The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-06-12
oir down the rad irthc direction OF Man
n.,vonps cOtto0e m. .

and the horses wero brought ont for rue
Jenkins took Fairy, Editlls pony, ny th
bit and turned her head around 30 that W
could look into her face. Edith was JUS
gathering up her skirts to mount.
"You had better not ride her, Miss Ans
worth" +" said hej "she IL naturally vicious
Look nt her eyes -
"Thank yon for your kindness, Mr.. Jen
kins" Edith said hauyhtily; fam not afrai'
ofa horse. Como, Mr.. Ludlow, let us be
off" ... .,......, .,,..-..'......
Jenkins released tho biz, shouldercd hi
rake. aud went off toward the rye.feld
whis,ling "Auld Robin Gray" o.
Edith was cross, and answered all Mr.
Ludlow . attempts at conversation ia1 ly
She felt as if she did not wish TO be spoker
to. She whipped Fairy, and got tho beasI
into nearly unmanageable condition
When they turned to 20 hack home, Edith
insisted on going the Pond road. 1t was q
shorter cut, hut considered somewhat dang.
ero,is on account Of the steep hills, and .'he
half mile Of cliffs overl,anging the wator
and across which the road ran.
Ofcourse, she had her way, and they
dashed along, Fairy at the top Of her speed
and Ludlow keeping up as well az he
could. Just before they reached tho mos!
perilous descent OH the road, n hugcbinl
swoopcd down from the trees which bor
,lercd the path directly In front OF Ediih's
horse. The animal started and plunged
forward. Edith wns good borse-wonlal',
aud did not lose her presence Of mind, but
she realized her danger. Her slight strength
was small check to that hendlong speed ;
and half way down the bill tho road curv-
cd sharply amid u group Of jagged rocks,
and she had little hope that she could save
herself. She never thought ofasking F.tz
Ludlow for help; bui sho uttered an in
ward cry to heaven for pres ervation.
And simultaneously Jenkins sprnng ont
Of the copsewoo'l I'lst ahead OF her. and
seizing Fairy by the bri'llc, was borne
along for few yards before lie brought tho
beast to dead hall.
al came across this way to 70 liomc,' ho
said, quietly .'and thinking you were ril.
Ing little too fast for safety, | took tho lib
erty OF stopping yo,'."
"Oh2 | thank you-''she bcgnn, her
her short in That hateful way of his.
"Oh its of no consequence ut NIL, thank
you-nol the slightest; and gathering up
his rake, and his striped irock, ho climbed
tho fence and was lns; to view.
Elitl decided that lic was brute, and
natlc u resolve never to speak to him again.
Aud 80 when il occurred that Mr.. Jenkins
ventures, ANY remark to her, she was tnlk
ing to the kitten, or .lic chickens, or did
not hear him.
In September there wns greut STORM
tie equinoctial nurso Downing said such
a storm Ind not been known for years. IT
rainc.l and r,inc,l, and all the brooks swell.
cd to rivers, and tho river itself become n
wild torrent, spreading ruin aud desolalion
over all the lowlands.
Edtl, WINS beside her~elf To go down TO
tho old mill, which stood on tho ssIno side
Of the river us tho hoiisc. She wanted TO
sec tho water boil over tho great rocks ON
tho other shore, but Mr.. Downing refused
10 permit her, and Jenkins looked up from
his piatc, az broak fart, wi'on sto "syVt ho~
plea, and remarked. -... r..
at Is dangerous TO attempt such u thing.
Miss Ainsworlh. llcrrn brook is quite n
river now, and you know that must first l,e
crossed to get to the mill, and there is only
u single piece of timber across it. II would
require steady head to walk that now, riIl
thinking" ....
Edith made no reply, but Jenkins rc-
marks decided her. She would 20 now ut
any cost. She was wilful little thing, you
see, and i0nd of her own way. So, before
the E,rnily Ind finished breakfast, she
threw shawl over her head, aud flew
down the pail, to ilcrm brook. Tho mead.
ows wcro very wet. AMI Edith 3 dainty
CATERS, now soaked through. but she would
not be deferred by apair Of wet iect-not
slio. ....t.H
The brook was roaring flood, aud the
frail string piece ircmblcd with every dasl'
of tho wnter. But Edith hal stca,ly I,cnd;
and with light step she crossed il, clanll''
erc,l up the rough bank, anl reached the
mill.
The scene was wild and fearful enough
TO merit the brcuthless admiration which
perva,led the spirit Of Edith Ainswortll.
She clasped her hands and gazc,l silently
nut ut tho mad hos, of waters, which tuin.
bled against the old mill, making It quiver
and tremble IN every ancient timber, nnd
then went breaking into yellow swells Of
foam over tho sharp rocks below.
Suddenly sho felt u severe shock, and
turning quickly from tho window where
she ha, been standing, she saw that the
cas, wall Of the mill had l,een tom AWAY
and was being borne rapidly down the
stream. Aud, even ms she gazed, sho be-
came conscious that the whole mill was
being swept from its foundations. She
started forward to make her escape, but II
was too late. Already tho structure wus
moving down stream, Tor she saw that the
great lelnlock.ireo which had stood by tho
west door Of the mill, was yards away!
And us she looked hack, she saw just M
hc wake Of The mill, half hidden In tho
clouds of foam and spray, human face I!
he tossing brown hair-tho white forehead
she could not be mistaken she under.
food it at once. Jenkins had followed
,er TO the mill, had reached the platform
ust as it was swept away, and now he was
II tho mercy oftle foaming flood.
She run back to the extreme end Of her
,ontincd limits and flung out her silkcn
'carf across tho winter. 1..|
She shouted to him 20 hoarsely that she
hardly knew her own voice.
"Calch hold ofthe scarf! Quick! can
save yOn J" She threw her arm around a
post Of tho mill to secure herself, and wound
the end Of the scurf which she still held
firmly around her wrist. ,, 80.
do not hesitate a moment De.ay NAV
be fatal !" she called TO him.
TIC lifted his head proudly, his checks
his eyes shining. -
"E.lith," he said, ~ can occeu, aid f,o,,
you OIL only one condition. If You ,lo NO,
consent to that, then tell YOU soIe,nniv
will drown before you shall helm mc"
And ihat' tell me quicklyI" q.
tic did not speak very loud. bu, above
all the roar and crush of tho wu,cr sbo
INV liic!" ''' '1f'"' ~" '''a' sa'o
sho flashed rosy rol, drew l.ek ror n,
instant, aud then I,ent toward him. " ="
81 Pronise,' she said; and, ca,eh;,, ,,,o
safety P'aco OF
tie stepped upon the plank, and took her
hands in his, looking down a, her ar viii, mi
thoea strnngely lumino,,s eve. .,S ~. w. w.