The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1888-10-27

and | are the sole survivors of our
race, and you are maiden young
and fair What inference do you
draw ?"
"Don't ask me-" said Ethel, shud-
dering. at is all too horrible. But
l do not, I will not, believe in the
curse. What became of Zorah, Aunt
Ellen ?"
"She disappeared. Hark, Ethel |
What was that?"
A dull, rumbling sound shook the
earth and air.
Ethel sprang to the window.
Half a mile distant the Platte
River flowed darkly, sullenly, be-
tween its shady banks. Like wild
beast, it roared and washed against
the bridge, until the giant structure
trembled and tottered.
Ethel watched it with fascinated
eyes. Suddenly there came a 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 was open,
with only narrow plank on either
side connecting the broken frag-
ments.
Ethel glanced up at the clock.
Halfpast 5 already, and the "hyer"
due at the little station at 6 sharp.
She turned Mortified look upon
her aunt.
"It stops for nothing" she said, in
husky voice, "and it goes like the
wind. Auntie. 1 must give the sig
nal there is no one else near
enoughp
"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 Lynnl Ethel Ethel |"
But Ethel was already on the rail-
road track, hurrying toward the
river, and gave no heed to her aunt's
voice of distress.
Onward she flew with breathless
haste, unheeding the sharp stones
which cut and brushed her feet at
every step, pausing not until she
reached the bridge, and the great
brown water tank loomed up before
her.
Clinging dizzily to the iron railing
she felt her way across the narrow
plank not daring to glance down at
the whirlirg flood beneath, lest she
should lose her balance and fall
AS she reached the other side,
faint and giddy, the whistle of the
incoming train broke upon the roar
of the angry river.
With the sound new life entered
Ethel's veins. Snatching the scarlet
shawl from her head, she ran along
the bridge, swaying it frantically, as
the fast express swept round the
curve. She saw that her signal was
observed. The speed of the train
was slackened, and with a sound as
sound as of roaring waters in her
ears she fell senseless across the tract
"And to think" said pretty Mrs.
Dacre, some six months later, "that
you should prove to be the last of
Delmaine's blood, Royce dear and
in saving you that awful day 1 lifted
the course from Lynn. How little l
knew l should meet my fate in one
of the passengers on that train sig
nailed Wasn't it strange ?"
every strange assented Royce
Dacre, regarding his beautiful wife,
quizzically. "When I picked you
up as you lay in dead faint across
the ties, l knew l had met my fate.
But, Ethel darling, have no faith in
the curse of Lynn, 1t is moonshine,
my dear. 1t is not in the power of
any mortal to pronounce lasting
curse. God only can do that, and
his mercy is infinite. Danish the
thought, my little wife,"
Ethel's fair face grew thoughtful.
Yet how well it all fits in, she said
rehectively. The opal ring was gone
from my finger when l came back
to consciousness, and no trace of it
has been found. 1t must have
dropped into the river. Then Aunt
Ellen marrying that dear old Major
Darlington your best friend, and my
marriage with you, brought the full
fillment of the prophecy. For the
race of Lynn has virtually ceased,
or is at least merged in that of Car
rington and Dacre."
"Mere coincidence, Ethel"
"Well, " said his wife with the very
prettiest pout in the world, "if it was
only a coincidence, you provoking
old skeptic. YOU must admit il was a