San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-10-25


elasping the slight form firmly with his
left arm.
ceiling to Inc, darling-so. Now Heaven
be our help"
He dropped into the tide which was only
a few feet beneath the window. Not cry
broke from the brave girl not for one second
did she lose presence of mind as the cruel
waters seized their prey; but she held her
lover as he had told her, SO rs to leave him
almost free. The pier lay not hundred
yards distant; il Darrell could keep
afloat for one minute, he and his precious
burden must be driven up against the pier,
and he could climb to almost certain
safety.
"Couragew he whispered, though even
in that wild moment he knew the eXhorta-
tion was needless; for the steadfast eyes
were fearless.
A whirling mass of water, deafening
roar in their ears, something huge and black
before their eyes, and DarrelPs right hand
was cutching with an iron grip beam Of
the pier. His fragile burden seemed less
than feather-weight as he swung her up
wards and she grasped the next beam. In
another moment they were on the pier,
and Philip Darrell had clasped the girl,
trembling and breathless, to 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 the pier, might
turn it over, and death would then be
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 magnif-
cent spectacle before them.
The villagers on the bank had seen them;
and mighty shout went up, and hat and
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 ARK of refuge began to move.
The current had caught one end, and the
unwieldy mass swung round. Darrell
watched the slow, gradual movement In
deathike silence. Clasped SO closely to
him, lima could feel every heavy throb of
his heart, and silently she offered up
prayer for both.
After three minutes of suspense, the
pier swung clean round, and drifted off
rapidly with the swift current. Then H.
ma, with a passionate sob, hid her face
on her lovers breast. He could not speak
he could only press his trembling lips to
her golden curls. Were they saved?
Straight down midstream sped the strange
bark; and the crowd-running, leaping,
shouting, waving hats and handkerchief
nj ba
fugitives-kept pace along the bank. In
three minutes more the Mill was far
distant.
"And the ndscape sped away behind,
Like an ocean flying before the wind"
"Would to Heaven" said Darrell, look
ing back, 81 could know if my brave Has
sans life was savedv'
They had passed the last struggling
house in Scarth Abbot, and now the stream
flowed less rapidly, and the moving piano.
rama glided by more gently.
"Bear up still, darling" whispered
Darrell; "Heaven will not desert US at
the last. The life has been given, the life
saved. The prophecy is fulfilled indeed"
81 know we shall be saved. Phillip
and she raised her face with trusting
still! standiny-see
Darrell looked back and saw the Mill
standing, tall and white, in the moonlight,
but as he gaZed the walls tottered, and,
for the first tiUe that awful night, lima
shrieked aloud as the mass of woodwork
fell over into the river.
In awe Philip Darrell and his companion
gazed still towards where the Mill had
4
to the guilty being swept away with the
ruin to terrible retribution; and even
Darrel's stern wrath was softened, for he
held his darling to his breast--saved-
while the dead mans mother would weep
in vain for the son who should never greet
her again.
A roar of many voices from the bank
made Sir Philip and lima turn quickly,
Driven by Il crOSs-current, their craft had
altered her course, and was drifting rapid
ly inland. What shout rang back from
Darrell to the frantic crowd! 1t seemed
rs if all the villages within ten miles round
had sent forth their population; for Scarth
Abbot could not bring together such
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 a carriage
near; but for the most part the spectators
could only shout inarticulately and weep
and laugh together for very joy.
Nearer yet There were stalwart viii
layers and farmers up to their knees in
water; and one old man was sobbing
aloud and crying out brokenly
eyes, tits fulfilled. That was it-we've
read it all wrong! He's saved the life,
and the curse is turned to blessingw
A loud shout was raised by the onlook-
ers. The bridge pier was aground. They
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