The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1894-05-19

Nina's lip curled, and a fash of an
noyance crossed her face.
"How absurd, mamma she exclaim.
ed, contemporary. "He is only a COW
boy!"
But why did the sweet face immedi-
ately soften again, and lovely crimson
wave tinge cheek and brow as she re-
called certain thrilling glances from a
pair of dark eyes' And why did the
little teacher murmur TO herself with
fierce delight as she quickly left the
room:
Mammals warning has come too late.
l know it! know itw
One beautiful Saturday morning in
April, Ward Cameron mounted his splen-
did horse, equipped with the heavy sad.
die trappings of the western plains,
including the lasso. What happened
can be better ascertained by perusing
this portion of letter written by him
to his friend Ross
II have just passed through an expe.
rience that would not have repeated
for the half of my fortune; an expert
ence which nearly cost my darling Nina
don't laugh, old fellow, for it came to
that long ago-her life. Early this
morning mounted Victor and started
for hunt, intending to be out all day.
Soon after noon became aware that a
storm was brewing, and Immediately
turned by horses head homeward.
81 had proceeded only short dis
lance when I was compelled to seek
shelter beneath the thick foliage of
gigantic oak. There l sat for three long
hours, watching with interest the pour
ing rain. At last the clouds broke away,
and found as rode along through the
forest, directing my course toward the
high road, that the freshet had forced
the creek, which in dry weather is a
mere rivulet, far beyond its banks.
suddenly there came louder than the
torrents roar, the sound of crashing
tim bers, mingled with a cry of distress.
Urging Victor on, soon witnessed a
blood in my veins.
The rushing waters had forced the
bridge that spanned the creek from its
hold, and borne it away upon the rapid
currents and Ross, imagine, if you can,
my feelings-but no, that would be i'm
possible-when l saw Nina Leighton
standing upon it,
"FortUnately my weekly explorations
Of that locality in search of game had
acquainted me with my surroundings
which, together with the discovery tina,
the railing on one SIDE of the bridge haC
been broken off, leaving single pos
standing, enabling me to quickly deter
mine upon course of action.
'As the bridge passed me l shouted
+" Courage, Nina! Cling to the rail
ing that remains, and will save YOU a.
the BEND
Then began the race for life. Will
the speed of deer my noble Victor
bounded along the bank, leaping owe,
fallen trees and di.ches. With ioy
; found upon nearing the bend that my
side of the creek was almost clear Of
trees, also that the currents strength
spent against the opposite bank.
Victor had won the race. Soon, how
ever, the bridge, with the slender form
of poor Nina standing like statue upon
it, her face the hue of death, her ewes
riveted upon me, swept by.
win catch the post with my lassc
and gallop along with you to the bend,
and be ready to draw the bridge ashore.
Brace yourself firmly called.
with whizzing sound my lariat cut
the air and settled around the post AS
we approached the bend l spurred Vic
tor forward, then, wheeling him sud
denly to the right of large tree, brought
him back on his launches. The noble
N fellow grandlY sustained the trial of his
strength as stronger and stronger came
the strain on the lariat until the head
dong course of the frail raft was en-
tirely checked. After grounding it and
securing the lasso, soon had the un-
conscious form of Nina Leighton safe
In my arms"
The rays of the setting sup fell upon
Nina seated near the parlor window
thinking of the terrible experience she
had passed through that afternoon, and
of the man who had saved her life, re.