The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-12-29
A STRANGE TALE.


river, dark and sullen, moved i'm It's
rocky bed like some gigantic serpent
half overcome by the lethargy cf
sleep.
Here and there the moonbeams fell
upon the surface EFF the water, great
spots of silvery whiteness amidst the
dark shadows east by the heavy foliage
of the cedar shrubbery, which grew
between the almost perpendicular
rocks of the high banks.
Fifty feet above the surface eff rthe
water they reared themselves, and nj
one point they jnttcd forward as If TO
salute each other, while the river be-
meath them doepened and narrowed.
AT this point bridge had once been
thrown across--a bridge which had
become "A complete ruin, one timber
alone remaining 90 mark the spot. one
long and narrOw bcam--it could not
have been more than SIX inches i'm
width--still maintained its place, and
i'm mute language informed the suang-
er that once there had been connec-
tion between Rocky Hill and the
mountains ON the other side.
Upon the surface of the river there
WINS email rowboat. containing a
slender orouching form wrapped in a
dark cloak.
From the top of the bank upon
either side this rowboat would have
been invisible, but IL was there, max
ing les way up and down past the
rocky,buttress which upheld the beam.
always avoiding the .moonlit spots up
ON the Irfver.
The sounds eff caFousalwere usurp-
ing the plaoe,of the.quiet of the night;
the drunken Jest and the coarse laugh
Ter 'bBenking in upon the sentimental
notes of '.Home, Sweet Home, sung,
YOU would have avorred. by some
lonely youth who was far from the
scenes of his boyhood, came plainly
To- the ears of this silent watcher upon
the river. who, il seemed, could not
tear herself awGy from the sounds
which came from the saloon upon the
rivers bank.
Once only did the moonbeams fall
upon her fair upturned face.
Ii was the face OF woman who
should never have been i'm that wild
lenely spot, listening for the sound Of
a Voice that had grown 10 address her
with refined words which were the
cruallest of the ,riluel, waiting there
npan that lonely riner, for--she knew
not what.
Murial Warner Mas the daughter of
wealthy parents. She had married.
when very young n young man whom
she Ind woIshipcd a. the embodiment
Of manly beauty. Friends and rcla-
iiyes had crowded about her with en-
vious congratulations. and for IA time
her lfe WAS perfect happiness.
But change had come. Fred War
ner Was not what he had seemed.
Only few short weeks of happiness.
and the handsome husband plunged
into the widest dissipation.
Friends remained 10 her rs long as
the money remained. and then they
began Ia hint that perhaps Muricl was
not altogether blameless
This was something which the
spirited wife could NOT stand. She
broke with relatives and friends. and
clung 10 the dissipated man who was
her husband.
From one city 10 another he had
dragged her with him. aud now he
had deserted her. and she had followed
him.
His was the cultured voice which
warbled Of Home. Sweet Home,
while his wife was n penniless half
crazcd creature out upon the river.
And she was penniless. for. regard
less OF food or shelter. she had paid
out her last coin for the use of the
boat which brought her, unseen, yet
nearer 10 him.
A quick sharp report broke In upon
the mellow voice Of the singer.
IL was repeated again and again.
IL was the report OF revolver.
Mnriei could hear the excited shouts,
the heavy tramplng Of feet, the bang
ing OF door, and then the weird cry,
"Murderln
Half paralyscd. the frightened
woman rested upon her oars Just
under the beam which had once be
longcd 10 the old bridge.
The sound OF heavy feet. rapidly
approaching. came from the bank
close at hand. and then dark form
rushed out between her and the noon
lie sky above her.
Ii was u mans figure, and he was
attempting To cross the river upon the
narrow beam.
Excited shouts and the tramp OF
hurried feet followed him 10 the rivers
brink.
Stop shouted voice. IL arrest
YOU for murder