Year: 1875

Froni had found the open window and
seen the cradle; Boldl had prepared the
way-Froni was in the room. She knelt
at the cradle praying to God for strength
and patience, her tears fell hot: one
look, one kiss. one blessing, and she
must be gone again Her head softly
went down into the white cushions, and
she gave a piercing shriek-the bed was
empty-was her child dead, then ?


She darted up. piece of the baby's
clothes lay on the floor near the window,
another hung upon the shelf, a third
outside on a bush. Her baby had been
stolen She rushed to the door; it was
fastened outside Her knocks and shrieks
brought some of the maids up, some
man. servants followed, the door was
opened. They took her for a mad-wo-
man, not recognizing her at irst-not
able to collect the sense of her wild talk
The master himself appeared: he thought
a whole band of thieves, robbers, mur-
derers had broken in. He was the first
to take in the state of things; the child
was stolen, that was evident and the
robber must be run after. A wild hunt
began whose utter confusion defes de-
scription. Every one ran in different
directions. no one knowing where to di-
rect his steps. The men shouted. the wo-
men shrieked, the dogs barked, the mas
ter swore, the neighbors came, joining
the hunt. the whole village began to stir.
And Front foremost her hair flying, her
garments torn, her feet and arms bleed
ing, darting up and down, now joining
one party, now another. now again fly
ing by herself onwards, outstripping the
others too slow for her anxiety.


Boldl would have had far the better
of his pursuers had he not been hinder
ed in speed first, by the baby bundle
he was afraid to introduce between the
thorny bushes running right across home
wards secondly, by the dogs unwilling
ness to follow him. As soon as the lat
ter heard the voices Of his own people
of the inn he wanted to run back to
them. declining to hear and obey Bold
any longer. He had to keep him tight
by the leather strap round his neck,
dragging the beast along with him. Sc
far all was still He advanced slowly,
but as yet was clear out of sight of hi;
followers, when suddenly stumbling over
some roots, losing his equilibrium, re
quiring both his hands to save his baby
from a heavy fall, he for one morent LEI
the dog loose-and off darted the nasty
beast Now Boldl knew all was lost
But to be caught here in the wood, like
/ a common thief and robber? No, by nt
means and onwards again he toiled.


His pursuers. led by tue dog, nov
could not fail to get at him. Boldl nov
stood between them and the wild rush
ing river. A thought flashed through
his brain, followed by instant execution
He ran to the next weir he knew of i
was a convenient passage for him, and
tc prevent those behind him from follow
ing, he, coming to the middle oft, drew
out the huge iron nail, fastening t
reach the end before the waters cam,
down.


Front now stood by the side of tn
brook, painting for breath, her bosom
heaving; she had recognized Boldl, anC
knew with thrilling happiness her ba
by was not stolen but saved. But scarce
ly had she been able to take in that be
wildering truth than she must agail
tremble for the two beings she love'
more than her life. The waters cam
on with laundering noise one NOR
step and Boldl would be safe, when sud
denly his foot slipping, he had but tim
to throw the baby away from him, land
ing it safely in the high grass; the
gliding down he disappeared as by mag
ic. the foods covering him and washing
him out of sight. A piercing shrie
from FROM, echoed by ali the bystand
ers, and the rushing of the waters Then
many feet below, Boldl's form came u
to the surface, family struggling wit
the foods. All stood hopeless and help
less. Not so Front He had tried t
save her child She ran down the slopt
with winged pace, overgaiuing the cul
rent. Having got ahead Of the drown
ing man having chosen the right place
where the waters flow on level groun
for few yards she boldly threw hel
self down, with out-stretched arms, rC
eeiving Boldls nearly hfeless form a
the waters carried him downwards. SUI
rounding his body with one arm 8h
managed to raise his head and keep
over the waters, her other arm workin
AGAINST the stream Good Swimmer 2


Front had been once in her home on til
shore of the lake, formed by the vii
waters rushing into it; here in the fai


ing waters. forming cascade after ca
cade, with her load. swimming was on
Of the question all she could do was


contriye to remain afoat on her back III
{ til those who saw her deed and now fo


lowed with speed should come to ii
rescue