Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-11-06
Dark Darrell's Bride.
CHAPTER xIn.-coNTINuED.

Famous DlluSe thaL AnneIls D"IIoh hau
refused to cross. Quick as lightning his
practised eye measured the distance be-
tween the Mill and the mass of timber,
and he calculated the chances OF reaching
il. At that moment something crashed
below, and the old MIL shivered and shook.
"Ilma," said Sir Philip rapidly, "there
is one hope-it lies there. IL we can reach
that pier before it swings round"
He said no more, but sprang TO the sill,
clasplng the slight form firmly with his
left arm.
"Cling to me, darling-so. Now Heaven
be our helpw
lie dropped into the tide which was only
q few feet beneath the window. Not u 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 as he had told her, SO as TO leave him
almost free. The pier lay not a hundred
yards distant; If Darrell could keep
afloat for one minute, he and his precious
burden must be driven up against the pier,
and he could climb TO almost certain
safety.
"Courage" he whispered, though even
in that wild moment he knew the exhorta-
tion was needless; for the steadfast eyes
were fearless.
A whirling mass Of water, deafening
roar in their ears, something huge and black
before their eyes, and DarrelPs right hand
was clutching with an iron grip beam Of
the pier. His fragile burden seemed less
than feather-weight as he swung her up
wards and she grasped the next beam. In
another moment they were on the pier,
and Philip Darrell had clasped the girl,
trembling and breathless, to his breast.
Saved, saved-almost, but not quite
There was danger yet. If the Mill should
fall before the pier swung round, its frag-
ments, dashing up against the pier, might
turn it over, and death would then be
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 magniti-
cent spectacle before them.
The villagers on the bank had seen them;
and a mighty shout went up, and hat and
handkerchiets were waved. The shout
came to them family through the roar OF
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 one kiss Oh the half
parted lips.
Slowly the arg Of refuge began to move.
The current had caught one end, and the
unwieldy mass swung round. Darrell
watched the slow, gradual movement in
deathlike silence. Clasped SO closely to
him, lima could feel every heavy throb Of
his heart, and silently she offered up
prayer for both.
After three minutes Of suspense, the
pier swung clean round, and drifted of
rapidly with the swift current. Then IL
ma, with a passionate sob, hid her face
on her lovers breast. lie could not speak
he could only press his trembling lips to
her golden eurls. Were they savedi
Straight down midstream sped the strange
bark; aud the crowd-running, leaping,
shouting, waving hats and handkerchiefs-
as If such demonstrations could aid the
ugitives-keprpac along the bank. In
three minutes more the Mill was far
distant.
"And the landscape sped away behind,
Like an ocean flying before the wind"
ing back, al could know IL my brave Has
sans life was savedp
They had passed the last struggling
house in Scarth Abbot, and now the stream
flowed less rapidly, and the moving piano.
rama glided by more gently.
4Bear up still, darling" whispered
Darrell; "Heaven will not desert us at
the last. The life has been given, the life
saved. The prophecy is fulfilled indeed"
81 know we shall be saved, Philipp-
and she raised her face with trusting
smile. She looked back. "The Mill is
still standing-seer
Darrell looked back and saw the Mill
standing, tall and white, in the moonlight,
but as he gazed the walls tottered, and,
for the first time that awful night, lima
shrieked aloud as the mass OF woodwork
fell over into the ritter.
In awe Philip Darrell and his companion
gazed still towards where the Mill had
once stood. The thoughts Of both turned
to the guilty being swept away with the
ruin to a terrible retribution; and even
Darrell's stern wrath was softened, for he
held his darling to his breast-saved-
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 q cross-current, their craft had
hlbCICu anu WAS
ly inland. What q shout rang back from
Darrell TO the frantic crowdl IL seemed
us il all the villages within ten miles round
had sent forth their population for Scarth
Abbot could not bring together such
thrsng. Darrell could now distinguish
several OF the Court servants and others
whom he knew; and some one shouted ia
stentorian tones that there was a carriage
near; but for the most part the spectators
could only shout inarticulately and weep
and laugh together for very joy.
Nearer yet There were stalwart viii
layers and farmers up to their knees in
water; and one old man was sobbing
aloud and crying out brokenly
AYES, tits fulfilled. That was Twelve
read it all wrong! He's saved the life,
and the curse is turned to blessingv
A loud shsut was raised by the onlook-
era The bridge pier was aground. They
were saved, saved by the .ove that gave
all for loves sake. fhe life was yielded,
and both lives redeemed; and thus was
highlands full deed blstted cut and the
curse TUNED back from Darnelps house.
How the people, wept, and shouted for
joy! How they called down blessings on
Ilma's golden head, aud on her valiant
lover who had breasted the raging floods
for her sake, and borne her In safety
through oil Strong arms and gentle
would have relieved him of his charge: