Nevada County picayune., 1890-10-23

| p'' 'OHN uoubt. AUU-Sec - pointing, with quiet, thrilling smile, to where the very center o the bridge went down before theil eyes and was engulfed in the swirl ing vortex-''that would have beer my fate,'
 Anstice shuddered, and, for the first time, lifted her eyes to the face of the man whose life she had saved. Then she started violently, and a flood of hottest crimson swept over her delicate, snow-white cheeks.
 "Why!" she cried, "it is Stu You are MT. Stuart Grey?" she cor rected, checking her abrupt. exclted tones.
 "ies, l am Stuart Grey" he an- swered, with look of astonishment, and giving vent to a soft, low whistle, ere he spoke. And you? Why" "a quick flash of intelligence light ming up his darkly handsome face "you must be my mothers little favorite, Miss Anstice Owen, of whom she has told me so much in her letters? An. 1 shall soon assure her that her love and confidence were not misplaced"
 Then he drew her trembling arm within his own, and, leading his horse by it's bridle, walked on beside her to her home. But he did not ac- cept her gentle invitation to go in.
 II must hasten home to set my mothers mind at rest" he said. "That is-with pleasant laugh-''I must ride back to the station and go home by the longer, but safer route. You see, Miss Anstice, not finding the carriage waiting for me upon the arrival of the train, l concluded they might have missed my telegram so. after waiting several minutes, l hired this horse and took the old shorten home, thinking to surprise them. And it would have proved the shortcut to eternity, but for you" he added, thrillingly, as he pressed her little hand and said: Good night"
 "So that is mothers little favorite, the minister's niece" he unused as he rode away. "'Not a beauty, by any means, so mother wrote of her, which is certainly the truth. But like her face; 1 like that pure, waxen complexion, so like a dainty, white flower: like those delicate, yet firmly-curved lips, so full of character and more than all I like those beautiful gray eyes-yes, they certainly are beautiful, through which one may clearly read pure, brave soul. Yes, by George !''- with a burst of irrepressible enthusi- asm-''if she isn't brave little thing l I'd like to know who is '"
 In due time Miss Ethel Travis came to make the visit to Mrs. Gray which she had promised. But her stay was not long one, and when she went away she left her betrothal- ring behind her.
 "l love you, Stuart" she con- fessed, her naughty blue eyes droop- ing; but l had not the courage to refuse the magnificent fortune that your rival offered me. And l came down here, because-the temptation was too great to take one last glimpse of happiness.
 "She is heartless tlirt, and shall never forgive her-never!" declared Mrs. Grey, indignantly, when Stuart informed her of it. My poor boy, her selfshness has ruined your hap. piness for life!''
 "Far from it, mother," he re- turned, with one of his own bright, winning smiles. "You forget that l asked Miss Travis to marry me be- cause-because it was your wish far more than my own. But there is | little Anstice, mother" r"-and his dark eyes, as we'll as his handsome lips, smiled softly now-'I think l have loved her since the very moment l first looked into her sweet face, when she had just crossed that sinking bridge to save my life. l wonder ii she will have me, mothcr!"
 As she listened, the indignant look vanished from Mrs. Grey's counte- nance, and great flood of happi' ness seemed to brighten all hel handsome face.
 "I think she will, my boy" sht answered, musingly.
 And if any have followed this lit tie story from it's first line to its last