Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-10-30
CHATTER XII.

| tive; but, like many undisciplined char
acters, she was better than her impulses.
Scarcely had she reached the cottage In
which she and her father had sought tenn
porary shelter, than the full horror OF the
deed to which she had been party rushed
upon her. She did not know that Roland
intended to inform Sir Philip Darrell Of
the fate of his betrothed, I'm order to in-
yolye him in the same destruction; but,
what wrong had lima done her, Zeph was
now compelled to ask herself, that she
should be the girls murderessi What
wrong had Sir Philip done that, in order
| TO remove some one she hated, she should
rob him of tho woman he loved? Heston's
daughter had not actually blamed lima be-
cause Roland Sabine loved her; but she
had hated her with the unreasoning vim
dictivenesE OF half-sayage nature because
| lima was an obstacle, as the poor creature
imagined, to her own possible happiness.
! Remorse, when it came, was bitter and
overwhelming.
Perhaps too, though this came later there
was another feeling In Zephs heart--a
vague feeling that Roland might have In
tended to play her false, and spare lima
II she would consent to marry him. Zeph
did not believe that lima would consent
| w tulb Uub ~ lohh ANSe w WIZ
| determination which took possession Of the
girl to go to Sir Philip Darrell and tell
| him of llma's danger. He might yet be in
time TO save her; and for herself, Zeph
cared little. Nor would she now shrink
from sacrificing Roland-for the idea,
having once entered her mind, gained
strength with every passing moment-if
| he intended to break his word TO her.
Even her fathers part In the deed did not
deter the girl now; nor did she seem TO
remember at that moment that tho hope OF
saving lima must needs be frustrated II
the curse was to be fulfilled.
Standing at the door OF the cottage, she
saw her father at the lock-bridge. Not
second was to be lost. The girl fastened
out OF the house and up the slope, and was
running swiftly towards the open country
by the time Job Heston had crossed the
threshold Of his relatives dwelling and
roughly demanded where Zeph was.
Zeph knew every rood Of ground within
ten miles; and, dark though it now was
for the moon had not yet appeared-she
made her way unerringly towards the
Court. The girl had not yet run mile,
and was OH piece of open moorland, when
suddenly the moon broke through the
clouds, and by its light she saw borseman
coming straight towards her at swift
gallop. She recognized Sir Philip and his
horse Hassan, and, pausing, pulled the red
kerchief from her head and waved it wild
ly. The signal had tho desired effect
Darrell refined up within yard OF the
girl aud descended from his horse.
"Zeph Hsston, what do you want OF
meY He spoke sternly; he must have
read the evil tidings in her face.
un1 la 81 81
grasped the sleeve Of his coat In her in
tense eagerness--"but believe eyOry word
/ say. Look here, Sir Philip; came after
you, and you can hang me for this nights
| work"
ace on" he said almost fiercely, with a
horrible fear in his heart" sand If you
lie, woman though you are, you shall SUI
| fer"
81 speak the truth, 90 help me Heaven %
went on Zsyh rapidly. Trhe Squire came
20 father and me this afternoon, and said
we we're 70 get Miss Ilna into the Mill
The Squire said he'd put her there, and
sha Should be drowned tonight, for the
| Min would be washed away; and ran up
to the Grange garden and told Miss lima
that the Squire wAs drowned; and she ran
! down to the river, and father seized her
aud tssk her to the Mill. But, oh" cried
the wretched girl, covering down, "Pd
| give everytbin to save Miss lima now =
That's why came after you."
Not word did Philip Darrell speak
| With lvid brow and bloodless lips, he
sprspg upon his horse and was out Of sight
| OF Zeph in y few seconds; and, MS he dew
onwaras, there burst upon his ears the
awful sound Of rushing waters-net OF the
weir, but Of the feed.
"Llfs fer life fer ,raitsr's deed;
When shs feeds are cut. take heedi"
Ne heed tssk he--ns thought had he but
fer the enc dear life. He WAS riding mad
race with DsatA- II too late TO save his
love, he might YET be in time to die with
her.
view In the nssslight. The lsck was gsrs,
and far ever The opposite bank spread the
lake formed BY the tsrrest.
"Os, Hasssp--os ~ said Darrell, kis lips
deathly white, and his eyes fixed upss the
ens building standing amid the feed
"HaY'
The nyiag steed had dashed int tie
midst or . crowd Of villagers. Darrell
drew bride new, asd, absolutely heed
less Of the confuse. around hin Hxea his
piercing eyes upon The Mill scanning sv-
cry sperturs. Suddenly the bleed rushed
to his face, and . hssh Of hope--almest Of
rapturs-sprang int bis eyes.
"'Tis shell lima, my own, will save
thee, or die with theev
"6ir Philip" shouted an old farmer, lay
ing ne weak hand on Hassan's bride, syeu
shall not attempt TO crossl It is madness
--certain deathv'
"who will stop met" said Darrell, set
ting his teeth and snatching a pistol from
his breast. GLANDS OF, man, or say your
last prayerw
The old man fell back; and Sir Philip
dashed on along the bank, the water,
which was above the horses fetlocks, fiy-
ing in showers Of spray from the brave
steed's feet.
"The curse, the cursew rose from the
krror-stricken crowd. "Hc Is rushing
upon his death; 1t has come--'life for
life p"
"The slope of the ground on this side OF
the river had rendered the overflow COM
paratiyely slight, the flood spending itself
over the fat meadows on the opposite
bank. Sir Philip Darrell's object was to