Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-06-12

/ Ah's WY 4 Ctule ultcI lOus
Not word did Philip Darrell speak
With liyid brow and bloodless lips, he
sprang upon his horse and was out OF sight
or Zeph In few seconds; and, rs he flew
EDWARDS, there burst upon his ears the
awful sound of rushing waters--not Of the
weir, but Of the flood.
"Life for life for traitors deed;
When the floods are out, take hesdi"
No heed took he--no thought had he but
for the one dear life. He was riding a mad
race with Death. IL too late to save his
love, he might yet be In time TO die with
her.
In another moment the river was in full
view In the moonlight. The lock Was gone,
and far over the opposite bank spread the
lake formed by the torrent.
"On, Hassan-onv said Darrell his lips
deathly white, and his eyes fixed upon the
one building standing amid the Hood
"Haw
The flying steed had dashed into the
midst Of n crowd Of villagers. Darrell
drew bride now, and, absolutely heed
| less of the confusion around him fixed his
| piercing eyes upon the Mill scanning ev-
cry aperture. Suddenly the blood rushed
to his face, and flash OF hope--almost of
rapture-sprang into his eyes.
WTis shel lima, my own, will save
thee, or die with thee"
"Sir Philip" shouted an old farmer, lay
| ing no weak hand OH Hassan's bride, 'syou
shall not attempt to cross! 1t is madness
certain deathW
"Who will stop me!" said Darrell, set
ting his teeth and snatching a pistol from
his breast. GLANDS of, man, or say your
| last prayerv'
| The old man fell back; and Sir Philip
dashed off along the bank, the water,
which was above the horses fetlocks, fly
| ing in showers of spray from the brave
stced's feet.
"The curse, the CURSE" rose from the
terror-stricken crowd. "IIc is rushing
upon his death; it has come-'lilc for
| life y"
"The slope of the ground OH this side Of
| the river had rendered the overflow COM
| paratively slight, the flood spending itself
over the fiat meadows OH the opposite
bank. Sir Philip Darrelps object was TO
| reach q point where u crossing might pos
| sibly be effected. To attempt to cross inn
mediately below the weir would be simply
suicide.
The crowd followed breathlessly Oh the
JOp vi tuC DtHhs tuc iiNtA
below. Not one man OF woman there had
the faintest hope that he would reach the
centre of the river alive. True, the river
had spent its greatest fury now that it
was released from its narrow bounds; but
the current was still swift and strong, and
branches OF trees and wrcckage were be-
| ing swept along. No man, the villagers
thought, unless aided by supernatural
! nowar could live i'm that stream
Sir Philip had paused now. lie bent
over his horse and patted his neck, and
then lifted his right hand toward the
heavens. The next moment the noble steed
plunged into the river, and great cry
went up from those who saw the gallant
deed; and the women fell upon their knees
and prayed aloud for the doomed lord of
Darrell.
1t did indeed seem rs if Philip Darrell
had merely rushed upon death-the strong
current swept horse and rider downwards
for some distance, and it was only with
difficulty the noble animal could hold his
own.
"f3ear up, my HassanW cried Darrell
encouragingly, caressing the arching neck.
The Arab obeyed the guiding hand, and
turned athwart stream; they were half
way to the center now, and Hassan was
painting, but struggling yaliantly. Darrell
called TO the noble horse TO strive yet u
little while. When they had reached mid
stream, Hassan's powers were failing, and
his breathing was labored and distressed.
"My brave steed my hope, my life, do
not fail me now ~ cried Darrell, in agony.
ga little longer, Hassan! There-another
effort! We shall reach the bank-we shall
save her, my Hassanw
Clouds had yelled the moon, and the
people OH the Scarth Abbot shore could no
longer see the two battling with the wa
tiers. The dark eyes that saw them from
the Mill for a moment after the first
plunge, lost sight of them when the tide
carried them down, and lima prayed fer
vently that her lover might be saved from
the terrors Of the flood.
The moon came out again. Where were
they? The villagers asked themselves
Had horse and rider been engulfed in the
rushing river? Was the curse fulfilled
thus, and had the life Of the last Darrell
paid the exacted tribute! No; they could
see that horse and rider had reached what
had been the bank that morning. The
horse was swimming still; but the water
was just over the saddle-girths. In another
moment the horse stopped with dropping
head. They could see Dark Darrell BEND
ing over him. He seemed TO clasp his
arms about the horses neck and cry Of
Joy and thanksgiving went up. 1t reach
ed the brave riders ears, and lie sent up
an answering shout of triumph. The
horses feet had touched ground. He had
won the mighty battle; and trembling and
exhausted, lie had stopped TO rest and
gather fresh strength.
But the peril was not yet past. The
Mill had to be reached. Ii was still stand
ing. For only moment did Sir Philip
suffer the horse to halt; then turning him
! back towards the Mill he rode EDWARDS,
! the water still washing up to the saddle
| girths. 1t was impossible to exceed a
walking-pace; and in every second Dar-
reli lived an hour of agony. At any mo-
ment the Mill might collapse before his
eyes, carrying with it its bapless prisoner.
As he drew nearer Sir Philip perceived
| IL would be necessary to swim again to
reach the Mill. The current too, grew
stronger every minute, augmented here
| by the weir. Was he to lose all when 1t
was nearly within his grasp? Hassan's
| great power of endurance had been taxed
10 their utmost. The brave animal could
slo little more. He could scarcely keep
his feet against the wash of the flood (;
but he struggled on, still on, urged by his
masters voice and cheered by his loving
touch.
"One moment more my Hassan--one
J momenti Oh, heaven, have mercy yet,
aud spare her till 1 come! Hassan, my
| brave, my faithful, you cannot fail me /!
/ strive still, my noblest, my bestl So, once
n more! All, Heaven, give us aidw
The horse was off his feet, swimming
I for dear life. lie had no breath for the