Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-11-25

her, and Dora begins her perllous jour-
ney. N
"Come back, Dora, Dora, come backr'
calls Eleanor's voice from the terrace
above. .
But she does not heed.
Steadily she goes onward, but, oh, so
slowly! Oftentimes slipping, and on the
very edge Of falling into the treacherOus
water, whose inky blackness only seemed
the denser when, for al few seconds, the
glare Of the lightning shows her what
progress she Is making. !.
She has gained the center of the
stream. yl HAZE
Her slight form Is trembling with the
through her dripping garments, and the
to make to keep her footing upon the
slippery rocks. -
Will she be able to reach the other
side?
Bravely she struggles on. and at length
the goal is reached, end her feet touch
the other shore vi II ~
A short while later. the telegraph OPP
orator, leaning idly back in his chair in
his warm Office, Is startled by the en-
trance of small, dripping figure, look
ing, with its dishevelled hair and pallid
face like a visitant from some ghostly
sphere.
"A tree has fallen across the line OPP
pOsite Miss Gray's cottage. Telegraph
for the seven o'clock express to stOpp
Then, her mission accomplished, the
brave heart stops beating, and Dora
sinks unconscious to the floor.
Four weeks have gone by-weeks of
the most intense anxiety; for all that
time Dora had laid between life and
death.
But at last the shadows have lifted,
and out once more into health's sunshine
she has emerged, to the heartfelt joy of
the friends who have prayed for her re-
cOvery necessarily, even when they fear
ed their prayers would be of no avail.
1t is bright, pleasant day, though
somewhat chill, and in EleanOre's cosy
sitting-rOOm, in an easy-chair, near the
CHEEKY fire. Dora Is seated.
She looks very lovely, for the fire-glow
has lent delicate color to her pale cheek
and made into aureOle Of gold the short
waves of hair that cluster about her
forehead.
The door gently opens, and voice
says: o.,
1t is Mr.. Eldrige, and it is the first
time since her illness that Dora had seen
him.
The delicate color deepens as she re-
signs her hand to his clasp and answers
his words of greeting.
They chat for while; and then, to
DOra's great surprise, she learns what
she has not known before, that among
those who to her brave deed owed their
safety from death was her friends
guardian.
II asked EleanOre not to tell yOu," he
says, "fOr wished to thank you myself,
and at the same time to ask you ques-
ton most momentious to me.
"It is this,
Dora, will you make the life you have
saved more precious by laying that dear
hand on mine and saying that you will
be my wife?
"Ah, little onel my heart went out to
you the first time we met; but l little
hnew to what an extent my passion had
grown until the dark hour came when |
feared that death was about to snatch
you from me. ~,
Dora, what is my answer to be?"
Sand always thought 1t was Elean0re
you cared for" Dora says, as, a little
later, she sits with happy face, and her
little hand tightly clasped in her lovers.
80 do care for EleanOreAvery much;
but it is Dora, my heroic darling that
l wish for my wife-the guardian angel
of my heart and my home"
81 am more pleased than can express
is Eleanore's exclamation, when the
blissful secret is cOnfided to her.
Il do not believe that in all the uni
verse there is anyone nobler than my
guardian; and, Dora darling, you are
we'll mated, for nobility and herOism are
kindred qualities, and after what has
passed you can certainly never call your
self a coward.
Dora stOpped her mouth with kiss.