Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-07-19


IN THE DUSK HE PASSED HER.
had given back his ring and he had
gone off In dudgeon, leaving her with
the afternoon on her hands They had
planned to skate to Riverdale. five
miles up the river; have supper there
and skate back by moonlight. Now it
was all spoiled and she must skate
alone.
She was fond of the ice, and the
swift motion and the bracing air soon
put her In n more pleasant frame of
mind Perhaps she had been hasty in
giving back the ring, bat then 1t is not
every day that one is elected the presi-
dent of the literary club. and he might
at least have congratulated her upon
her victory over Nettie Doran.
She had been so eugroSSed with her
thoughts that il was with surprise that
she found she had entered the cut"
more than two miles from the landing.
Here the river ran between steep bluffs
for three-quartcrs of n mile, and she
shuddered a little as She glanced at the
cliffs on either side. She never had
noticed it before, but now they seemed
so black and forbidding.
She was still glancing up as her skate
struck bit Of wood frozen Into the
ice. and with n cry she sank to the
CLASSY surface She struggled to her
feet. but with another little moan she
sank To one knee; she had sprained her
left ankle
Several times she cssayed to rise, but
each time Eer ankle hurt her more, and
finally she GcsiStcd and crcpt on hands
and knees q the bank Perhaps some
Of the others would take it into their
heads 20 skate up and they would give
her help. IT no one came she would
try To creep back after she had rested.
But after Iu hour she gave up hope
OF help coming. She was so numb sue
could scarcely move. She began to cry
softly If she could not get to the
lower end Gf the cut, where she might
attract atteltjon Of some one on shore,
she might freeze 10 death.
With infinite labor She crawled few
feet. but she had to give up and sit
down again Perhaps they might miss
her at the landing and remember that
she had gone up the river They would
send out a searching party for her. 1t
might be an hour or more before she
could hope for help but the idea
brought her some comfort, though ii
did not check the flow of tears
Then her quick ear caught the wei
come sound of the ring Of steel on the
hard Ice and she tried 70 struggle TO
her feet
Around the bend above Tom Runyon
came with powerful strokes. He was
looking straight ahead, and in the dusk
he passed her. Before She could gain
suddenly ana turned In a flash he
was at her side. knecling before her
Whats the matter, dearf" he asked.
Are you hWtt'
'I've spralned uy ankle" she sobbed,
and I'm tired ard cold and hungry,
and IT hurts am awful lot. I'm so mis-
c.ablc"
"IIow long hayc You been here?" he
asked
"IIuurs." she m.annd. 1T seems like
days AMI IT.. So Sack and lonesome"
Poor rfHr nI"" he said tcnderly.
IN soon have You out Of il. I'll skate
down u the landing and borrow
sled"
She IRA sped f.: coat if, terror. Don't
leave ucr' .a pleaded 81 think
would go craer""
1t w..f .r.e .rIy ten minutes or
So" be ar nnl. n~t she kept n convul.
sf., bo,l urop d.. cont proeort,. q,
i,i..., .y,r,,.l. Iiu,
..r,,,. in, .t,,,,I 49,, ,..r,. o,I.,,. ,,,tqn
I,o ,..,.oI ..v.fl +, I...,. ,.,,,. ,,.,i,.,.t,,,
I,,r ,,,..,,..,.. ...,. ,.,,t .',., L,,r III,
ana ho I,.I,cI Lo,. a. ri.o gI.. ,.f..oI
og tbo Inn r,of. .f,,,.r. t,, H.. tut kla