The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-08-10
TIE BIG SPRING TRAGEDY

summer resorts. before great hotel
and railroads had been built within
its borders and the tide Of summe
travel had turned in that direction
But the beautiful lakes and bubblin2
springs Were there and made stately
avenues about them that We're NOR,
beautiful than the roads of ciyiliZa
ton has since built.
Down one Of these stately natura
avenues, through an interminablt
grove of oak openings, four people
were riding on horseback at the time
Of the opening of my story They
made pretty picture as they rode
leisurely along, the two girls in jaunty
hats and scarlet velvet jackets, the
two young men dressed, one in an In
dian hunting suit and the other in {
handsome travelling suit
Have you seen the big spring yet p
asked Irma Huntley, turning hall
round in her saddle to address the
young man behind her.
NO. / have not" answered Claude
Winslow; SIS it worth seeing?"
"Yes, indeed" answered both girls
Lets go down to it, Oscar" said
Irma to the dark young man at her
side.
'sThis way then" he answered, and
turning his horse he led the way
along a narrow COW path that left the
oak grove shortly and went down q
small hill into a tangled growth OF
hazel bushes, which grew almost as
tall as their heads, as they sat on
their horses.
Oscar parted the bushes carefully
and then held them back with his
riding whip for the fair girl behind
him to pass, while Claude Winslow
did the same for Miss Dora Silvery,
his companion. For some distance
they picked their way along this mar
now path with an occasional word or
two passing between them. Then the
path led into more open space where
they again rode side by side. They
cantered along for some distance un-
til they came to a large oak tree stand
ing on the edge OF an acre or two of
open marshy ground.
We'll have to leave our horses
here" said Oscar, dismounting and
tying his own horse to an overhang
ing branch of the trees. He then as
sisted Irma to alight, and soon all
four We're on their way across the
marsh, still following the cow-path.
How beautiful" exclaimed Win
slow. suddenly. as his eyes fell on a
clear pool Of water some 15 or is feet
in diameter and so deep that the suns
rays gave it bright blue color
THAT is the spring" said Miss Sill
very, and in minute more they We're
by its side and peering into its depths
The sides and bottom of the spring
were of white sand The surface was
still and as clear as glass, so that they
could plainly see to the bottom, where
the sand was boiling and rolling as
the water came up from some hidden
reservoir below.
Oscar went to tree near by anC
took down q pail and rope, kept there
for the purpose, and letting it down
to the bottom of the spring allowed
SIduCie W lluN IL up otLINt IItCdolt1C llF
depth. which he found to be Is feet.
Letting the pail down again with ;
weight in it Oscar succeeded after
some minutes in sinking it in the
boiling sand at the bottom.
Nov pull that out" he said tc
Winslow, with a quiet smile on his
somber face.
My said Claude after two OF
three Intellectual attempts; 1.-The sue
ton is strong, isn't it?' If that sand
should once get a grip on mans
body he'd never get out, would he?"
Il should say not" answered New
love, then with a dexterous fling Ol
the rope he moved the pail to one
side and soon brought it to the sur
face loaded with pure white sand OF {
peculiarly fine quality.
Winslow put some Of the sand into
an old envelope to carry home for {
specimen, thea the party returned tc
their horses and We're soon riding un
der the stately oaks on their way bacl
to the little frontier town Of SOdOm
That isn't the name given to the qule
country place which to-day occupie:
its site, But the quiet country place
was then noisy frontier town and It's
riots and wickcdness was so great tha
it was known throughout southern
Wisconsin as ''SOdom."
As they rode along Irma kept turn
ing in her saddle and addressing
Claude Ninslow with questions ant
merry rejoinders, sometimes accom-
panied with a soft look that woulc
have thrilled less susceptible hear
than his. But each time that sh'
turned to speak the dark face of Osca
/ NewlOve grew darker. and his sOmbe
/ manners grew more somber, yet ht
! preserved that stolid demeanOr h'
was said to have inherited from In
! dian ancestors.
Arrived at the little wooden hotel
where a swinging sign gave informa
ton that it was the Huntley house, til,
two youg girls repaired to their room
to change their dresses, while th
young men went to the stable witt
the horses.
You had better take care, Irma,
sad Dora, as they We're arranging
their toilets; Oscar viii get jealou
if you firt too much with Mr.. Win
slow"
Il don't care if he does. he'll ge
over it, answered the dark-eye
beauty with toss of her head
Does Mr. Winslow know that yo
are engaged to Oscar?"
Il haven't told him."
! You ought to, Irma: you know b
| is half in love with you now. l too
care to let him know that l was Ell
gagged when he first came
"Oh, you honest little thing. you
You never have any fun"
I am afraid that your fun wi
bring trouble. They say that Osca
Newlove has Indian blood in his vein
There is no knowing what he migl
do in this lawless country if his jea
ousy were once aroused.