Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-07-26

No. 20.
Der chute, only to meet MIR. Petersham
as he came leapIng down to her side,
and shaking a shower off himself like a
shaggy dog just out OF the water. $50
have found you." he said. ITO think
of the insanity of your choosing this
place IN thunder-shower, and such
thupdershower! This way here-l know +
the place of old. My God !-one instant,
one instant too late!" 1t was true.
There came shock, shiver, a crash,
and the upper side of the structure
slowly settled as if one were forced to
his knees, and the violent turbid water
dry land. For one heartbeat Mr.. Peter
sham averted his iace. and then he look
ed at her-a shudder was running over
her, more as if with the memory of
some dreadful past experience than with
horror OF the present or apprehension OF
the future. But directly alterward she
was herself again. with the same steady
color and glowing eye. 'Well,'' she
said, as clearly as she could be heard
through the rush and roar and racket,
and extending her hands, 81 have been
nearer death before; and dare say you
have known moments more terrible"
cat any rate. we are together" he
said. ''And if we can do no more, we
can at least 20 where we can face the
Toe and admire his splendor." And so
with uncertain steps they did, placing
themselves where the trembling beams
yet seemed frmest and the chance best,
and side by side waiting through the
ghastly moments that told their fate.
1t was no time for words; perhaps the
instants of time were but few before
them; dozen pulsations more and the
torrent might snatch them into eternity;
| yet the chances were with the old mill
that had stood more floods than one.
But if they were to die, there was one
thing that must be clear between them;
he felt, as if by some subtle instinct, that
he was all to her. as she to him, yet,
"Was it true." he said, in moment OF
less uproar, "that l heard you say this
noun that you are the wife of husband
who lives and whom you love?"
Perfectly true," she answered him:
But as she spoke she took his hand. and
then paused one moment. and cast her
glance over the expanse about them.
Great trees came rushing down, struck
the posts of the mill, and swirled of
into midstream, and away; the swims
ming barnyard creatures swept by them;
hutch with Il peacock on 1t spreading
his superb train of gold and emerald
1 and azure stain in the rush OF the rain,
and piercing the din with his sharp
} cries the little thread OF the brook was
an inundation brimmlng the broad in
terval-broad as some great lake agi-
tated by furious tumult, foam-streak-
ed stretch under that purple pail OF sky
and through the silver glitter OF the
wind-swep rain in the awful effulgence
OF the lightnings: Here and there her
wandering eye caught the CLEAN of the
white horns of cattle; here horse
swan with the tide, his black head just
above the stream. Then her glance
came back and rested on Mr.. Petersham,
! and, with a strange sweet smile, she
lifted to her lips the hand she held and
: kissed it earnestly. Suddenly. in the
act, Miss Furneval sprang to her feel
and ran out along the broad beam
sprang then to lower beam, threw her
self fiat upon it. reaching out with both
arms, before Mr.. Petersham could gain
, say her or could seize her. What die
= she see? In second breath Mr.. Peter
sham saw it too. 1t was Mrs. Mynshyn
!, tipped back in her chaise. from whicl
r horse and shafts had been torn, floating
a along the arrowy current, her skirt
t tucked up about her, and sitting serene
K as Cleopatra on the Cydnus. She saw
!, Miss Furneval, but only as If she saw
Il through her. making no sian.-Dus jus
: ueIore she reached the mill great hay
rack came sailing down the switter bod.
e of the current, hit the chaise, and twirl
9 ed it about, and spilled Mrs. Mynshyl
out as unceremonI0usly as if she hat
been a rag doll. There was one wilt
!, cry from the old creature as she tosset
up her arms, and the next moment
3 reaching tar over and above her, Mis-
Furneval had caught her hand. the othe
old hand had closed over that grasp lfk'
y u wise; and drawn by the wet weight
pu led by the tearing stream, and push
+ ed by her own momentum, but neve
thinking of letting go her hold, Mis-
n Furneval was slipping into the water
y was caught and whirled under and off
still holding fast to Mrs. Mynshyn, sti,
r held fast by her. Don't mind me;
y can swlm!" she cried back; but b,
never heard her; he was in the wate
d after her. There was only one chance
in a thousand that some OF all the oh
It jects in the torrent should not strike th,
o stoutest swimmer and end all swimming
q but as he rose to the stroke he saw (;
y huge tree swinging broadslde on AM
j. tangling them among its half-submerg
) ed branches; and before he could dasl
II the water out OF his eyes, Miss Furneva
It was scrambling up among the boughs
although they were rolling and dipping
n like ship at sea. and was helping Mrs
MynshYn after her; and as in anothe
q moment the force OF the water swep
r him in with the same eddy among tn
q branches, the whole tree swung roun
and lodged against hidden wall, an,
people on the bank were throwing rope
and rigging planks, and bringing tn
D. half drowned wretches ashore. ..
n go my God!" cried MIR. Petersham
u as he grasped her, 81 never expected t
d see you again. We sometimes die for ou
o friends. but who. before you, ever lai
}. down life for an enemy. What an aci
what heroic act! No. l never expec
d ted" .,
a "Then you have seen it at last" sh
y said, coolly, wiping her face with col
it ner OF the cloak some one had brough
h her-'.the one heroic act"
g Never expected to touch you again
d All, how cold you are. Miss Furneval-
IS great heavens. Gerarda," and he stoo
e struck dumb before this apparition of
y woman, half whose tlower-fair face wa
e smeared with melting wash OF brow
@ and scarlet, and halt whose dark hal
h and all uncurled rings and Recamie
:. locks were torn aside, with their scar
: of lace. from a high white brow closel
o bound about with blonde braids-an ap
!. partition shivering, shaking and drlppin:
b at every point.
9 "Well, don't you know me-" sh
}. cried, with laugh like chime. car
y walnut juice and wigs of charcoal dis
v guises that DEFY love? used to wonde
y at you every day when put them on
! Once you said you would know my ca
9 and chin in ten thousand, so l muffle,
y them IN lace"
d "Gerarda," he cried again, white a
a ashes. And to the half-unconsciou
I; Mrs. Mynshyn's amaZement white we