Nevada County picayune., 1890-10-23


 out of hearing. and stood quite stil for n few minutes considering.
 Perhaps l had better have stayed at Mrs. Grey's tonight after all, a' she wished me to-" she thought, , trihe anxiously, although she wa was not coward. five grea mind to turn back even now. The, wouldn't feel anxious about me al home, because l didn't really know how long I should remain at Mrs Grey's. I wonder if the bridge is actually in as dangerous condition as the man supposed! Pshaw! the idea of it's being unsafe to trust my weight upon it!' and she almos, laughed aloud as she cast an amused glance down upon her own sligh, figure. "Well, I'll go on n little further anyway, and see for myself what the chances are for crossing" :"
 She hurried her steps now, and soon came quite close to the swollen stream, which, as the man had said was "rip-roaring' one just now, beyond any possibility of doubt.
 Anstice had brave heart, but it quaked little in spite of her as she looked at the slender, frail, plank bridge already beginning to tremble from the pressure of the dark, thun- derous waters plunging against it from beneath.
 She half turned to go back, when the thought of Stuart Grey made her hesitate.
 She knew that the carriage had in all probability been sent to the sta tion already to meet him, and some- how she felt strange relutance to lntrude upon the little home circle upon this one evening above all others.
 And as she stood there, wavering and undecided, straining her anxious gaze across the stream, she saw a horseman approaching from the oth- CT side, whistling, loudly and clear ly, some merry tune which showed that his mind was perfectly free from any thought of danger.
 Swift as a flash, however, Ansticc realized his peril, if he did not, and shouted it out 10 him across the swollen stream; but the noise of those turbulent waters, and the sound of his own lively whistling, drowned her voice.
 Still he came onward, and Anstice' s large, star-clear eyes grew dark and w,ld With terror.
 A little later and he would be upon the bridge! In the dusk which had fallen now it would seem, to unob- servant eyes, just the same as usual and he would not dream of danger until it was too late. Anstice waited no longer.
 ''I must save him" she cried, springing upon the frail structure, which swayed perceptibly even at the touch of her light feet. "I can cross in time perhaps. Surely it will not go down with me!''
 On she went, the bridge creaking and trembling more and more as the furious waters, with their loads of swirling debris, crashed against it.
 Before she was half way over the terrified glrl could hear the loosen ing of the blanks behind her, and her nervous limbs seemed unable to bear her onward.
 But only for second. The thought of her own peril and that of the stranger, who was surely rid ing to his doom unless she could stop him in another instant, reused her fainting courage, and she sped on like flash along the length of crcaking plank which she had yet to cross.
 On, on, with those devouring wa ters roaring beneath her, until at last, with one great, breathless spring, she stood upon the bank,
 Rven as she did so she felt the horses warm breath waited across her face, and, with an exclamation of astonishment, his rider drew him sharply back to avoid knocking her down under the startled animal s hoofs.
 "Oh, sir, for Gods sake don't go on that bridge!" the girl cried, pas sionately. "I have just crossed it to warn you of your danger. Look look the other end of it has broken away, and in a minute more it will