Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-03-03

treacherous spot. Il shall not let
woman drown if l can save her.
He fastened away; but he soon
found that Benson's statement was
correct. The ice was thin and crack
ing in all directions near the Willows
Then. as he drew nearer the bend,
he saw a great hole in the ice, and
he knew that Miss Rooden had fallene
through. 1t seemed impossible to
save her. even should he reach the
spot and plunge in after her; he saw
nothing but death for her and death
for himself. While he lived Squire
Arden never forgot the unutteraple
agony of that brief moment. But, like
true Englishman, he did not fear
death when there was the life of an
other at stake. All the courage, the
daring, the bravery of his race rose
within him. He skated as far as he
could along the ice, then crashed
through it and made a determined
plunge into the chilling waters. There
was a. prayer on the young fellows
lips as he made the plunge, but it was
not for himself.
Presently the captain approached
the spot. There was no one to be
seen.
A guilty thrill ran through every
nerve. There was a minute of intense
emotion. during which it seemed TO
him that the blue wintry sky met the
CLASSY ice of the pool-a minute IN
which he said to himself with a fierce
throb of exultation, Drowned" A
lifetime seemed to pass in that brief
interval, while the wind bore thou
sand voices to him crying exultantly-
e'Drowned!" There surged through
his brain a wave of almost dellr1ous
delight; at that moment, in the pres
ence of death almost, Captain Wyn-
yard saw wealth, freedom and Gladys
Rane within his reach.
Then his quick eyes detected
movement in the water at some little
distance from him. The ice was
broken near the willow trees, and it
was there that he saw something
struggling. He could not reach the
spot from where he stood; but he
could skate to the nearest bank, and
hasten thither by land. When he
reached the bank he tried to take OH
his skates. Was it the trembling OF
his hands or the reluctance of his will
that prevented his doing so quickly!
Was it fear that made his face grow
CHASTITY, his eyes lose all their light!
Before he reached the spot he saw
vigorous arm breaking the thin ice
that barred the way; then an almost
exl austed voice called out to him for
assistance. Immediately afterward he
saw Squire Arden strike out boldly for
the bank, bringing with him the droop-
ing figure of Angela Rooden. Another
moment of fearful suspense passed,
and then Squire Arden cried out
again, and the captain fastened to
him.
Us she dead" he gasped out
"dead?"
They laid the unconscious girl on
the bank. The squire placed his hand
over her heart, and the captain, una
BILE to utter a word, watched him with
wild, inquiring eyes.
"She is not dead; can feel a faint
beating of the heart!" cried Squire
Arden. ''Have you any brandy?
Why did he hesitate to answer
Eyes" and bring out the flask of sill
yer and crystal that had been one OF
his wife's first gifts to him?
SQUIRE Arden cried out again impa-
tiently:
"Have you any brandy"
Yes. the captain had some; and the
squire snatched it from his hand and
held it to the white lips closed as IL
in death.
"She is reviving!" he cried. THANK
heaven, she lives!
At that moment Lady Bell, who had
fastened to the bank and then mace
her way along the edge, came quickly
to Angela's assistance. A cry OF pain
and fear fell from her ladyship when
she saw the silent figure on the grass.
She knelt down by her friends SIDE
and did everything she could TO re-
store circulation; while the two men
stood by, one hoping that the talr
young girls life might be spared, the
other as earnestly hoping for her
death. Then, after little time, TO
the unspeakable joy of Lady Bell ana
the squire, Angela opened her eyes.
"You have saved her life, squire!
cried Lady Bell, enthusiastically.
"You have acted bravely!"
II simply did what any man would
do-what I would do again twenty
times over if necessary" said the
squire; and both his listeners thought
his voice was broken with emotion.
After a few moments of bewilder-
ment, Angela spoke.
ct seems" she said, slowly, las
though l have been dead, and have
come back to life"
"You lost consciousness, Miss Rood
en- said the young squire, kindly.
L -