Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13

skating with her companion IN the
most spirited manner, and presently
they halted near Stella to rest.
All at once the girl gave a sharp
cry, and put her hand to the fur collar
at her neck.
''Oh, l have lost my diamond PM"
she said in horror.
Miss Griffith" asked Felix Ashton,
preparing to retrace his steps.
II had it not more than quarter
of an hour ago, I'm sure. Oh, please
try and find it for me Mr.. Ashton
The young man darted away, hardly
needing those beseechful accents to
spur him on any behest of hers.
In few moments he returned, hold
ing up the treasure as he returned.
1T was not far away" he said. cit
must have fallen but a few minutes
ago, for it still lay unnotioed on the
Ice
..Oh, thanks!" Norma eried delight
edly. Il would not have lost it for the
world, for you know it was keepsake
from mamma and papa before they
left me for the first time in my life.
Stella, am I not fortunate?n
And she turned impulsively to the
friend who used to share and sympa-
thize with all her joys and secrets.
Stella stood looking at her with di
lated eyes and parted lips, the color
rapidly coming and going in her fair
face.
''You say your mother gave you the
pin?n she questioned in low tones.
Eyes; and papa! Why, didn't you
know? Oh, Mr.. Ashton! how can 1
thank you for finding it?n
Felix Ashton looked at her as if he
could tell her how, if he dared, and she
looked at him as they skated away to-
gether as if she might give him the OPP
portunity.
Stella skated slowly on by herself,
choosing that part of the lake least
frequented by the lovers of the excit-
ing exercise. She wished to be alone
to thread through the labyrinth of
thought that now distressed and con-
fused her.
The young girl was so deeply alb
sorbed that she had not seen Alan St.
Austin as he walked quickly along
the margin towards her, neither had
she heard the ominous cracking of
the ice under her feet.
Before he could call a word of warn
ing she had broken through, and was
at once in the icy water below.
She went under SO near the shore
that her rescue by her watching lover
did not take long, nor was it fraught
I, - Of
physique; but she was powerless and
almost unconscious when he stood
upon solid ground once more, and held
her in his arms.
She opened her eyes once to meet
his anxious ones.
'sAlan-forgive mer' she murmured,
then swooned quite away.
In a few days after the accident
Stella had quite recovered from the
shock of her ice-cold bath, and when
Alan, on the strength of the half-mur-
INJURED words which he had caught,
though they scarcely left her lips,
called to enquire for her, she met him
in the little parlor he knew so we'll.
She came forward with outstretched
hands; then checked the impetuous &C
ton and stood still,
you saved my life!n she said softly.
''How shall | express my gratitude for
such benefit?n
at is needless for me to say, Stella,
that [ want no thanks for that" he
said gravely. ITO have been able to
rescue you from danger is something
for me to be grateful for. But if you
feel that any reward is due, then tell
me why you sent me that cruel letter
that letter that made my life barren
and worthless, Stella. Why did you
wish to end our engagement? Why
could you not marry me?n
Her eyes were bent upon zoe floor;
her cheeks had grown very pale, and
her hands were tightly locked together.
''Alan," she said with sudden gasp
-'oh, Alan, it will seem so trivial to
you, SO small-minded and paltry! But
try to forgive me-pray do! Thought
that you had given that diamond pin
to Norma, and | could not bear to think
that you cared for any other girl so
much as that! | saw it in the jewel
er's and heard about the star, and /
was SO foolish as to fancy that-that
it was for met"
LIZ Iooh oIG dlilIh olL1ue dAu caught
her in his arms.
A veil seemed to have dropped from
his eyes, and he wondered at his own
blindness.
''Oh, you poor silly girlr' he said
with a laugh. "Why, the pin was or
dered for you, but when they told me
in the shop that you had expressed a
preference for this, why, of course, l
made the change"
And he took from his pocket the
chain he had meant to present on her
birthday.
cit is not my fault that it is belated,' y
he said with playful malice, as he
clasped it around the snowy throat
that pulsated under his touch. ''There,
darling. [ have chained you now!
You must never try to escape again.
And he bent and kissed the fair
slender neck.
81 deserve to be chained!' she said
with smiling lips. But l am will
ing captive!''
TANNING IN CHINA.
How the CelestiaIs Produce the Beautiful