Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-03-20

that the boat was safe"
so did No boat was ever more
safe and sound captain"
Then what had happened TO lt?'
he cried. angrily.
That is what no man can tell,
captain. If you have it raised out OF
the lake you will learn. | cannot
understand it"
so it was Major Norton who
saved her life?" he said, with Iii
evil look.
Yes, captain. But for the major
the young lady would have been
drowned. certainly"
Il am grieved to hear of your &C
cident, Angela" said the captain
when he met her an hour afterward.
She raised her eyes wistfully to his.
1T is strange" she remarked,
gently. That is the second narrow
escape l have had from death"
But the strangest circumstance
was tina the captain would not allow
the boat 20 be raised from the depths
Of the lake
1T was 50 very nearly being a
coffin" he said, that | should never
like to see 1t used again"
CHAPTER XxxVlII.
Three days after the boat accident
Angela stood alone in her room. She
had not yet ceased to wonder at the
strangeneSs of her misadventure, but
no solution OF the mystery came to
her The captain refused to have the
and every one else who spoke to MIN
about it strongly advised to have it
done.
you ought to know what was
wrong" the major said. Life is far
too precious to be sacrificed in such
a way. If the fault lies with those
who repaired the boat, they ought to
be reprimanded for it; if with Jones,
he ought to be dismissed. You take
it far more COOlly than | should"
The captain seemed very impatient
during his friends harangue.
1T would be a waste of time and
labor TO have the thing raised" the
captain replied, for | should never
allow it to be used again. | hate The
very thought Of it."
1t might have been the majors
fancy, but it certainly seemed to him
that, instead of being grateful to him
for the service he had rendered, the
captain grew cooler to him from thai
time forth.
Angela was as much perpleXed as
ever regarding the cause of the &c
Cident. But she had not seen a
silent figure creeping down the stairs
at night, cropping in the darkness,
christening doors with stealtny
hand, passing out OF the house and
through the grounds, down to the
boat-house She had not seen The
bOat-hOuse door carefully closed, and
lantern produced and lighted.
She had not heard the mufTled sounds
that might have proclaimed the
treacherOus deed.
The captain had calculated to :,
nicely how long the nails would hold
how long the loOsened plank would
be before it gave way and allowed
the water to rush in and overwhelm
the trail craft.
the faintest suspicion Of the truth.
She was restless and uneasy concern
ing the mishapS which had so nearly
terminated her existence Danger
and death seem to pursue me-" she
said to herself. Why should it be
so?
There was faint knock at the door.
and Jane Felspar, her faithful OLD
nurse. came in.
Are YOU alone. my dear?" she
asked, Il want to talk to you
Come IN. nurse | am glad to
see you. said Angela; for. although
fashionable lady's maid had in
some measure taken old James place
no one to Angela was like this faith
1ul woman. She had nursed her TAI"
young mistress through her infancy
and childhood. and she wOrshiped her
now as one of the most lovely an
perfect OF women. She had been in
great trouble and distress about ner
young mistress, and. with the SUR
instinct OF love. she felt there was
danger near her.
May | stay and talk to you. Miss
Angela" she asked Il am not
happy about YOU. my dear. I do not
like TO be always hearing that You
have been in that accident and the
other.
Il must be more careful. dear
said the girl.
You are careful" returned the old
woman; 1t is not your fault. l have
my thoughts and my fears. but /
hesitate to tell them to you"
You may tell me anything. nurse"
she said. gently
Perhaps it is cruel of me-" Mrs.
Felspar went on, and perhaps it is
unjust Still cannot help it.
Something bids me speak, and l must
speak. My dear" she continued,
forward and whispering into
ear-'my dear, do YOU
think the captain has any motive for
wishing you desd?"
The captain" cried Angela, III
No. certainly not.
My death would make no difference
to him
You are quite sure, dear?" per
sisted the nurse.
I am quite sure of it" she an
swered. My death would not affea;
him in the least. He would neither
lose nor gain by it