Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-11-25
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 25. 1882.
TRUE HERoIsM.s

Eleanore Gray and Dora Alton were
great friends, though two. more dissim-
liar In every way it would be hard to
For, While Eleanore was tall, dark,
and brilliantly colored, Dora was child
ishly slight, with pale, lily-fair skin;
and while EleanOre was vivaciOus and
daring, Dora was shy and quiet.
And, strange to say, the one you
would deem least fitted TO cope with the
world was.the one whom circumstances
had compelled to do so from her earliest
youth.
The acquaintance between the two
girls began at school; and when Flea
nOre, leaving school days behind for
ever, came to her beautiful home, at her
urgent solicitation, Dora, whom she had
grown to love as tenderly as sister.
accompanied her.
The first month of vacation had passed,
and the second had been entered upon,
and Dora signs as she thinks how very
soon the time will have flown and this
delightful experience that has come to
her like an oasis in the mOnOtOnOus des-
ert Of her life will have ended.
And vet the roses Of pleasure have not
been entirely without the thOrns that
always accompany them.
Five weeks do not constitute a great
portion of time; but in them much may
happen, and they have sufficient implant
in DOra's gentle heart a something as
she knows it is hopeless. 49,
BY the terms of the deceased Mr..
Gray's will, his friend, Mark Eldridge,
q man many years younger than himself,
but possessing his utmost confidence,
Ioe< Of 10 Ior rfvpn
and guardian to his daughter.
" sees Mr.. Eldridge's genial handsome
face; and thus it is also that, in listen
ing to his fluent conversation, which
opens before her broad vistas of knOwl-
edge as we'll as entertainment, Dora
has come to think that not in all the
world is another so wise and good, as
worthy Of a maiden's love. ~it
But not hint Of the truth does she
suffer to escape, for she imagines
that she has read secret, and she Is not
surprised.
'She is so beautiful and intelligent,
it is no wonder that he loves her." she
muses., as she watches with feeling of
mingled admiration, tenderness, and
pain the guardian and his lovely ward.
The DAYS 90 by until one comes which
is long remembered.
1t has been stormy afternoon, and
with the gathering darkness the thun-
der begins to mutter menacingly.
SWeetbriar Cottage, as EleanOre's
pleasant home is called, is situated up
on slight elevation, whose foot iswashed
by narrow stream between which and
terra firma runs the railway.
From their position in the bOw-win-
dow, where they are watching with fas-
cinated eyes the phantasy of gloom rent
by lurid light which the storm presents
to their vision, the girls can see the line
up and down for some way.
Suddenly tremendous crash startles
them to their feet, and at the same in
slant lightning flash eliminates the
whole sky and surrounding objects.
EleanOre's face grows very pale as she
grasps her companions arm, and points
down upon the line.
"DOra, the great elm at the foot of the
terrace has been struck"
"See, it has fallen across the line"
"The seven o'clock express will be due
in half an hour. T 4
Dora, they will be wrecked, for the
curve will prevent them seeing the dan
ger before it is too late" ~4l
'Can we do nothing, Eleanore?" she
asks. -.
mo; for the nearest telegraph station
is across the river, and there Is no other
for five miles,"
ave crossed the river yesterday, Flea
nOre."
"Can we not do it nowp I am going to
try"
Eleanore gazed at her in surprise.
Dora Alton, you are crazy to think of
such thing.
ITO cross upon the stepping-stones in
fair weather Is quite different thing to
attempt in such storm as this.
1.-THE water is very Deep"
"a single false step, and your life
would pay the forfeit"
Nevertheless / shall try. - {st
sT know the way, and may be the
means of saving hundreds of my fellow
creatures from horrible fate.
"Don't try to persuade me, Eleanore;
: must CO."
terrified circumstances, Dora went
about her preparations firmly with a
look of determination upon her young
face that never faltered. At last she
was ready, and Elean0re strained her
2 small water-proof-clad figure close to
her heart.
Heaven protect you and keep you, my
: darling" said she sOlemnly.
"YOu 90 for duty's sake to brave a
danger that. feerless as l have always
deemed myself to be, would never dare
attempt.
B ~ love life too we'll to face what seems
certain death.
"Ah, I, too, love life," Dora said, as
1. she disengaged herself from her friends
cIinpinp arms, "but something draws