Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-02-05
Continued.

maintained IOOLlng Cner6 more
than thirty seconds; but these twp
women were fighting for dear life, and
their blood was burning at fever heat;
and they managed, almost miraculous
Iy, to creep, crawl, drag themselves up
ward, and still upward
Below them roared the angry waves,
as if with hooking rage at their at
tempts to escape its voracious nav;
about their heads whirled the gulls,
screaming shrilly, weirdly. Even now
and then a stone, displaced by their
feet, rolled and sprung from point 10
point and ultimately bounded into the
gulf below them; and each time Leslie
felt that in moment she, too, would
be bounding and falling, like the
stone, to that hideous death.
For some minutes neither spoke.
They could hear each others breath
coming in thick, labored gasps; and
Leslie, who was in front, now and
again felt her companions breath
striking like that of hot furnace up
on her neck.
Keep on! hold Tight" she heard
her say presently. Keep your eyes
up. The path is broadening. Tiff
we can hold On another minute or two
or year, for that's what it seems
hke-we're saved!"
Leslie could not reply; her tongue
cleaved to the roof of her mouth; her
lips, dry and stiff, would not move.
But still, as she climbed, her hearts
voice murmured, 'Yorke, Yorke!"
and she drew courage from it. 1t was
worth fighting for, this life of hers
the life which his love had made so
precious, so beauteous. If she lived
she would be his wife His wife! Yes,
she would live! She would fight on
while there was breath in her body,
while there was strength in her fingers
to clutch an inch of even the moss on
the cliffs surface.
For such moments time is not. 1t is
swallowed up in the agony, the sus-
pense, the mingled hope and despair
which rack and wiring the heart and
brain.
She scarcely knew how long they
had been making that awful journey
through the Valley of the Shadow of
Death, scarcely realized that they
were saved, when she saw the edge of
the cliff just beyond her, and with
one great effort raised herself above
it-abOve it!-and threw herself up
on the level ground, gripping the
short turf with her hot fingers, as if
she dreaded something would drag her
back again and hurl her into the sea,
awful whose voice doomed family in
her ears. She lay thus for mo-
ment or two, her companion lying on
her elbow, painting, beside her. Then,
with a great sob, Leslie rose to her
knees and poured out her heart in
thanksgiving to Him who had restored
her to life and to Yorke.
The woman stood and eyed her, with
a pale face and half-lowered lids.
Where are WEI" she said, at last.
Leslie rose and turned to her with
both hands outstretched.
ooh, what can l say-how can
thank your she exclaimed, in great
agitation. 'You have saved my life!"
The woman wiped her lips and
forced a smile.
That's a rum way of putting it"
she said,her voice shaking little. IF
l did, you saved mine first. 1t was
a narrow squeak for both of u.s." She
looked round almost impatiently.
Where are we?"
where are WEI" she repeated. q
| want to get back to London as soon
as l can. 1--we been out of my mind,
think, and this-this affair has pulled
me round. Don't you take any notice
of what l said abOut-about him
the man l spoke of. l don't believe
I've lost him, after all. l can get
him back" She laughed discordant-
ly,-and flushed, as if half ashamed of
the new hope that the escape from
death had seemed to give her Hes
-e's no worse than the rest. They're
all alike-easily taken with a new
face. And-and know he likes me.
He was sorry for going directly after
he'd left me, and-Yes'' she
pushed the black hair from her face
yes, I'll bet my life get him back"
Leslie looked at her, with smile OF
sympathy and encoura cement.
Yes" she said 81 hope so-ah, 1
hope so. 1t was dreadful to see you
and hear you when we were-down
there" and she glanced, with a shud-
der. at the edge of the cliff.
Yes; I was pretty low then" said
the other. 1T was a hard fight,
wasn't it? You and l ought to be
friends; but'-she paused, and looked
hard and almost shyly at Leslie's
face-"but perhaps you wouldn't care
for that. You're a lady, swell, l
can see that; and well. Am not
fit"
Leslie put out her hand to stop her.
oil lilo that NOW