The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-02-24

love him. Ana Ontv q lew hours lie "Oulu
have staked his life on her love and trnth.
But John lid not know what was taking
place ont there in the cool shade of the oak
tree. beneath which Allie was sitting be-
side her obnoxious companion. MIR. Mayne
had asked Allie to be his wife, and had
been very decidedly-not to say contempt
.uously-refused." and when he arose and
left her, there was an angry CLEAN IN his
wicked ewes, while in his heart he register
ed an oath sooner or later to be avenged.
Allie came down to dinner in the great
Gining-room, at sunset, to find Johns place
vacant. , - Il
ssWhere is the doctor2" some one was
asking of Johns mother, as Allie entered
the room and took her usual seat.
Mrs. Ansleigh looked troubled.
ssThere 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 ne
could save them, their families being totally
ignorant of any means of resuscltatlon. but
it is several miles down the beach, ana 1
fear it will be late in the night before ne
can return
1t Glanced at that instant that.Allie raised
her eyes to encounter glance from Mr.:
Mayne, who was her Vis-G-Uis. She could
cious triumph in his face.
Dinner over, Allie threw a shawl about
her and wandered off on the beach alone.
The sun had set now, and twilight, weird
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 a tree and gave way to her Bit
ter reflections
A voice aroused her and started her from
her musings It was the voice unmlstakably
of young Nayne-eager, 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 capsized boat-no half
drowned menu Mayne paused and laughed
heartily.
"And you're sure the bridge is unsafe?"
he went on, eagerly.
"Oh, yes, sir" another voice replied;
"the high waters and the late storm have
Just played the mischief with the old thing.
Nobody can pass over it on horse back with
out going through-sure as shootin'!"
And there will be no mistake-no fail
ure?" queried Mayne. 'Ansleigh will be
sure to come back that way?"
Hell have to-" the other answered,
grimly. "He went by the beach road it is
true, but he can't come back that way after
night falls for the tide is in now. No, sir,
there amt but one road for DR.. Ansleigh to
to come by, that is over the old bridge
And if he crosses-or tries to cross that
we'll. you know the rest!:'
And with savage chuckle they moved
away.
Alice sat half stunned at the revelation to
which she had listened. She knew the
whole vile, murderous plot now. This was
Mayne's vengeance! In flash she saw her
John Ansleigh-she must save his life,
though she lose her own.
She staggered to her feet, and, drawing
her shawl about her, turned away in the di-
rection of the old bridge, perhaps half a
mile distant from the hotel. To be sure,
she did not even know the road he had ia
ken; but if she could only cross the rotten
structure. she could then await his coming
on the other side.
She reached the place at last Gathering
ali her courage together, she stepped upon
the old bridge. It 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, and choked by 1riftwood;
it was a 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 lase! She
sank down On messy stump, and crouch
ing down, awaited John S coming.
And darkness gathered and fell over all
things. She felt timid and afraid; but she
Gained her fears as best she might, and re-
NAMED 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 she heard, away
in the distance, the tramp of horses feet
coming nearer-nearer. She arose and
stepped forward. The moon had arisen
now, and its clear rays showed her plainly
that it was really John.
She stepped into the road. She had for
got everything that had happened that
day-and raising her voice, she cried Wild
ly:
sJohn! Oh, John!'
DIR. Ansleigh checked his horse and
paused, irresolute. His heart beat tumul-
tuosly; he could not credit his own eve
sight:
Allie! my God!' he gasped, "what is
the matter?'
He sprang from his horse, and in a 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 his eyes, his heart full of happiness.
And while they stood there, alone in the
midnight, with great rush and roar the old
bridge went down. John shuddered and
drew Allie closer to him, while thankful
prayer went up to Heaven
my darling" he uttered, softly, ''you
have saved my ife.",
At first the problem of how they were to
cross the river seemed too difficult to be
solved; but after while John found an old
boat with couple of rough oars which had
been left there and forgotten; and the way
became clear at once. Tying his horse to a