The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-07-02

nun 10 KNOW lno WuIbt DeiOlS ~ was wv
late.
An hour or two afterward he sak Allie,
radiant in white organdie and pink ribbons,
sitting on a rustic seat in the hotel grounds
in conversation with Mr.. Mayne. John bit
his lip and hurried away out of sight. Well
after all Il was nothing to him now he had
no longer any right Allie had ceased to
love him. And only few hours before he
would have staked his life on her love and
truth.
But John did not know what was taking
place out there in the cool shade Of the oak
tree, benz ath which Allie was sitting beside
her obnoxious companion. Mr.. Mayne had
asked Allie to be his wife, and had been very
decidedly-not to say contemptuously-re-
fused. And when he arose and left her
there was an angry CLEAN in his wicked
eyes, while in his heart he registered an oath
sooner or later to be avenged.
Allie came down to dinner in the great
dining room, at sunset, to find Johns place
vacant.
where is the doctor ?" some one was
asking Johns mother, as Allie entered the
room and took her usual seat.
Mrs. Ansleigh looked troubled.
"There has been an accident" she said.
"some men were out fishing, the boat cap
sized and two of them nearly drowned. DR..
Ansleigh was sent for in hopes that he could
save them, their families being totally ig-
norant of any means of resuscitation. But
it is several miles down the beach and fear
it will be late in the night before he can re-
turn"
It chanced at that instant that Allie raised
her eyes to encounter glance from Mr..
Mayne, who was her Yis.a-vis. She could
not repress shudder as she saw the atdac-
ious triumph in his face.
Dinner over, Allie threw q shawl about
her, and wandered off on the beach alone
The sun had set now, and twilight, weired
and uncanny, was gathering. Allie wanted
to get away from everybody, to be alone
with her own thoughts. She sat down at
the foot of the tree and gave way to her Bit
ter reflections.
A voice aroused her and startled her from
musings. 1t was the voice unmistakabe Of
young Mayne-eacer earnest.
"He bit at the bait mighty easy" Mayne
exclaimed, "won't he be furious though
when he has had his long, hard ride for
nothing and finds that there has been no
accident-no capszed boat--no half drown
ed men? ?" Mayne paused and laughed
heartily.
"And you're sure the bridge i, unsafe ''
he went on, cargefly.
"Oh, yes, sir r. another voice replied !
fhe high waters and the late storm have
just played the mischief with the old thing
Nobody can pass over it without going
thtough-sure as shootin'"
"And there will be no mistnke-no fail
ure ?" quered Mayne. "Ansleigh will be
sure to come back that way2"
He'll have or the other answered,
grimly. "He went by the beach road it is
true, but he can't come back that way alter
night falls, for the tide is in now. No, sir,
there amt but one road for DR.. Ansleigh 70
TO come home by, and that is over tile old
bridge. And if he crosses-or tries to cross
that-well, you know the restl"
And with a savage chuckls they moved
awey.
Alice sat, half stunned at the revelation
to which she had listened. She knew the
whole vile plot now This was Mayne's
vengencel In fash she saw her own way
clearly. She had brought this on John
Ansleigh-she must save his life though she
lost her own
She staggered 10 her feet, and drawing her
shawl about her, turned away in the direc-
tion of the bridge; perhaps half mile dis
tant from the hotel. To be sure she knew
not the road she had taken but if she could
only cross the rotten structure, she could
await his roming on the other side.
She reached the place at last. Gathering
all her courage together, she stepped upon
the old bridge. 1t was nearly dark now, but
with an agonized prayer for protection, she
moved onward Even beneath her light
weight it tottered and shook. She could see
away down below-the black, angry
water, with its swift, awful current, swollen
by recent rains, aud choked by driftwood il
was wild sight there in the gathering
gloom. Onward she moved holding her
breath, and with clasped hands and dilated
eyes watching the other side.
Thank God she is over-safe at last She
sank down on a mossy stump, and crouch
ing down, awaited Johns coming.
And darkness gathered and fell over all
things. She felt timd and afraid but she
calmed her fears as best she might, remain
ed patiently at her post. An hour passed
What if he were not coming home that
night? The thought made her heart stand
still. But even then che heard, away in the
distance, the tramp of a horses ieet-cominc
nearer-nearer. She arose and stepped for.
ward. The moon had risen now, and itl
clear rays showed her plainly that it wal
really John.
She stepped into the road. She forgot
everything that had happened that day
and raising her voice, she cried wildly,
"John Oh, John p
Doctor Ansleigh checked his horse, and
paused irresolute. His heart beat tumultu.
ously-he could not credit his own eyesight
"Allie my God p he gasped, "Whut is the
matter?"
He sprang from his horse, and in mo.
ment more she was in his arms, her head on
his breast, while she sobbed out the whole
story. John listened with new light in hii
eyes, his heart full Of happiness. And while
they stood there, alone in the pure moon
light, with a great rush and roar the old
bridge went down. John shuddered and
drew Allie closer to him, while a thankful
prayer went up to heaven.
"My darling" be murmured, sofslyj"you
have saved my life"
A a.