Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-05-11

curiously ct Oliver Ray. and the girl
| introduced them with a repetition OF
that delicious laugh.
II was afraid you might fail In"
said the boy after shaking hands with
the tall young man. you don't want
another cold BATH
''I escaped that" said the girl BE
sides, Oliver. dear. the ice is quite
nrm, isn't itT'
Not over yonder. Oh, 1 forgot. FL
sic. dear: you know the place between
the four poplars?"
Yes: that deep hole"
TITS thin there. I chucked a stone
| In yesterday and it went in kerplunk
/ 1t isn't growing any colder either. Be
sides, who wants to skate In there
anyhow"
II would" said the girl daringly-
( that is, If I thought I would fall In.
( Perhaps the shock OF the icy water
| would restore my sight" She turned
her soft appealing eyes toward the two
| divers.
Don't you dare try. Elsie!" cried the
boy. ''You might catch pneumonia
and die. and what would dad and
| do them
| But am so helpless" half sobbed
/ the girl. putting her hands before her
sightless eyes.
All at once, without warning. the Ice
1 upon which they stood separated into
| one cake which CapsiZed them into the
icy waters Of the dark pool.
1t was Oliver Ray who bore the
brunt of the rescue. Elise lost con-
seriousness at once. and her brother
gave her into Rays stronger grasp
while he tried to fight for life. In the
end It was Ray who saved them both
| Afterward he never could tell how it
happened that he lay painting on the
( surface with the unconscious form of
! the girl beside him, while young Oliver
pulled and bowed and sobbed over his
sister.
! Then Oliver Ray brought forth the
emergency flask that he always car
ried on these surveying trips and
I trickled a few drops between the pale
lips. After that It was only a short
while before they carried her home on
litter improvised from Rays heavy
overcoat. 1t was a short walk through
the woods to the edge OF the extensive
| lawns that surrounded the Lewis es-
tate, and before long the three half
| frozen victims were being blanketed
and put to bed With hot water bags
and many fiery internal doses.
1t was three weeks before either one
! Of the trio stirred from bed. Ray had
taken a severe cold, and so had young
| Oliver Lewis, but Elsie had once more
fallen q victim to the dreaded rheuma-
| tism, and no coercion OF the white
capped nurse who presided over the
sickrooms in the motherless house
hold would permit the girl to receive a
visit from either of the other GONZALES
cents. Then at last came the day
when Oliver Ray was to take farewell
and rejoin his party Of surveyors.
Mr.. Lewis. who had become warmly
attached to the young man. invited
him into the library to say farewell to
Elsie. who was now sitting up. At her
feet sat young Oliver, trimming over
with the Joy Of renewed health.
"Here is your rescuer, Elsie" said
| her father "Mr. Ray is leaving us
now. and perhaps you better tell him
the good news"
Elsie turned her head very slowly to-
ward Oliver Ray. and her large dark
eyes met his with a different express
sion in their melting depths. Slowly
they wandered over his face, at first
wonderingIy and then gladly, and at
last. as If conscious that she was be-
traying her pleasure IN his exceeding
good looks. she blushed and turned
her head away. but her hand remained
in his.
"She can seer uttered Oliver incred-
ulously. and Mr.. Lewis chuckled as
sent, and his son turned an ecstatic
handspring on the rug, crying: ut was
the shock of the icy water. The doctor
says he can cure rheumatis all right,
but he's forbidden sis to skate any
more"
II don't care" smiled Elsie radi-
antly. 'T shall always love that pool.
If it had not taken away my sight 1
would not have known the blessedness
of its restoration"
"And If God Had not sent Mr.. Ray
to the pond might now be childless."
said Mr.. Lewis with emotion.
Oliver Ray went away with dizzy
light in his eyes and a recollection Of
the happiest three weeks he had ever
spent. Today had been its crown of
Joy. he walked through the woods
past the pool. which lad melted now
and lay dark under the afternoon sky.
As he stood here looking down into it's
green depths thinking of the blessed
Providence that had sent him to the
skating place that wintry day there
came also to him the thought OF how
the pool would look in June. when the
forgetmenots fringed its borders and I
when the love notes of the wood thrush
broke the exquisite silence.
There was another in the picture
Elsie with lovenght in her eyes for
him.