Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-01-17

commenced to poar in under the
kitchen-door, and in an agony of fear
the poor girl rushed up to her chamber
fearful of being dcvoured, for she now
learned the horrible truth that the
river,had overhowed the banks, and
was swelling through the. road with
great violence. AS night advanced
the water grew deeper; Ruth trem-
bled with agony, fearful that the
house would be swept from its foun-
dation. 80
In the midst of her alarm, she saw
boat approaching, and that safety
was near at hand.
The occupant of the boat proved
to be Gerald Turner, who approach
ed the window, aud after tieing his
boat to one of the blinds jumped into
the room exclaiming:
"Ruth have come to save you, but
upon one condition alone. Consent
to be my wife, and will save you
from your deadly peril"
"Back, base man that you are !!
Sooner would perish in the dark
waters that surround lis, than wed
the villain who was my fathers tnur-
derer," answered Ruth.
ella! What do you mean!"
81 mean that have found poison
in one of your vests. in the closet on
the stairwav. Inow feel convinced
it was administered by you, for the
sake of obtaining the property, fear
ing that he would change his mind
and Elcave it to me who rightfully
should have it,"
crash girl, you know not what you
say. These are idle words and ut
tered like mad girls frenzy" ,.
"If am mad it is you who have
made Inc SO, elnbittering my life, and
taking from Inc a father who was al.
wayskind, until your vile spirit cross.
cd our path"
''AIad girl, have YOU proofs of what
you say?"
'Havc not proofs look hcre?'
AS she spoke, she held up small
paper containing a fine white pow.
der. Scarcely had she done SO when
it was snatchcd from her hand, and
thrown into the flames, and naught
was left of it but a blackcned flake ol
SCOT.
"Ha, ha! hal" shouted Gerald.
''Wherc is your proof now?"
"Villain! know now YOU murder.
ed him. Oh, where can l turn fol
aid?''
"Call on the father you pretended
to love SO much, aud see if he will aid
you"
"Wretch! could he see the villainy
you have planned, his spirit would
rise from the grave and accuse you o
his murder"
"Would it? would much like tt
see it.
! Even as he spoke, there came float.
I i,rs- s-<s,ru.ss,-tHY -ur,tnT waters
large, black looking box, Termed lik'
the last bed we ever lie on upon this
earth; it came nearer and nearer unit
it iI%;lc its way to the window, anC
resting underneath the same, the wa
ter now being OH level with it. Was
it fate that sent this mysterious oh.
ject between the daughter ofits occu
rendered her life miserable.
"Look!,' exclaimed the horror
stricken girl: "the dead has returned
MY father has come back from the
grave to stand between me and YOU
Gerald turned and saw the coffin o
Thomas Stcadman.
''Tell her not!" shouted the fright.
ened man. "that it was l who poison
ed YOU that it was l who poured
the mixture in your tea.'
There was another occupant i'll tho
room and a witness to the confession
he had made. in the person of Arthur
Whiting, who bore the girl from hel
terrible danger.
The foiled and guilty Gerald threw
himself into the secthing waters, from
which lie never rose again alive. The
freshct in its fury had uncarthcd The
old burying ground, and thus thwart
ed the villain and exposed his murder
Gus secret.
After stormy days came those o
sun shincand p!casantncss.R Ruth fount
that she was truly beloved by her pre-
server, who had made her his happ,
wife; and he has never ceased to bless
the dap that gave her to his Keeping
or the time he saved her from
wretch's arms.
Vice will ever find its punishmen
but it is not every wrong doer that i
thwarted by n corpse.