West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-07-28

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or be swep; into HI iCe-c,!l waters VI
the lake
II was terrible prospect.
TIE remombrauce that we bad, in a
measure, brought this upon our own heads
increased It's bitterness Had we bu, ap.
prised any one Of cur route when we Oh
Verged from the usual track, we should
undoubtedly have been sought for 10 ca
noes, and most probably rescued; while,
as it was, the blind path by which we
turned off to the shore would pat them all
at fault. The bfidegrOonI's self re
proacbes were keenes,, for he felt him
self the destroyer of the bride so lately
committed TO bis care; wnilo the poor
girl wept in rtt,I abandonment OF spirit,
not only for the blgbtiug Of her bright
hopes and the yourg life she must render
up, but For the sudden parting from the
beloved ones che should never see again.
The moon rcse in the deep blue sky.
making night beautiful and flooding our
Ice craft with its silyory light. quiyering
in broken rays on tho broad llko which
now rolled in waves around u, aud shin
ing ike glory on the distant Mills, Civ
ing MS one more glance at earth.
The cold vgs becoming intense. The
Wind. straight from the frozen North,
swept over the lakes 10 gusts, and seemed
to pierce us like arrows; and though
wrapped in heavy eleigh furs, and crouch
ID NIL 10 4
scarcely endure the rigor of the night;
and worse than all, our fair companion
had to share these hardships, with no pro-
lection save the most sheltered corner of
the sleigh and the wariucst wrapper
Yet sac never murmured.
Day at length broke on this long nigh,
of misery. The current Of the lake had
swept US out Of sight OF the land.
We told ourselves we bad no hope of
rescue, yet long and anxiousIy we
watched the circling horiz n for some
sign of coming aid, and il was with deep.
er dependency we discovered that as far
AS the eye could reach there was nothing
but lake and sky, save on the spot come
five mjles distant, where hoated frug
ment of our raft, which, cracked from the
commencement, had parted during the
night, bearing away with ii both cur
horses. And as the day wore Oh asother
hardship was added, that of hunger.
Since the preceding morning we had eaten
nothing, and our long exposure made the
want sorely felt. Though many birds
flew over the lake, not one came within
reach of our rifles.
Two days passed, aud no ords can
tell the intensity of our sufferlngs as we
floated on our frozen prison each hour
| served 10 augment our misery, ard when
! the third day broke upon us, cold and ex-
haustion were fast doing their york, and
we lay helplesely in the corners Of the
sleigh. But the young bride still bore up.
whether it was the unbroken vigor of
her youth sustained her, or that marvel
| Gus endurance of her sex which has so
often carried thtm through wreck and
tempest, L know not, but she was still
comparatively strong, and while she drew
our covering closely around us, she ear
Mostly entreated us still 10 hope and trust
l began TO think with horror that a
time would shortly come when the an
happy girl weuld be left alone upon the
ice.
Thus another night closed.
As the hours passed, furious storm
arose upon the lake, lashing It's waters
toto foamipg pillows, which dashed
sgains; our raft, tossing it wildly among
the waves; clouds black es ink rolled
over the sky. Our hunger was succeeded
by Tae'ne pains almost beyond endurance.
II was well nigh maddeniDg, and many
times as we eat covering within the sleigh
listening to the rushing of the waves, did
we pray that they would overwhelm our
raft at once and end our misery AT
length this desire seemed granted. There
was ufdcn crash AID a violent concus-
sion, as though we had struck upon a
lock, and the pillows beat and roared
more loudly than ever. But we could
distinguish nothing. While We waited ,
the dawn crcpt slowly over the sky. and
cur indomitable bride, sprineing up, ut
tered cry of joy. Before u.s. rising in
the hills ADD vaieys, lay the snow.clad
land, and against its icy border our craft
was tightly moored.
The gale had driven US back to The
shore Of The lake, and thus saved our
livJs.
Net far Oft the ascending smoke an
nounced dwelling, but We had not the
strength to reach it, so we fired our rifles,
a signal which quickly brought the inhab-
itants TO the shore. They proved to have
been members Of the late wedding frolic
aod nothing could exceed their estonish
ment and jJy OF our discovery. Every
possible care and kIudBess was layished
upon ne, and We soon recovered from the
effects OF our ''Three Wild Nights."
The Prince of remedies for rheumatism
is ~. Jacobs Oil. We have seen It tried.