Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-05-26

tered, with shiyer, rs he crept into cabin.
He was evidently frightened for he crsp
into one corner of the untidy room, and cover
cd his head with blanket as IL ho would keel
certain sights and sounds away.
In tho meantime Myra Hayward and the mar
she hated had drawn rein on knoll a short
distance from the gorge.
"We will court the echo now," she said
with dash Of triumph in her tone. "1'ht
bridge is just ahead and il you will dash
across will follow when you shall have gained
the other rise. From its summit you can hcai
the echo of your horses hoofs, and when
have joined you will tell the story that is
linked to tho GORGE
He heard her, bowed and with smile told
her that he was OFF.
The next moment Myra beheld him dart from
her side with the impulse of rocket, and
heard the iron hoofs beating the hard road.
Then she held her breath and grew pale
through excitement.
A minute had not elapsed when there was n
cry that seemed to luiver the clouds OF dark
ness that hung low over the chasm.
Myra did not hear the dull thud that quickly
followed, for the awful shrek was 'echoing
everywhere, and her soul was full Of it. 1t was
not repeated, for it seemed the death cry of a
human being. The silence that followed was
almost palpable. Myra heard the beating of
her own heart, and at last urged her horse for
ward. On to the very edge of the bridge she
rode there she drew rein and listened.
Myra gazed into the terrible opening rs il
seeking the horse and his riders but darkness
that seemed to stretch to the antipodes reveal
ed nothing.
Then she raised her voice In loud cries for
assistance. The echo sounded everywhere, and
at last startled the inmates of the mansion be-
yond the knoll.
Assistance came, and when the planks had
been replaced, the beauty crossed the bridge.
The excitement that prevailed is indescribable
The Judge and his aborcrs were fitting hith-
CT and thther with lanterns, cursing the hand
that could perform such diabolical act while
Myra in an apparently fainting condition, was
borne to her chamber The judge believed that
some villain had attempted to take the lives of
his daughter and the young man, and declared
that the guilty party should be brought to jus
ticc. The boldest in the party shrank from a
descent into the darksome gorge bnt the
judges money oyercame their fears, and they
went down.
BY and by shout came up
"We have found him.
Judge Hayward started.
"Dead?' he asked with many misgivings,
and waited breathless for the reply.
Breathing-that is all
"Thank God, bring him up'
II was n mighty xyorl.-fbn roacua nf C,,r,,c
Whitney from the rocks and waves at the bot
tom of the chasm, but the men proved them
selves equal to the task and at last the managed
body of the lawyer was laid at the judges feet.
There was plentitude of Bruises contusions,
and broken bones, and the soul seemed about
to rclinquish its tenure of life.
Cyrus Whitney was borne to the judges
house, and n surgeon sent for. Babette, the
pale faced girl, listened on the top of the stairs
TO a discussion of his injuries by the group of
men in the hall below, and then crept dazed
and almost wild to her room. Myra with her
door ajar, and with flashing eyes, listened to
The same words that caused her cousin such all
guish.
81 knew he would not survive" she said,
shutting the door. ~ said last night that l
would put an end to the love making that has
been going on in this house, and if ! have not
kept my word, let the hand of Heaven blight
my beauty. My sweet Cousin Babotte. you
must hunt another lover now. And let him be
me for whom never schemed."
The days that followed were terrible ones to
he tenants of the judges mansion.
Babette grew thinner than ever over Cyrus
Whitney couch and while long watching wore
icr to shadow, she saw him slowly recover
ng.
l." He is going to live " Myra exclaimed, one
lay. 1.-THE fates are against me! If God and
he doctors save him, my second blow shall
iill"
The last word had scarcely left her lips when
he door swung open, and her father, pale and
,xcted, stood before her.
"You are going with the Barnwclls to Cuba
o-morrow," he said.
Myra started.
"Father -
Not word guilty thing that you are +"
vas the stern rejoinder. "But an hour since
.ellow Dick accidentally shot himself, and l
AVE listened to confession from his lips that
las torn my soul, and almost torn me from my
in. You will not return from Cuba until |
end for You, which will not be until Babette |
as been married beneath my roof. Myra
Hayward, curse the hour that gave you to my
rms ~
She sank back, pale and speechless, and the |
ather left her to the sting of remorso.
Years have passed since the terrible tragedy
Echo Bridge
The golden girl is the wife of Cyrus Whitney,
nd the woman who deliberately planned the
wful event we have recorded, was lately driven
ON the capital Of the Belgians by order of
le kng-a beautiful, wild. unprincipled ad-
enturess