The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1891-11-20
Dark Oarrell's Bride.
cHArTEn xlL-coNTNuEn


tween the AIll aud tie mass OF timber,
aud he calculated the chances Of reaching
it. At that moment something crashed
below, aud tue old Mil shiYered aud shook.
ssIlma," said Sir Phillip rapidly, ssthere
is one bOpe-it lies there. II we can reach
that pier before IL swings round -"
He said no more, but sprang TO the sill,
elaspIng the slight form firmly with his
lelt arm.
ssClInS 20 me, dATling-sO. Now Heaven
Be our heIpP'
He dropped into the tide which was only
AfeW feet beneath the window. Not n 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 ~ he had told her, so rs to leave him
almost free. The pier Law not y hundred
yards distant; if Darrell could keep
a6Oat for one minute, lie and his precious
burden must be driven up against the pier,
and he could climb to almost certain
safety.
.sCourage"' lie whispered, though even
In that wild moment he knew the exhorta-
tIon was needless; for the steadfAst eyes
were fearless.
A whirlinE mass OF water, = deafening
roar In their ears, something huge and black
before their ewes, anil Dsrrell's right hand
was clutching with an iron grip beam Of
the pier. His fragile burden seeBled less
IMAM IeaLncr-Wetgut ~ he swung hcr p
wards aud she gras ped the next beam. In
another moment they were on the pier,
and Philip Darrell had clasped the girl,
trembling and breathieSs, TO his breast.
Saved, saved-almOst, but not quite!
There was danger Yet. II the Mill should
fall before tile pier swung round, its frag-
ments, dashInS up against tho pier, might
turn it over, aud death would thcn lie
certain and instantaneous. Meanwhile
the position OF the fugitiVes was secure;
and even in their great peril both gazed
in awe and admiration upon the magnih-
cent spectacle before them.
The villagers on the bank had seen them;
and = mighty shout went up, aud hat aud
handkerchiefs were waved. The shout
came TO them family through the roar or
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 ono kiss on the half
parted lips.
Slowly the arE OF refuge began TO move.
The current had caught one end, aud the
unwieldy mass swung round. Darrell
watched the slow, gradual movement I'm
deathlike silence. ClI>ped so closely To
him, lima could feel every heavy throb Of
his heart, aud silently she offered up
prayer for both.
After three minutes OF suspense, the
pier swung clean round, and dritted OF
rapidly with the swift current. Then IL
ma, with passionate sob, hid her face
on her lovers breast. lie could not speak
he could only press his trembling lips TO
her golden curls. Were they sayedg
Straight down mid>tream sped the strange
Aark; and the crowd-Tunning, leaping,
shouting, waving hats and haudkerchirfs-
As IL such demonstrations could aid the
fugitives-kept pace along the bank. In
min far
distant.
And the landscape sped away behind,
Lhean ocean d sing before the wind
ssWouid to Heaven" said Darrell, look
ing back, II could know II my brave Has
sans life was saved"
They had passed the last struggling
house in Scarth Abbot, and now the stream
flowed less rapidly, and the moving panO-
rama glided by more gently.
UBear up still, darling" whispered
Darrell; "Heaven will not desert us At
the last The life has been giVta, thu ffe
saved. The prophecy is fuifi.lcu indetd."
al know we shall be saved, Philip -
and she raised her face with a trusting
smile. She looked back. ''Tbe Mill Is
still standing-seeH'
Darrell looked back and saw the Mil
standing, tall aud white, I'm the moonlight,
but a. he gazcd the walls tottered, and,
for the first time that aw ful 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
once stood. The thoughts OF both turned
70 the guilty being swept away with the
ruin TO n terrible retribution; aud even
Darrell's stern wrath was softened. for he
held his darling to his breast-SIVed-
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 4 cro>s-cuTreut, their craft had
altered her course, and was drifting rapid
~ inland. What shout rang back from
Darrell TO the frantic crowdl IL seemed
IS IL all the villages WITHIN ten miles round
had sent forth their population; for SeaTth
Abbot could not bring together such
throng. Darrell could now distinguish
several OF the Court servants aud others
whom lie knew; and some Que shouted in
stentorian ton-s that there was = carriage
near; but for the most part the spectators
could Only shout inATticulateiy and weep
and laugh together for very joy.
Nearer vet! There were staiwart viii
layers aud farmers up 20 their knees in
water; and one old man was sO5biug
aloud and crying out broSenly
eyes, tits fulfilled. That was Twelve
read IL all wrong. He's saved tho life,
and the curse IS turned TO bles~inET'
A loud shout was raised by the oulo0k-
erS- The bridge pier was aground. They
were saved, saved by the .ove that gave
ali for loves sake. The lie was yield 81,
and both lives redeemed; and thus WAS
highlands full deed blotted ont and the
curse turned back from DarrelPs house.
How the people, wept, aud shouted for
ioyi How they called down blessings on
Ilma's golden head, and on her valiant
lover who had breasted the raging foods
for her sake, and borne her I'm safely
through ALL Strong arms and ntle
would hare relieved him OF his charge;
but he would not loose his clasp. BE-
N.rildnraH dnreh He hr-aiI.rIlR