Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-06-19

| Ton was neeulesS, Tor tue steaulusI eyes
were fearless.
A whirling mass of water, deafenlng
roar In their ears, something huge and black
before their eyes, anl Darrel's right hand
was clutching with an iron grip n beam OF
the pier. Ills fragile burden seemed less
than feather-weight as he swung her up
wards aud she grasped the next beam. In
another moment they were on the pier,
aud Philip Darrell hsS elsspad the girl,
trembling aud GREATNESS, 10 his breast.
Saved, saved--almost, but not quite
There was danger yet. If the Mill should
fall before the pier swung round, its frag-
ments, dashing up against tho pier, might
turn it over, and death would then bo
certain and instantaneous. Meanwhile
the position of the fugitiyes was secure;
and even In their great peril both gazed
In awe and admiration upon the magniJ-
cent spectacle before them.
The villagers on the bank had seen them
and n mighty shout went up, and hat ane
| handkerchiefs were waved. The Shout
came to them family through the roar OF
| the weir, and Darrell waved his hand !;
| but he never moved his eyes from the Mill
save once, when he looked down into the
starlike eyes fixed, like his, on the white
walls, and pressed one kiss on the half
| parted lips.
Slowly the ara of refuge began to move.
| The current had caught one end, aud the
unwieldy mass swung round. Darrell
| watched the slow, gradual movement in
| deathlike silence. ClaSped so closely to
him, lima could feel every heavy throb of
| his heart, and silently she offered up u
prayer for both.
After three minutes OF suspense, the
pier swung clean round, and drifted of
rapidly with the swift current. Then IL
ma, with passionate sob, hid her face
OIL her lovers breast. lie could not speak
he could only press his trembling lips to
her golden curls. WeI6 they saved!
Straight down mid>tream sped the strange
bark; and the crowd-running, leaping,
shouting, waving hats and handkcrchirfs-
rs IL such demonstrations could aid the
fugitiyes-kept pace along the bank. In
three minutes more the Mill was far
distant.
"And the land scape sped away behind,
Like an ocean Il ing before the wind"
0Would to Heaven" said Darrell, look
ing back, al could know IL my brave Has
Sans life was saved"
They had passed the last struggling
house in Scarth Abbot, and now the stream
flowed less rapidly, and the moving piano.
rama gIided by more gently.
"Bear up still, darling" whispered
Darrell; "Heaven will not desert us ut
the last. The life has been given. the life
saved. The prophecy is fulfilled indeed"
al know we shall be saved, Philip ~
and she raised her face with u trusting
smile. She looked back. "The Mill is
still standing-see
Darrell looked back and saw the Mill
standing, tall and white, In the moonlight,
hut rs lie gaZed the walls tottered, and,
for the first time that awful night, lima
shrieked aloud us the mass of woodwork
fell over into the river.
In awe Philip Darrell and his companion
gazed still TOWARDS where the Mill bad
once stood. The thoughts of both turned
to the guilty being swept away with the
ruin Ia a terrible retlibution; aud even
Darrell's stern wrath was softened, for lie
hetd his darling to his breast-sayed-
while the dead mans mother would weep
in ain for the son who should never greet
her again.
roar OF many voices from the bank
made Sir Philip and lima turn quickly,
Driven by crOSs-current, their ciaft had
altered her course, and was drifting rapid.
~ w NV "A Nuuul idlE DdGh lloln
Darrell 10 the frantic crowd! IL seemed
Us if all the villages within ten miles round
had sent forth their population; for Scarth
Abbot could not bring together sucn
throng. Darrell could now distinguish
several Of the Court servants and others
whom lie knew; and some one shouted in
stentorian tones that there was n carriage
near; but for the most part the spectators
n,,ly eli, fnurtf..,,lntnIt- al
and laugh together for very joy.
Nearer yeti There were stalwart VIII
layers and farmers up 10 their knees In
water; aud one old man was sobbing
aloud and crying out hrokenly
ayes, tits fulfilled. That was it-we've
read IL all wrong! He's saved the life,
and the curse Is turned TO bles>ingw
loud shout was raised by the oulOok-
ers. The bridge pier was aground. They
were saved, saved by the love that gave
all for loves sake. The life was yielded,
and both lives redeemed; and thus was
highlands full deed blotted out and the
curse turned back from Darrel'S house.
How the people, wept, and shouted for
joy! How they called down blessings on
Ilma's golden head, and on her valiant
lover who had breasted the raging floods
for her sake, and borne her in safety
through all! Strong arms and nile
would have relieved him OF his charge;
but he would not loose his clasp. Be-
wildered now, daZed, like one brought
suddenly from darkness TO brilliant light,
lima chung convulsively to her preseryer,
and only whispered
"Not to the Larches, Philip, not to the
Larches."
ono, my darling-home to the Grange"
Through all lie was perfectly collected
and strangely calm--there was need OF
calmness amid ali this excitement. Once
had lie spoken hurriedlv, and had almost
broken down, when lie turned TO one of
his own servants and asked
"Tell me-in Heavens name answer
truly-have yotl---has any one seen Has
sany Was lie saved?"
"He got to shorev' dozen voices cried
aloud. lie drifted down the current, and
got To shore and galloped away. It's true,
Sir PhilipV
"Ileaven be praisedv
Tliut was all he said, but 1t came in
deep sob from the depths of his soul. 1t
would have been II bitter drop in his cup
OF happiness If the brave horse had persisted
that night.
1t was the Grange carriage that stood
III the roau, ana Us Darrell carrieu lima
towards IL, one OF his servants told him
that all was In readiness Mt that place.
Miss Durnford had "borne up splendidly"
when she heard that Miss lima was inn
prisoned In the Mill and Sir Philip was gone
to save her. The man had brought u
change OF raiment from the Court for his
master, aud even now messenger had
ridden forward to tell the joyful news.
"Drive for your lfev' was Darrel's
order to the coacllman as he entered the
carriuva.