The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-01-27

1t was strange enough to note how
Montague's light tone deepened into
tragic solemnity as the dismal tale pro-
ceeded, and how the shadowy impress
of doom on his handsome face came out
palmer and palmer with every word.
The anxious look in Marion Went
worth's eyes grew into absolute terror
as he ended; and she seemed about to
speak when the walters entrance with
dish of fruit interrupted her.
As he entered, Mrs. Wentworth, evi-
IDENTITY wishing to change the subject,
spoke to him.
waiter! when did you say the night
illumination of the falls was to beP''
Thursday week, gracious, lady; but
it will hardly be so good as the one we
had last year, when they sent n big boat
over the falls, hung all round with
lanterns"
''Was there anybody in her?" asked
Montague.
What do you say, milord?' gasped
the old man, with Il stare of blank
amazement.
'.Was there anybody in the boat?''
1.-The boat, MilordP The boat went
over the falls, tell your
''Well, why shouldn't somebody go
with her to keep her straight"
''Why?n echoed Johann, goaded be-
yond endurance. because we Rhine
landers are no fonder of being drowned
than other people. I've seen many a
silly thing done in my time, but man
shooting the Schaffhausen Falls in a
boat is thing I've never seen yet and
never shall.
The sudden CLEAN in Montague's dark
eye and the glow on his handsome
features sufficiently betrayed tho wild
thought suggested to him by the honest
Germans last words. The significant
glance exchanged between him and
Burdett showed that the same idea was
in the minds of both, though the latter
accompanied his look with warning
gesture, reminding the reckless viscount
of the effect which the words that were
just about to break from his lips would
have upon the two ladies. But when
they had retired, Montague could con-
tain himself no longer.
GLORIOUS idea! Wen do Itch,
Sed?"
.Do itP / should think we would!
Canada, this thing II be Il joke! Never
seen it yet, and never SHALL ehP Wen
give Mr.. Johann another story to tell
any of his present stock"
Our two heroes were not the men to
loiter over any enterprise, however
desperate, upon which they had once
resolved, and they lost not a moment in
setting out in quest of a boat. But TO
find one was no easy matter. Some
were unseawOrthy; others failed to
please the critical eye of Sedley Bur-
dett, who, with all his recklessness,
knew better than to leave any chance
uncared for in match where life itself
was at stake. More than one conscien-
tious native, on learning the nature of
the proposed expedition, fatty refused
to have anything to do with it, nor was
it till late in the afternoon that they at
length met with less scrupulous indi-
vidual, who, on receiving the full value
of his boat in advance, and a handsome
gratuity for the use of her, consented
to let the ''EngliSh madmen' have
their way. He agreed to leave the boat
in readiness at a convenient spot, and
then took his leave.
1t was considerably past eleven
o'clock that night, and Burdett, mind
full of the tough work that awaited him
next morning, was preparing for bed,
when Montague (whO slept in the next
room) burst in, with a flush of unusual
excitement on his face.
''Sed, old fellow, we must alter our
time of starting. Those meddlesome
asses, the local authorities, are going
to put a spoke in our wheelr'
s.Do you mean that they'll try to stop
us?'' asked Burdett, with the natural
amazement of an Englishman at any
one presuming to oppose his will.
II do, indeed! That prating fool of
a boatsman (see if 1 don't punch his
head when it's all overD must have let
the cat out of the bag; for as l came
through the hall just now, L heard the
landlady say to her husband: Ought
we to let them go? It's really no better
than suicideiT and the old sinner ans
wered with chuckle: BE easy, my
Gretchen-when these young distracted
ones get to their boat, they will find it
in charge of certain Gerichts-Diener
(policemen) who are less foolish than
they, and no harm will be doner' -
.'Just like their confounded cheek!'
cried Burdett. "What shall we do
thenP''
''DoP Why, set the alarm clock two
hours earlier Um safe to hear it where
/ amy and start at four instead of six;
and we'll just meet the 'minions of the
law on our way back to breakfast, and
a jolly sell II be for them! My word,
every mortal thing seems to have con-
spired against this venture of ours; but
I'll 90 through with it, no matter who
stands in my way!'
For one moment a thrill of supersti-
tious awe shot through the stout heart
of Scdley Burdett. Could il be that
Al. n.,tt
a last barrier vainly opposed to the fatal
impulse which was hurrying them both
to destruction. The unnatural excite
ment of his comrades manner, the
feverish luster of his eyes, the heated
flush in his usually pale face, were all
terribly suggestive of one goaded to his
doom by some irresistible frenzy flash
ing upon Burtictt's mind with ghastly
vividness, the sudden memory of Il long
forgotten painting of the young German
knight lurcd to his death in the hungry
waters of the Rhine by the siren-song
of the Lorelei. He opened his lips to
propose the abandonment of the whole
project; but the fear of ridicule Chat
fear which has destroyed many gal
liant MANI withered the wholesome i'm
pulse, and the favorable moment went by
forever.
Morning at last-a bright, breezy,
glorious summer morning, over which
all things in earth and heaven seemed
to rejoice. The blue skies, the waving
woods, the green sunny slopes, the
broad bright stream of the great river
itself, all seemed to smile q welcome to
the eyes that might SO soon be closed
forever. Even the two English athletes
absorbed as they were in their perilous
felt the influence of the
hour, and muttered with involuntary
What royal day"
One vigorous stroke sent the light