West-Jersey pioneer., 1876-09-21
'Hew to the line, let the chips fall where they may

ua, nd! anu tHe young HAL Lace
glowed with an evil triumph. 'sDo you
suppose that would save you-my rival,
from death? This is the way that I will
have my revenge upon her. No one shall
ever claim her, if it is in my power to pre-
vent it."
"Leroy would you murder me? ?" gasped
Cecil, gazing up wildly into the face above
him.
s'Yesv' was the answer, deep and thrill
ing "Before would see you marry her,
I would plunge dagger to your heart with
my own hand. You shall die, even upon
the eve of you bridal, and the bridal shall
never be until stand by her side as the
bridegroom. Dier'
And bending low, he detached the white.
nerveess hands; and with low cry, Cecil
Ainsworth fell down into the seathing wa
ters. A moment the murderer stood and
watched the body as it was borne away by
the torrent, and then he turned, and with
firm steps crossed the bridge and strobe to-
wards WOodcliffe, from whose windows
bright lights were seen flashing through the
gathering darkness.
Without pause, he went along till he
ing his pace, he walked leisurely up to the
front entrance, and reaching the door, he
was about to enter, when it was flung open,
and a tall form appeared on the threshold.
s'Good evening, Sir James Irwin" said
Leroy, with bow.
"Ah! Mr.. Leroy, is it you ?" said the
baronet, hurriedly. "Have you seen Lii
lian?'' ffs
"What do you mean? is Miss Lillian
missing?" exclaimed the young man, in
surprise.
eyes, gone, we know not where" an
swered the old gentleman, somewhat anxi-
ously. "Just before sunset she went out
alone, and now she is gone. We have
searched everywhere for her, but in vain.
1t is SO strange SO unnatural! Bnt Cecil!
is he not with you?''
"No, he did not come with me from the
village" Leroy answered "Where can
Miss Lillian have gone ?''
81 do not know. l fear-I know not
what"
care you searching for her now 9''
"Yes, all are looking. Oh, Heaven!
what has happened to her, that she should
vanish SO mysteriously, and upon the eve
of her wedding dayp' M
81 must go and search for herr" and
turning away, the young man rushed out
into the darkness.
The silver moon had gained the tree
tops, and her pale light shone through the
branches, making the dewy grass glisten
like diamonds. On through the stiffness
beneath the great elms the young man
paused, his eyes bent upon the ground, and
his thoughts fixed upon the disappearance
of Lillian Irwin. rs
Suddenly from the darkness just before
him two figures emerged; and with low
cry he recoiled, as if from some spectral il
lusion. In one he saw the form of the man
whom he supposed to be lying dead at the
bottom of the torrent in the glen, and in the
other Lillian Irwin, supported by the arm
of her betrothed.
A cold Precipitation bathed his forehead,
and his hands were clenched till the nails
cut into the flesh.
''Albert Leroy!' and Richard Cecil step
ped forward nearer the covering wretch.
''Despite your vow, Lillian will vet be-
come my bride. Some good angel sent her
to my rescue, and even her light strength
sufficed to save me from the death that you
had consigned me to; and so your plot has
come to naugnt. Go, and let me never
look upon your face again! You are far
too despicable for me to attempt to punish
you for your crime. give you your life -
With one look at the pale, yet beautiful
face of the maiden before him, Albert Leroy
turned and fled into the darkness.