Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-05-31
No. she replied, madly, II do not

6Qe O891eO ASIDE the Q00vy curtain
that draped the bay window, and wa
gone. And just then man arose from
q lounging chair beside the window
where he had been reading, and saun
tered away.
4 It was Mr.. Mayne, and there was al
evil light in..his eyes.
j Listeners hear no good of them
selves" he muttered. "Well, mayb'
not but at any rate, I know which
card to play next. Piqued and angry
4 I'll play the heart-broken lover, step IL
before her anger against the handsom,
doctor has time to cool, ''strike whjl'
the iron is hot" and / am mistaken i
am not engaged to Allie Ray and hel
$50. 900 before the sun sets to-day.
"The best laid schemes O. mice and men ganl
aft aglee"
| But Mr.. Mayne had forgotten that q
For a long time John had sat in th,
bay window, his bead bowed down
staring his misery in the face.
Could 1t be true that Allie loved hin
no longer?
An hour or two afterwards he saw Al
Elie, radiant In white organdie and pinh
ribbon. sitting in rustic seat In thu
hotel grounds, in conversation with
Mr.. Ma ne. John bit his lips and hur
|ried away out of sight. Well. after all
1t was nothing to him now; he had nc
longer any right; Allie had ceased te
love him. And ouly few moments
before he would have staked his life or
her love.
But John did not know what was
taking place out there in the cool shade
of the oak tree, beneath which Allie
was sitting before her obnoxious com
panion. Mr.. Mayne had asked Allie tc
be his wife, and had been very decided
ly, not to say contemptuously, refused
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 the great dining
room at sunset, to find Johns place
vacant.
Where is the doctor ?" some one war
asking of Johns mother, as Allie en-
tered the room and took her usual seat.
Mrs. Ansleigh looked troubled.
There had been an accident" she
said. Some men were out fishing the
boat capsized and two of them nearly
drowned. DR.. Ansleigh was sent for il
hopes that he could save them, theil
families being totally ignorant of any
means of resuscitation But it is several
miles away down the beach, and I feal
it will be late in the night before he
can return"
IT chanced at that instant that Allie
raised her eyes to encounter glance
from Mr.. Mryne. who was her vis q vis
She could not repress shudder as she
saw the audacious triumph in his face
Dinner over. Allie threw a shaw
about her and wandered off on the beach
alone. Allie wanted to get away from
every body, to be alone with her owl
thoughts. She sat down at the foot o.
a tree and gave way to her bitter ref1ec
tions.
A voice aroused her and started bel
from her musings. It was the voice
unmistakably of young Mayne, eager
earnest.
"He bit the bait mighty easy =
Mayne exclaimed won't he be furious
though, when he has had his long, hero
ride for nothing, and finds that tber,
has been no accident-nO capsized boa
mo half drowned men? ?" Mayn,
paused aud laughed heartily.
And you are sure the bridge is un
safe?" he went on eagerly.
"Oh, yes, sir !" another voice replied
"the high waters and the late storm
have played the mischief with the ole
thing. Nobody can pass over it OF
horseback without going through al
sure ss shootingW
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, j
is true, but he can't come back tina
way after night fall, for the tide is il
r now No, sir, there amt but one roat
! for DR. Ansleigh to come by, and that Il
over the old bridge. And if he crosses
/ or tries to cross that-well, you know
. the rest !"
r And with savage chuckle they
moved away.
, Allie sat half stunned at the revela
( tion to which she had listened. Sh
: knew the whole murderors plot now
This was Msyne's vengeance! In
flash she saw her own way clearly. Sh,
had brought this on John Ansleigh-
she must save his life, though she los
2 heI own.
She staggered to her feet, and drawin,
, her shawl about her, turned away il
the direction of the old bridge. perhap
! half mile distant from the hotel. r,
he sure, she did not know the road h,
had taken but if she could only eros
the rotten structure, she could then avail
+ his coming on the other side
, She reached the place at last. Gath
! ering all of her courage together, sh,
} stepped upon the old bridge. It wa
nearly dark now, but with agonize,
( prayer for protection, she moved on
, ward. Even beneath her light weigh
it tottered and shook. She could se
away down below the black angry
, water, with its swift, awful current
swollen by recent rains, and choked BY
driftwood; it was wild sight there il
the gathering gloom. Onward sb,
moved, holding her breath, and will
clasped hands and dilated eyes watch
ing the other side.
Thank God she is Over-safe at last
She sank down on q mossy stump, ant
crouching down awaited Johns coming
And darkness gathered and fell owe
all things. She felt tlmid and afraid
but she calmed her fears as best sh,
might; and remained patiently at he
J post. An hour passed. What If b,
were not coming home that night
The thought made her heart stand still
J But then she heard away In the dis
tance the tramp of horses feet-com
ing nearer-neaier. She arose ant
stepped forward The moon had ariser
now, and its clear rays showed nov
} plainly that 1t was really John.
/ She stepped into the road. She forgo
everything-all that had happened tha
day-and raising her voice she criet
wildly:
"John Oh, John!''
4 DIR. Ansleigh checked his horse ant
} paused, irresolute. His heart beat tu
multuously; he could not credit Lii
own eyesight.
"Allie! my God!" he cried, "what i
the matter! ~
He sprang from his horse, and in
moment more she was in his arms. he
head on his breast. while she sobbed ou
the whole story. John listened with
new light in his eyes, his heart full o
J happiness. And while they stood tber
alone in the midnight, with a grea
J rush and roar the old bridge went down
, John shuddered and drew Allie close
to him, while thankful prayer wen
up to heaven.
l.