Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-05-30

hp Q uICWS CODtTdcteu Ia 0eaVy
frown, and an anxious expression 10
his eyes.
! i am afraid we cannot fiud the
road again. / think the better way
will be to strike off in the direction
of home and we shall come upon the
track by and by Phillip spoke cas-.
lily as if the home direction must be
known by intuition. In point of fact
he had not the remotest idea which
way to urn, and there was neither
shore nor star to guide him but be
had seen the sudden fear that had
come into Margie's face, and resolv,
ed 10 keep his ignorance to himself.
about this, | think giving rapid
but hopeless limited survey 10 search
of some indication Iapdward. So
they drove on. The horses trotted
along swiftly, the bells rang merrily
and Phillips laugh, supplemented by
q lower and softer one, relieved the
desolateness of their painless way.
But Phillips jokes were evidently
made with an effort, and Margie's
responses grew more and more brief
until the fiction of 'whistling to keep
up their spirits became too trans
parent and was dropped by mutual
though silent consent. Presently
the ice began to grow rougher and
seemed to be piled up in Jagged
heaps.
Our general direction is right,
said Phillip, stopping to reconnoitre
You know where it freezes last.
near the middle OF the lake, the wa.
ter dashes up along the edge of the
crust and makes this roughness. We
are half way across. A little turn to
the left l think will bring us in all
right
Half way said Margie, shivering.
'Ihen we shall soon be at home
i hope 80. You are cold Margie?'
oh no. That is not much. | feel
quite comfortable, said Margie brave
ly. But Phillip knew better. The
cold fog had penetrated robe and
blanket, and was sending it's chilling
numbness through both of the young
brave hearts.
The slight indication of the home.
ward direction gave them new hope
and again their merry voices rang
out on the muffied air but the ter
rible monotony of their painless ride
made their merry tone seem like q
mockery, as heartless as careless
laughter in a chamber of death, and
silence fell upon them again.
On, on, over the trsckless ice, Phil
ip was driving recklessly but care
was of no avail since the fog and
tho darkness so completely shut
them in The main object was speed.
phil said Margie, havn't we driv-
en- six miles since we passed that
rough place p
Yes, Margie, think so We must
be nearing the shore now
Silence again. The sharp click of
the iron hoofs was beginning to fail
more slowly, and the soft jingle of
the bells fell like a monotonous
rythm upon the heavy air The
mist was growing colder and more
penetrating, and the hopeless dark
ness of q s,arless night brooded over
Them
Phillip, again but lower and faint.
er shall we ever get home ?
o, yes, Margie +; it is not late yet,
and Phillip struck match to look
at his watch, but he did not tell
Margie the time.
No star, no shore, 70 light, no
warmth, alas, no hope either. Phillip
shivering girl. There was no false
modesty, no coquettish airs now.
The scarlet plumes dropped YEARLY
| upon his shoulder.
Darling, it would be easier to die
if could hear you say that you love
me-
you know that | love you, Phillip
Margie spoke with solemn earnest
ness, as one speaks under the awful
shadow of death,
Margie raised her lips to meet her
lovers in the seal of betrothal. Alb,
how much that means to young low
ers-caresses, congratulations, Wis.
ions of snowy robes and bridal
wreaths,a future home, a long life Of
love and helpfnlness, but to these
two it meant nothing but clasping
of hands and going together down
into the dark valley. They did not
speak. They were content. The
iroE boots were falling more and
more lo~ly /; the belle rang with a
softer melody but the duh rumble
of the turbid waters beneath them
| was growing fainter and fainter.
What did it matter The end was
not far off.
Phillip cried Margie, suddenly,
throwing off the lethargy that was
slowly creeping over her, Phillip. l
believe heard bell
Phillip drew the rein and the
tired horses stood still. Yes it was
surely a bell, the sounds echoing
softly through the heavy mist.
Thank God ! we are saved said
Phillip, as the horses heads were
turned once more toward home, and
the faint sounds of the bell grew
more and more distinct, and the
lights of the city began to appear
family through the mist.
The bells saved US, Phillip how
glad they sound.
Yes, darling. We were turned
toward the head of the lake, going
nearly parallel with the shore, and
we might have driven twenty or
thirty miles before reaching the land.
y X
A few weeks later there was a
merry chime of wedding bells, as q
bridal party passed out from the
lofty portals of church. A little
brown-eyed girl looked up to her
young husbands, through cloud of
filmy lace, and her eyes were full of
happy tears.
"PAPER sir % asked the newsboy.
ssNo, never read," was the blunt
reply. Eli, boys, come here" called