The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-08-22

shudder; Il was so venturesome, and L
remember feeling awfully scared as 1
was going down. L suppose my par
ents will never get done scolding me
about it. It's nicely romantic, though,
isn't it? And you've happened along
Just in time to rescue mel"
''You are not quite rescued yet, Miss
Ada" smiled the amused hunter.
"But l shall be, Mr.. -"
Randolph"
81 shall be, Mr.. Randolph, of course.
You are not going to miss the reward
father offered for meP"
"If save you, Miss Ada, it will be
for yourself and not for the pecuniary
reward"
as papa worried?" she asked.
Naturally.
"And mammal"
"Is, of course, frantic"
"How thoughtless it was of me! Oh,
dear, am always doing the most unex-
pected things, and utterly without pre-
meditation, / assure you"
81 can readily believe" laughed Ran
dolph, "that you did not mean to fall
such distance"
"No; but, really, it didn't hurt me a
bit, though 1 shouldn't care to try it
over again"
81 should think not!"
Randolph was divided between de-
sire to laugh and admiration of her
wonderful GOODNESS. Though she had
escaped death by what was little short
of miracle, she appeared to look upon
the adventure as something wonderful
ly jolly.
Sba DooroJ oI-o1 into tho ,,o1,1,l-v ST. r.
nant water below.
"Not pleasant pool to bathe in, she
remarked, with shiver that was more
coquettish than genuine. 81 am very
glad, indeed, that fell short of it"
$50 am l, murmured Randolph.
"Why should you carep" she demand
ed, archly. ut would have saved you
the annoyance and inconvenience OF
this descent
'No; for l should have gone into the
water after you, if you had been so un-
fortunte as to have taken the plunge; but
permit me to observe that your parents
will be greatly. worried. 1t is time that
we began our ascent"
But isn't that going to be terrible
awkward?" she asked
POSSIBLY, for you, but for me it will
be the height of delight. am going
to take you in my arms-there is no 9th
er way. And now l will try to explain
to you how we are to accomplish olr
temperance in the world"
Ada readily assented to every sug-
gestion of her deliverer, and when he
did swing off with her, and she waved
her arms to those above, they could
hardly credit their senses, and the ex-
citement became intense.
just at that moment, when every
heart was beginning to bound with hope
"a voice shrieked out in horror:
"Oh, they're lost! See, the rope here
is parting!"
The rope, passing under sharp edge
of Stag, had been cut almost in two by
the long, heavy swing back and forth,
and now seemed to hold only by frail
strand or two, which the gay girl :was
fearfully straining by her joyous mo-
tions, waving her arms, kissing her
fingers and calling merrily TO those
above.
''For heavens sake, keep quiet,
shouted down Mortified voice. "The
rope here is parting. In another mo-
ment you may be plunged to DEATH"
"What does he mean, Mr.. Randolphe"
queried Ada.
"That by our swinging on this rope it
is nearly cut in two, and any motion of
ours may part it, Don't scarcely
breathe"
"Then there's danger yet?"
Fearful danger. Miss Ada"
Her features paled, and she remained
silent.
Eager, trembling hands were now at
work above, stretching over the edge
of the crater, securing another rope to
the one that was cut.
For the few moments it took to do
this there was an almost breathless,
gasping silence And when it was COM
pleted, and the rope slowly pulled up
by eager hands till the main one could
be secured, there was a general groan
of relief.
1t turned out that Randolph was the
son of a distinguished clergyman and
was himself a college student, off on his
vacation, and the peer of any whose
acquaintance he had thus singularly
formed.
That romantic Ada Wilded should
fall in love with George Randolph as
her delivering knight seems only nat
ural, and that he should respond in
kind and subsequently make her his hap
Ply bride is nothing like so wonderful
the crater of volcano and saved he1
life at the peril of his OWN Y.
Journal.