San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-10-24

YET 10 COluc IL NaS as I'LL ahSCi vi liShO
that it came just now.
Before Roland could speak again, Job
strobe towards the large trap-door that
gave admittance to the loft.
"Pm off, SIR" he said. sTain't safe to
stay here long; and, if you'll take my adj
vice, you won't stay long. The floods may
be up any hour, with the rain falling in
the mountains as it is. Good-by, missy.
You breed your own weird when you let
Dark Darrell catch your fancy with his
handsome face and glozing tongue"
He uttered harsh laugh, perhaps to
hide some CLEAN of better feeling in his
hardened nature, US he left the hapless
girl to her fate; and the next moment he
had disappeared through the trap door and
descended the ladder, whistling loudly.
Roland sprang to the window-for lima
did not stir step or move her ashen
lips-and looked out. Was it the CLEAN
of water that he saw Immediately below?
Was the river, in the few minutes that
had elapsed, up to the door of the Mill?
1t had almost washed their feet as they
entered, but now He turned, and
suddenly grasped Ilma's wrist, with u
grip SO strong that at any other time she
must have cried out; now she seemed
beyond feeling physical pain.
"Ilma," he cried hOarsely, "there are
not many moments to lose; the floods may
be OIL us directly! Do you understand?
Come with me fly with me-be my wife;
refuse, and l leave you here to perish.
There is no escape; and there is no relent-
ing in me. would kill you with my own
hand"-he said those words through his
teeth, his face close to hers, his hot breath
on her cheek-'sOOner than see you in
Philip DarrelPs srms-his bride. Now
choose; there is no mercy. l brought you
here tonight to choose between life with
me and death with him."
Steadily, calmly, with the awful roar
of the swelling waters in her ears, the
young girl looked into the face that seemed
scarcely human. Low and firmly she spoke,
the first words she had uttered in her fatal
prison-hOuse.
81 will die. | am not afraid to die. If
my time is so short, leave me alone to pray |;
for am not sinless, though have done
you no wrong"
Roland relaxed his grip and fell back.
care you mad?" he said in hoarse
whisper "Did you comprehend me when
said sdie with him? You shall not die
alone-no, no-that were cruel"
He laughed till the rafters rang, and the
girl recoiled with u new and fearful ter
ror in her heart. Roland's wild words
when lie parted from her that morning
came back to her. Was he mad?
mo, IN" said again more calmly,
but with Il concentrated terocity in tone
and look almost more terrible than his
frantic outbreak; "yOu shall see your
handsome lover once more. He shall clasp
you to his heart again and give you part
ing kiss. Do you understand me?"-
stopping before her, and folding his arms.
elf you choose death, l shall send to
Philip Darrell and tell him where you are /;
and l know him and his race we'll enough
to know what he will do. He will come p
With cry of agony the girl flung her.
self at her captor's feet.
"ROland, you cannot-you will not do
this! Kill me with your own hand-drag
me from here and fling me into that tor
rent-but, oh, spare him? Spare your
own soul that added guilt, Rolandw She
tried to clasp his hand in the passion Of
her pleading, as she saw that the very
proof of her deep love for his rival hard
ened still more the heart she Strove to
soften. Think what his grief will be
when am lost TO him, and by 50 awful .
death? Is it not enough to have my guilt
less blood on your head:"
.'He must fulfill the CURSE" answered
Roland, eyading her clasp; and, with a
wild CLEAN in his eyes, he stamped vio-
lently on the floor. "What does it say?
"'Ti'l the waters, rising, rising,
Bring the bounden sacrificing
Life for life for traitors deed;
When the l)o'ts are out, take heed!'
Spare him, when every word and look Of
yours show how you love him! No prayer
for your own life-but for his you 20 on
your knees and pray in agony! You can
save him if you choose. You have one
minute to make that choice"
lima rose from her knees. As she stood
erect before her would-be murderer facing
the narrow easement, the moon broke out
suddenly from behind L bank of clouds
and shot broad shaft of light into the
dreary loft, shedding pale glory upon the
marble features and the cleaning golden
hair.
81 will die with himr' said the girl.
There was silence. The two-murderer
and victim-seemed scarcely to breathe.
ROland's face was shrouded now in gloom,
the girls uplfted to the light, which SEEM
ed to come as an omen from Heaven; and
she breathed Il prayer for the man she loved
IA prayer for time-only time-that de-
struction might come to her so swiftly as
to shatter even the hope of his dying with
her, and so save him.
Hush, above the roar of the weir, and
the rushing river, what was that other
sound distant and faint, but recognized by
the girls quick ear? She had heard it OIL
the great ST Lawrence when the ice brnka