Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-01-22
AlebanIstvn Frederick County, AaHan Thursday January e. 1884,

must surely De Ine HappleSt Blil oli
earth.
For, to her mind, no ideal hero could
be handsomer than Stuart Grey, and,
from all his proud mother had told her
OF him, she was equally certain that no
king could be more worthy his fair
ladya love.
Absorbed IN her reveries, Anstice did
not notice what tagging pace she had
fallen into, nor how the afternoon light
was fading from the sky.
Moreover. the fears she had expressed
just before starting regarding the condi-
ton of the creek beyond were all for.
gotten.
1t was not until the voices Of two
!aboring men, passing her on their way
from work, came abruptly to her hear
ing that she thought Of the matter at
all.
ut is q good thing one Of them was
saying, "that there's so precious little
travel on tins short cut nowadays, for
that rip roaring OLD creek is so high just
now the bridge is hardly safe to bear a
mans weight, let alone a horse or vehI.
Gle. Shouldn't be s'priscd if the whole
thing 'ud be goner before midnight.
Ans,ce gave start as she heard the
omlnous words, and an anxious look
came into her sweet, pale face.
The men passed on down the road out
of hearing, and she stood quite still for
few minutes considering.
perhaps had better haye stayed at
Mrs. Grey's tonight after all, as she
wished me to do" she thought, trille
anxlously, attn )ugh she wAs not a
coward. "Ive Il great mind to turn
back even now. They wouldn't feel
anxious about me at home, becaure |
didn't really know how long should
remain at Mrs. Grey's wonder if the
bridge is actually in as dangerous con-
dition as that man supposed? Pshaw ::
the idea of its being unsafe to trust my
weight upoa it, and She almost
laughed aloud as she cast an amused
glance down upon her own slight figure.
well, | Il 90 Oh little further any
way and see for myself just what the
chances are for crossng.'
She hurried her steps now, and soon
came quite close to the swollen stream,
which, as the man had said, was Il
rip roaring one just now beyond amy
possibility of doubt.
Anstice had brAye heart, but it
onaked a little in spite of her as she
looked at the slender, frail plank bridge
already beginning to tremble from the
pressure of the dark, thunderous waters
plunging against it from beneath.
She half,turned to 60 back, when the
thought of Stuart Grey made her
hesitate.
She knew that the carriage had IN
all probability been sent to the station
already to meet him, and somehow she
felt strange reluctance to intrnde up
on the little home circle upon THIS one
evening above all Others.
AS she stood there. waverlng and
undecided, straining her anxious gaze
across the stream, she saw horseman
approaching from the other side, whist
ling, loudly and clearly, some merry
tnue which showed that his mind was
ncrfectly free from any thought of dan
ger.
Swift as a flash, however, Anstlce
realized his peril, if he did not, and
sh ,uted it out to h,m across the swollen
stream but the noise of those turbulent
waters, and the sound of his own lively
=
whistllng, drowned her voice.
Still he came onward and Anstice s
large, star clear eyes grew dark and
wild with terror.
A little later and he would be upon
the bridge In the dusk which bad
fallen now it would seem, to unobser-
want eyes, Just the same lis us''a|, and
he would not dream OF danger until 1t
was too late. Anstice waited no longer.
Il must save him = she cried, spring
ing upon the trail structre, which sway
ed pcrceptlby even at the touch OF her
light feet. II can cross in time per,
haps. Surely 1t will not 60 down with
Inc
On she went, the bridge creaking and
trembling more and more as the furious
waters, with their loads Of whirlinR
, debris, crashed against it.
Before she was half way over the ter
rlhed girl could hear the loosenlng Of
the planks behind her, and her nerve
less limbs seemed unable to bear her
, onward
But only for second. The thought
of her own peril and that Of the strang.
Ii Il