The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-10-18

I wicked eyes, Wnlle ID MS neart he
registered an oath sooner or later to
be avenged.
Lottie came down to dinner in the
great dining room at sunset. to find
Williams place vacant.
Where is Wiliam?" some one was
asking his mother, as Lottie entered
the room and took her usual seat.
Mrs. White looked troubled.
There's been an accident" she
said. Some men were out fishing;
the boat capsized, and two of them
nearly drowned. Mr.. White was
sent for in hopes that he could save
them, their families being totally
ignorant of any means of resuscita-
ton. But it is several miles down
the beach, and | fear it will be late
! in the evening before he can re-
| turn"
1t chanced at that instant that
Lottie raised her eyes, to encounter
glance from MIR. Bookhammer,
who was her vis-a-vis. She could
not repress IA shudder as she saw
the audacious triumph in his face.
Dinner over, Lottie threw shawl
about her and wandered off on the
beach alone. The sun had set now,
and twilight, wierd and uncanny,
was gathering.
Lottie wanted to get away from
everybody, to be alone with her own
thoughts. She sat down at the foot
of tree, and gave way to her bitter
reflections.
\ voice aroused her and started
her from her musings. 1t was the
voice, unmistakably, of Young Book
hammer-eager, earnest.
He bit at the bait mighty easy"
Bookhammer exclaimed. Won't
he be furious, though, when he has
had his long, hard ride for nothing,
and finds that there has been no ac-
cident-no capsized boat-no half
drowned men,"
BoOkhammer paused, and laugh
ed heartily.
"And you're sure the bridge is un-
safe?' be went on, eagerly.
''Oh, yes, sir" another voice repli-
ed. THE high waters and the late
storms have Just played the mischief
with the old thing. Nobody can
pass over it on horseback without
going through-sure as shootin' :"
And there will be no mistake
no failure?" queried Bookhammer.
white will be sure to come back
that way?"
He'll have to-" the other answer
ed 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 row. No, sir there
amt but oneroad for William White
TO come by, and that is over the old
bridge; and ifhe crosses or tries to
cross :hat-well, you know the rest" "
And, with a savage chuck!e, they
moved away
Lottie sat half stunned at the rev.
elation to which she had listened.
She knew the whole vile, murder
Gus plot now. This was Bookham-
mers vengeance
In a flash she saw her own way
clearly. She had brought this on
William White-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 direction of the old
bridge, perhaps half a mile distant
from the hotel. To be sure she did
not even know the road he had
taken 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 al her courage together,
she stepped upon the old bridge.
1t was nearly dark now, bat, 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 drift wood. 1t 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-sate at
last She sank down on a mossy
stnmp, and erouching down, awaited
Williams coming.
And darkness gathered and fell
over all things. She felt timid and
afraid: but she calmed her fears as
best she might, and remained pa
tiently at her post.
An hour passed. What if he
were not coming 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 risen now, and its clear
rays showed her plainly that the
horseman was really William.
She stepped into the road; she for
got everything-all that had hap
pened thai day-and, raising her
voice. she cried, wildly:
"William-oh, William y
William checked his horse, and 1
paused irresolutely. His heart beat
tumultuously; he could not credit
bis own eyesight.
'Lott:e-you here !" he gasped. !
What is the matter?"
He sprang from his horse, and in