The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1902-01-18

CRAIGIE'S POND?"
knowledge Of it's character. The ice be-
meath them gave forth a sound like n
gasp. Ripley. who was skating back
ward. felt himself sinking. In the
flash of time that was allowed him
and with the last effort Of which he
was capable he put his strength upon
Gertrudc's hands, throwing her to one
side, in the direction of the shore.
She did not fall, and by miracle she
escaped the break in the ice. Ripley
went through and into the water, head
and heels, but he rose in the break by
great good fortune and to his unspeak-
able joy beheld Gertrude safe.
"Keep back" he called to her. I'm
get out all right. Go ashore."
She stood just where she was. facing
him and trembling so that he could see
her quake. She uttered some faint.
strange cries, in the nature of prayers.
perhaps. and certainly not loud enough
to be heard except in heaven. But she
neither fled nor came TO the rescue, as
he had feared she might.
Any one who has ever tried to get out
of hole in thin ice will realize Rip
lcys position. The first efforts are
indescribably eXhausting, and black
despair comes quickly on the heels of
them.
The ice broke before him, and long
cracks stretched out ahead. They
stretched toward Gertrude, and he
cried out to her in horror to save her.
self, but she stood stock still. For his
life he would not risk involving her in
his own peril. and he turned aside.
Then, by the interpositon of Provi-
Gencc. he came upon long fence rail
frozen into the ice. 1t gave him n hold
for his hands and lent little stability
to the crumbling edge. Ripley was Il
light man and phenomenally agile:
moreover, he was one whom danger
makes calm. He had Il chance for his
life, and he made the most of it. In
three seconds he was lying fiat upon
the ice outside the break.
With great caution he got upon his
feet and struck out toward Gertrude.
The ice cracked under him. Craigip's
pond was showing what it could do.
Come" he cried. seiZing the girls
hand. The whole ponds breaking up!
WHAT'S the mattcr:"
"My-my knees" gasped Gertrude.
"They-they tremble sou
The poor child was experiencing one
Of the many strange phenomena of
fear. Her soul acknowledged no panic
but she could not put forth one foot
beyond the other to save her life or
even to save his. AS he paused besid"
her she began to sink down. and the
ice cracked around them with the soft
ly menacing voice of doom.
He put his right arm around her
and the ice groaned under them. For
the next few seconds it seemed to him
that he was skating on water rather
than ice. He knew that with this bur
den he could never reach the shore: he,
knew that to sink with her was the
end for both of them. And then the
black top of that strange rock called
the "smokcstack" seemed to start up
under his eyes His right skate cut
clean through. He stumbled. recovered
himself and stood gasping on the rock
with Gertrude in his arms.
He set her upon her feet and. holding
her by the shoulders, looked into her
face with an excellent imitation of n
smile
"Well, Miss Allen" said he. "how do
you like Craigie's pond?"
The manner of this singular question
went far toward calming her, and the
rock under her feet lent tirmness to
hcj)limbs,
}Was there ever anything so awfulw
slF cried.
(lSlnce you don't seem to like it." he
y Siped, Il suggest that we so ashore"
Son't dare" said she, with n shud-
F'and | can't. l haven't the
Fhgth."