The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-11-10

"What doggerel - laughed Ethel.
what is it all about Aunt Ellen Who
was this Zorah? and was this her
ring ?'
II Eever meant you to hear the story"
said Miss Lynn regretfully; but since
YOU know SO much, you might as well
know all.
''zorah Delmaine was gypsy girl
very beautiful in her wild, picturesque
style. So at least thought Morton
Lynn your great-great-grandia father. He
paid her great deal of attention-won
her love, in fact-and might have mar
ried her eventually had not sweet A my
Leigh appeared upon the scene and en-
shared him with her sea-blue ewes and
yellow hair.
THE consequences were he forsook
black-eyed, queenly Zorah, and mar
ried Amy in three months time.
''Zorah Delmaine met the bridal par
tv at the church door after the cere-
mony, and pronounced curse upon
the house of Lynn, to the effect that
each of that name should perish by
drowning Morton first, then lis de-
scendants in their turn. She threw the
opal ring given her by her false lover at
the feet ofthe pale young bride, saying:
My hearts blood stains tuat stone.
Take it, and with it my curse =
The bride was carried to her home
II a deathly faint; but Morton laughed
at the whole affair. Nevertheless he
was little startled on picking up the
ring to find that dash of scarlet in the
stone. A year later he was drowned in
attempting to ford the Platte River
when the current ran swift. He left
one son, who grew up, married and met
the same fate His son your grandfather,
L
Pacific Ocean. Ethel, how did your faith
er die ?'
'He was drowned" answered the
GIRL in low, flushed tones He fell
from the bridge, and the current carried
him under"
True" said Miss Lynn. You and l
are the sole survivors of our race, and
yon are maiden young and fair
What inference do YOU draw ?''
Don't ask me-" sail Ethel shudder-
ing. at is all too horrible. But | do
not, | will not, believe in the curse
What became OF Iorah Aunt Ellen ?"
she disappeared. Hark, Ethel |.
What was that ~
\ dull, rumbling sound shook the
earth and air.
Ethel sprang to the window
Half mile distant the Platte River
flowed darkIy, sulenly, between lis
shady banks. Like wild beast, il
roared and washed against the bridge
until the giant structure trembled and
tottered.
Ethel watched it with fascinated
eyes. Suddenly there came crash,
and the central props gave way and
were carried down stream by the angry
current. The trestlework fell with
them, and from the middle of the
bridge TO the great water tank on the
village side the bridge wes open, with
only narrow plank on either side con
meeting the broken fragments.
Ethel glanced up at the clock. Half
past already, aud the flyer" due at
the little station at 6 sharp.
She turned Mortified look upon her
aunt.
1t stops for nothing" she said, in
husky voice, land ii goes like the wind
Aunty, | must give the signat; there is
no one else near enough :"
Ethel, YOU shall not !" gasped Miss
Lynn, starting forward as her niece
caught up a shawl and flew toward the
door. Remember the curse of Lynn
Ethel Ethel -
But Ethel was already on the rail.
road track hurrying toward the river
and gave no heed 10 her aunt's voice of
dletIteS-
Onward she flew with breathIess
h1ste, unheeding the sharp stones which
cut and bruised her feet at every step.
paused rot until she reached the
bridge, and the great brown water tank
doomed mp before her.
Gins inc dizzily to the iron railing she
felt her way across the narrow plank.
not daring to glance down at the whirl-
ing flood beneath. lest she should loose
her balance and fall.
AS she reached the other side. faint
and giddy, the whistle of the incoming
traI broke upon the roar of the angry
river.
With the sound new life entered
EtbePs veins. Snatching the scarlet
S shawl from her head, she ran along the
bridge, waving II trantiCalilv. as the fast
express swept round the curve.
She saw her signal was observed. The
speed of the IT ain was slackened, and
with sound as OF roaring waters in her
ears she fell senseless across the track.