Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-04-06

trimmed with gilt braid and the gay
colored balmoral and high-hecled boots
seemed just suited for skating. The
little jaunty hat, with its floating plumcs.
showed to advantage the dusky curls
waving in the wind, leaving her rosy
cheeks exposed to view as she dashed off
here and there on the ice. Then, too,
hidden within the little ermine muff,
with its suucy-looking cherry-colored
tassels, was the softest and whitest little
hand in all Brentvile. But to return to
my story. The young girls, five in
number, arranged themselves in row
with the handsome stranger and at the
word Start" given by one of the spec
tators on the bank, all started off at a
fearful speed. Faster Faster Faster |!
AT one time Olive was few feet in ad-
vance, when, with one stride, Walter
Arlington dashed past her, and on they
went. Finally, two of the girls stopped,
tired out, and watched the progress of
the rest. Another and another dropped
off, until none were left but Olive and
Arlington.
Faster, Olive!" shouted those on
shore; 'faster faster you can win
the race if you keep
The words died out just as Olive
reached the opposite bank, Arlington a
few feet in the rear, when crack, crack,
went the ice, and in another moment the
jsunty hat, with its floating plume had
disappeared under tho ice. Oh, the ex-
IRENE agony of that moment. Faces
paled, and hearts almost ceased to beat
for an instant, which almost seemed
ages. asa
"Save her Save her p was he cry
of every one.
But by this time, belmont Reed, a
frank, fearless fellow, and Will Bancroft
were half way across the pond, rushing
toward the hole in the ice. Before they
reached the spot, however, CHASTITY face
appeared above the water, and in a
second the brave Walter, who had sprung
into the water and seized her by her
dress and in another had caught her
round the waist with one arm, and with
the other made an agonizing effort to
save her.
ooh, helpl help!" be shouted in a
hoarse voice. A ropo was thrown out
and in less time that it would take to
describe the scene, they were drawn
safely on shore. How cold and death
like the young girl looked. The long,
tresses lay dripping about her pale face,
while the dress fell wet and heavy around
the lifeless form, and the little boots that
enclosed the shapely little feet, dripping
with ice and water. Was she not an OBJ
ject of pity The rough fellows looked
compassionately on the lifeless form Of
her who had been the life of the party,
while the stranger gave commands to
carry her 10 tho nearest shelter, not heed
} ing his own condition. They carried poor
Olive in their arms to the shore, where the
girls were running to and fro in wild ex-
element, scarcely knowing what they
did.
"God forgive me ! was the cause
Of all this" murmured the young man,
stricken in conscience.
1t was a much sadder group that re-
turned than had gone forth such a short
time before in high glee. Pale and
anxious faces watched by her couch
through the night. 1t was long before
Olive was sufficiently restored to beable
to speak, and when she was, it was Il
thank her preserver, who still awaited
the intelligence of her recovery.
ut was you who saved my life," she
said in feeble tones, very unlike those
she used in commanding the girls to
follow in the race, land thus you have
impcriled your own life for me-"
Speak not of that, my dear young
lady. 1t was nothing to me. would
do more than that for you"
She reached her hand toward him,
and said: Here is my hand; let US
be friends"
"And here is my hand and my heart.
also," responded the young man "Did
/ not offer my heart to the winner 2"
And then he bent over and whispered
ut was well | did so, for it was yours
before bnew you would be the winner,
before. Yes, dearest Olive, preserved
your life for myself viii you not give
it into my keeping? promise to be
ever tender with it as now"
Tears streamed from the half closed
eyes, down the pale face, and for mo-
ment Olive could not spoak--her heart
was too foil. At length she said:
"You are my friend, my preserver,
and love you-lovo you with my whole
heart"
The next summer Brentyile lost its
reigning belle. But it is made happy
every winter by a visit from Mr.. and
Mrs. Arglington, of New York.
Hnru no Gnccrrn If HALLE NIL L.