and dripping from head t.
: foot. Twenty great coats were immedi
, ately offered in which to wrap her. Blu
all Lilla's coquetry had vanished, anC
she gratefully and even humbly accept
ed Franks. The last shadow of th
| young mans resentment had vanished
: too, at the sight of the girls peril. ant
he tenderly enveloped her in the fold
of his rough, shaggy overcoat, and, rails
ing her in his arms, carried her with al
speed to one of the many pony carriage
( which were in waiting to convey the fai
: skaters home. This untoward acciden
f prematurely broke up the party, AM
very soon the great pond was entirel
:, deserted.
p That evening Lila, in multitude Q
j warm wrappers, was reclining on the SC
ia in Dr. Marchant's library, whilst tn
s light of the fre-there were no candle
S or lamp lit-cast cherry red glow owe
e the apartment. There was no one els
e present save Frank Drake, who sat on
low stool by Iilla's side, holding one {
: her hands in his. 1t was quite evider
y that more than truce had been COZ
n cluded between the belligerent parties
it Peace had been proclaimed, and from a
% appearances it seemed likely to be las
L ing one Franks great coat which ha