The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-11-15
the GREAT VERMONT STORY
THE RANGERS
THE TORY'S DAUGHTER.
BY JUDGE u. p. THOMPSON.
CHAPTER II-(Continued.)

canton he had received, and the warn
mo sounds, of which his senses nigh
have appraised him, had he paused {
moment to listen, he furiously applied
the whip, and plunged madly through
The water towards the middle ice. Blu,
as rapidly as he drove, the team haG
not passed over more than one thiro
If the distance across, before he and
all with him became fully aware of the
fearful peri they had SO recklessly
incurred for, at this critical moment,
with awful brunt, the mountain wave
If lev ruins came rolling round the
screening point into full view, and NOT
6fty wards above them. A cry OF
alarm Mt once burst from every occu
nant of the menaced vehicle and
Peters, no less frightened than the
rest suddenly checked the horses,
with the half formed design of turning
and attempting to regain the shore he
had lust left. But on glancing round,
he beheld. to his dismay, the ice burst
inward from its winter mornings along
the shore. leaving between them and
fine bank dark chasm of whirling
waters, over which it were madness to
think of repassing. At that instant,
with deep and startling report, the
broad sheet of ice combining the agitat-
ed river burst asunder, parted, and was
aAoat in hundred pieces around them.
Apothe, piercing cry of terror and
distress issued from the devoted
sleigh, and Miss Haviland, with an
involuntary impulse at the fearful
shock. laaped out on to the large cake
of ice on which the sleigh and horses
we're resting. She seemed instantly to
nerceiye her error but before she could
regain the sleigh, or even be
caught by the extended hands
of her friends, the frightened horses
made a sudden and desperate plunge
forward, and, with speed that could
neither be checked nor controlled,
dashed onward over the discovering
mass. leaping from piece to piece of
their sinking support, and each in
turn falling in, to be drawn out by his
mate, till they reached the shore, and
| rushed furiously up the bank, beyond
. the sweep of the dreadful torrent from
which they had SO miraculously es-
capped
20 God of heaven, have mercy on
my daughterr' exclaimed Haviland,
in piteous burst of anguish, as he
sprang out of the sleigh among the
company, who. with horror stricken
looks. stood on the bank mutely gazing
on the fast receding form of the luck
less maiden, thus left behind. to be
borne away, in all human probability,
to speedy destruction.
For a moment no one stirred or
spoke, all standing amazed, and seem
ngly paralyzed at the thought of her
awful position, having no hope of her
rescue, and expecting every instant to
see her crushed, or ingulfed among the
ice that was wildly heaving and
tumbling on every side around her.
But fortunately for her, the broad,
solid block, on which she had alight-
ed, and on which she continued still
to retain her stand, was, by the sub
merged and rising masses beneath,
gradually and evenly forced upwards
tq the top of the column. with which
It was moving swiftly down the cur
rent. And there she stood, like a
marble statue on its pedestal, sculp-
tured for some image of woe, her bon
net thrown back from her blanched
features, and her loosened hair stream
ing wildly in the wind, while one
hand was extended doubtfully towards
the shore, and the other lifted implor-
ingly to heaven, as if in supplication
HOr that aid from above, which she now
scarcely hoped to receive from her
friends below.
20 Sabrey, Sabrey! must you in
Iced perish?" at length burst convul-
lively from Miss McRea, in the touch
ing accents of distress.
Is there no help? Can no one save
ferr' added the agonized father.
Yes, save her-save her!' ex-
laimed Peters, now eagerly addressing
be men he affected SO to despise.
ant some of you get on the ice there,
nd bring her off? Five guineas to the
ban who will do it yes, ten! Quick
ul, run, or you'll be too late," he
dded, turning from one to another,
lthout Offering to start himself.
Throwing a look of silent scorn on
rs ccontemptible foe, WOODBURY., hav
lg been anxiously casting about him
thought for some means of rescuing
ie Inflated girl from her impending
comi now, with the air of one acting
ny on his own responsibility, hastily
\ 4lled on his companions to follow
I'm, and led the way, with rapid
\ rides, down along the banks of the
lealn' as near the main channel as
Y water and ice, already bursting
\ tr !he banks into the road, would
unit But although he could easily |
~ abreast of the fair object of his
Aeiy OF whom he occasionally OBJ
n nsu such glimpses through the
4 usnwood here lining the banks as to
Nv MIN that she still retained her |
,ilg on the same block of ice,
;" i ~ .s stlll continued to be borne on
u NJ 'he surrounding mass, yet he
su perceive no way of reaching
n uno earthly means by which she
ou oe snatched from the terrible
w lhai seemed so certainly to await
or along the whole extent of the
wing Ice, and even many rods in
;aace OF 1t, the water. damned up,
'U n, from the choked channel,
., susning over the banks, and
ny ss p,ug down by their sides in
u, :, 'iat nothing could withstand.
" aud to the almost utter
al S.sness with which he was COM
ba ~ view her situation, he now
sdG 10 be admonished that she
Immediately threatened by danger
snich she had thus far been SO
: Mi uuaily preserved that of being
i'oL Or swallowed up at once in
,ba Ice. He could perceive,
sra n, increasing connection of the
p rIInu her, that her hitherto level
f0 |ry ma'N support was growing
IUHeht more insecure and uncer.
Aei 1pu as 1t rose and fell. or was
M a., .orward and thrown aslant,
Dlv hanging volume. he could