The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-06-26
PUT TO THE TEST.

PUT TO THE TEST.
A very merry ard well-assorted par
ty, consisting chiefly of young people
| of both sexes, was one bright winters
morning assembled at Grey stone Tow
ers, the country abode of Mrs. Ashton,
a retired banker, whose only daughter,
Lillian, governed his house, and bright
ened it with her fair young presence.
Among the guests at the Towers was
one who followed every movement of
its mistress with longing gaze, but de-
spair in his heart Harry Graham had
but lately returned to England, after
an absence of five years in Australia,
cherishing secret hope that Lillian,
who was only sixteen when he left,
would be found there, and without
either husband or a lover.
Before he went away Harry had not
breathed a single word of love to Lii
ian Ashton. He thought her too young
to be spoken to in regard to a matter
that so intimately concerned her future
| welfare; and as for starting a court
ship by means of letter-writing when
! he was so far away from her, he had
too much sense for that.
"Too late! Too later' were the
words that were whispered into his
thoughts Immediately after his return
to his old home, to learn that Lillian
was already engaged to young man
who had been one of his early asso-
ciates, although for some reason, they
had always been rivals rather than
friends.
But, of course, it was impossible for
Lillian to have known, or even sus-
| pected, anything of that sort, for that
hope, so fondly and deeply cherished,
had been guarded with the utmost
care. and by no word or breath had
his disappointment been limited to any
one.
1--WE are making up skating party,
to-day. Will you join us, Graham?"
The invitation was given by half-a-
dozen young men, among them George
Bertram.
II don't think it is safe to 90 on the
quiet reply. II hope you are not go
ing to take any ladies with YOU"
''1ndeed we are!' was their gay and
careless answer. zone for each of US;
and we will find one also for YOU"
An hour later, skating party rushed
| down on the ice, and were soon whirl-
ing and pirouetting in every direction.
Meantime, Harry was standing near
the bank of the river, observing their
performances with deep interest, and
yet with some anxiety and concern.
He knew there mad been heavy rains
up the river, and he had observed q
gradual swell of the ice, and he be-
lieved it was liable to break suddenly
at any moment, and with little or no
warning.
II wish I had come home year
ago." he mused; Il am sure l could
have wooed and won Lillian; and !
know she would have loved me better
than she will ever love George Ber-
| tram"
And yet on these emotions and
thoughts the young man imposed q
firm restraint, and inwardly resolved
that by no word, look or act would he
ever jeopardize her happiness, by per-
uniting her to discover or have reason
to suspect that he had ever felt for her
any special or personal interest.
Wild and frenZied screams were
rending the air, as in quick and rapid
succession, nearer and still nearer,
came terrific rumbling and roaring
as if a thousand pieces of artillery
were being simultaneously discharged.
The river had broken, and an immense
avalanche of ice was rapidly descend
ing. Already the very surface on
which the skaters were few moments
before SO gaily disporting themselves
was breaking and parting, and the hap
less victims were clinging to the frag-
ments.
Instantly snatching q boat-hook that
CHANGED to be lying near where he
stood, Harry Graham bounded from
one broken fragment to another. His
eye was fixed on one object, and he
saw nothing else, except with such
hastv glances as aided and directed his
movements.
On single piece of ice, broken and
separated, and moving rapidly down
the now rushing current, stood the
form of that one whose gay and happy
movements he had been watching with
so much interest few minutes before.
Standing there alone, with out-stretch-
ed arms, he saw Lillian Ashton, implor-
ing that aid which, though now appar-
emily impossible, could alone rescue
her from certain and inevitable death.
To hurriedly reach the ice-foat that
was carrying Lillian, alone and un-
protected, and which was liable to be
crushed in pieces any moment, obliged
Harry to spring from one broken piece
to another until more than half the
broad stream had been crossed. He
struck the float with his boat-hook,
and then with one last, desperate
bound, stood-where shall we say? At
her side?
But where was George Bertrand? At
the first crack of the ice he had sprung
like frightened antelope. and as the
third bound was safe on the shore
He saw his beloved Lillian rush to the
arms of her rescuer, and a strange
paug shot through his heart, or at least
through that part of his body where
his heart, if he had one, would have
been located. Was it an emotion of
intense joy?
Within the next hour the river was
clear; and to return Lillian to her home
and parents, safe and we'll, was an
easy and pleasant part of the days
performance. George Bertram was
soon there, of course, as lover should
be, to congratulate his dear Lillian on
her fortunate escape, and to express,
also, to Harry Graham, his grateful ac-