Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-05-04

U
lie will be here by five o'clock" she
said She gave her father his dinner as
usual, and was as quiet and useful as ev-
er.
As the hour drew near she grew excit-
ed. II can't wait; will go TO meet
him" So she went out into the air. The
road was dry. and for a little way she
ran against the keen wind; it pricked
her check. and mada her breath come
hard. She walked on quickly, the oxy'
gen making her blood tingle down to
her fngertips
At last she stool on the dear old Gill.
The wind blew liercely, and the bridge
creaked and groaned in the blast.
She called. 'Phiipn No one could
hear. she knew. aud she loved to speak
the word: but the sound blew away in
an instant. ard was lost. a verse OF the
Old ballad came TO her thought, and she
sang aloud:
"IIe's loupon on his bonny gray
Hes rade the right gate and the ready
For a. the storm lie wadna stay,
For seeking o. his bonny lady,
She looked up the stream. and saw the
little foot bridge the workmen had used
was washed away. Then a great fear
came upon her. aud the words OF the
song sounded like kneIl:
.'He spurred the mare into the flood;
l wot shc swan both strong and steady;
Bnt the stream was broad, and her strength
dill fail,
And n, never saw his bonny laiy."
Her voice was like . cry. "Oh. Philip!
lie will try the ford. must save him.
Her foot was on the bridge as she spoke.
She had not thought OF the cars. nor oi
danger for herself. though before her
was perilous journey; the wind caught
her as she stood. and almost blew her of
the narrow ioothold. 1t was q bridge OF
only a single track. without roof or floor.
ing. and the girl must spring from tie to
tie. with that whirlpool forty feet below
Slowly and steadily she made her way.
never for moment aagging dizzy. she
fell upon her knees and breathed little
PRAYER. my Heavenly father. help !
Oh, my God!' 10 an instant the train
would be upon her, death seemed on
every hand.
The engine shreiked iiercely as 1t struck
the bridge. They had seen her. too late
10 help her now. At the very feet OF the
monster. as he came laundering on, she
orssped The tie on which she knelt with
both hands; she dropped between the
rails. and hung there for lite as the cars
passed over her head.
It was a lifetime 10 her; the noise was
maddening, and the cruel bridge seemed
10 hate her. it shook so.
The cars were gone. She never knew
how she struggled again to her feet and
reached the other shore, she had lost all
consciousness, save that she must lind
Philip, and tell bim something quickly.
She stood for a moment on the steep
hank and turned dumbly toward the
water: and as she looked. from out The
dark mass face stared blankly up at
ber-a face with q golden beard.
Mirabeth fell prone upou the earth.
The black murdorous water rushed on ;
the spray rose and sparkled, pure and
white. as though it did not hide the se'
cret OF his death,
ooh wac betlde the fresh sauge wind
Oh. wac betide the bush Of brier
That bent and brake into his hand,
when strength OF man and horse did tire.
"IIey. Lord ha' mercy! Whatsoever
that a.lying on the track T"
Looks like il were woman. JAKE
its the boss's doxY."
dead. is she? ?"
"No. she's tainted. Poor dear. what's
the II after with ye? Speak up. my pretty!
Gentle, gentle. Jake; turn her over
she'll come all right"
The two laborers. with hard. begrim
ed hand, touched the helpless woman al
,Leir feet like q little child. Tenderiy
they raised her, and with some trouble
bore her again ovnr The bridge,
Mirabeth did not speak. Her eyes op'
ened once. bu; showed no signs oil re-
tp,ning reason. She had been taken
home, and the whole village was in
excitement before she became conscious
Of her broken Lille. The anguish that she
telt can come but once. such woe is SO
or, at as to make allolhers as nothing.
Little by li;tle the girl had to learn
that she must miss The handspring oil
hope or Joy. Indeed. she had not known
before all that Philip was 10 her. He had
came 10 her in this silent village, where
the noise, of the outside life. were un-
known. and had as it were, unlocked the
great harmonies of the universe. Her
mind before b ID | ,id dormant; now she
c,uld think she knew the ideas OF the
master spirits who move the world. And
she had loved him; the power oil her
soul was awakened. Life was hun.