Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-07-03

But time waits not for miserable low.
ers more than for happier men, The
summer went by, and it CHANGED that ]
never once saw Vattle Somers' face un
til a certain day about Christmas.
During the hot weather | drove tc
my counting-room, but on the fine
winter days | preferred to walk. The
road lay along the edge of large
sheet of water called Swans pond
This by the middle of December was
frozen across.
But one morning l was rather late to
my business, and, wishing to make 2
short cut, | started to 90 across the
pond on the ice. | had proceeded but
half way across when the brittle sub
stance gave way and | was plunged
into the cold flood beneath.
At first | went under the ice, but
though | could not swim | struggled
back to the aperture and laid hold OF
the edge of the ice. 1t was thin, how.
ever, and kept breaking in my grasp,
and a numbnesS began to come over
me. felt myself grow pale and my
heart sank us | struggled.
Meanwhile | was half conscious of
shouts and confused voices. I did not
realize that they had any connection
with me, however until slender fig
ure in scarlet bounded like a roebucS
on the ice above and beside me. and at
the same moment a rope splashed into
the water.
My brilliant preserver was away like
the wind, but | had the means of escape
in my hands and | chung to the rope,
breaking the ice before me until was
drawn by unseen friends upon the
bank. Then dozen hands reached to
my assistance, and | found myself sur
rounded by crowd of men.
was in very exhausted condition.
They put me into carriage, and l be-
lieve it was Mr.. Somers' Tom who
drove home with me.
At any rate. it was Tom who assisted
in putting me to bed, and dosed meAwith
hot compounds until felt as if should
explode.
That will do, my good fellow, that
will do, | said, at last. Il can't drink
any more of anything just put away
that glass, if you please, and tell me
who it was that threw me the rope"
who should it be but Vattie Som
ers?" demanded Tom, who was but six
years from Cork. What other skater
is there in Bayswater like her? Sure
no man could have ventured on that
thin ice, and it was as much as her life
was worth to 90; but she did it-bless
her purity, flying feetr'
The hot tears came into my eyes. i
went to sleep very happy.
They kept me in bed two days, but !
got out of their hands on the third and
drove to the Three Elms.
Vattie faltered and turned a little
pale as she gave me her hand. But |
took both little hands, and drew her
aside, though Rose and Lilly were look
ing on wonderingly.
Darling it is very noble in you to
risk your dear life for a man you. de.
spise.n
But 1 do not despise you"
''For a man you dislike"
''But | do not dislike you"
''For a man you do not love-"
but | do love your sobbed Waite,
yielding to my embrace.
Then she tried to release herself and
talk of other things, but L had been
denied too long to permit this, and |
held her close. kissing lips and hands
and bonny hair.
Waite, why did you refuse me?"
Because | thought you were crazy
to ask me in such strange way, after
stunning me for six weeks. Why did
you do so, Aubrey?"
II was troubled about Mr. Louvois.
Lilly said you were to marry him.
That was only child's story. Mr..
Louvois has married my cousin, Mar
garet."
The rest of my happiness shall keep
to mySelf.-N. Y Weekly.