Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-11-06
CHAPTER XIV, AND LAST.

ly, "She is reviying w--and she knew that
voice before she heard the yet softer
spoken china, my darlingW She opened
her eyes and looked up into Philip Oar
rel's dark face. She was in her own room,
and he was kneeling by her, with his arm
round her and head pillowed on his breast.
"Philipw she whispered, looking at
him intently. Then, as lie bent lower yet,
tenderly kissing her brow, memory rushed
back to her, and, with u muttered cry,
she chung to him. "Is it all past? You
are saved, Philip she said, gasping.
"There is no more danger'"
"No more, sweetheart" he answered.
"This is your own room, and here is aunt
Rachel"
"Dear aunt Rachelp'
The girl turned suddenly, stretching
out her hands and Darrell rose to make
way for Miss Durnford, who now wept
freely rs she clasped lima in her arms.
"Dear auntie," said the girl, after
long silence, cit has been like an awful
dream! cannot bear TO think Of it yetw
"And l would rather you did not, my
child. l am content TO wait. Now take
u little of this wine, and will go and get
you some tea; and Sir Philip will take
care of you till come back" And she
went out, leaving them alone together.
Then lima told her lover more Of The
details Of all that had passed before he
had reached the Mill, and how Roland had
removed the ladder from the loft where
she was imprisoned, so as TO cut off her
escape; but he had forgotten the shawl in
which JOB Heston had wrapped her head,
and be fastening this to ring In the floor
she was able to descend. And Roland?
Had nothing been heard Of him! Had not
his sisters made inquiry
"Rose came about ten minutes ago,
lima" said Darrell, "to ask about Us both,
and if anything was known OF Roland.
Zeph Heston must have spread the news
that he was in the Mill, for every one
seemed to know it. Nothing had been
heard of Roland by the river. | did not
see Rose, of course but / sent my groom,
who is here to make inquiries"
lima hid her face, sobbing.
"Oh, Philip, aunt Sabine need never
know the truthW
"She must indeed, for your sake, my
heart. cannot have it supposed that you
met Roland Sabine in the Mill of your
own accord. Another guilty soul beside
his, lima, has gone 10 its account for his
nights work"
"Job Hestonw
"Aye. The first rush Of the flood
washed away the cottage where he and
Zeph had taken refuge. Heston was swept
across the weir aud drowned before the
eyes of hundreds"
lima shuddered violently.
"And Zeph" she said, after a long
pause. "Was it Zeph who told you where
/ was, Philip"
ayes, dear one. l was riding towards
Scarth Abbot-more in n vague fear Tor
you than with any definite thought-when
i met her. She seemed TO have repented
her part almost Immediately"
Some idea of Zeph's reason for hating
her evidently flashed across Ilma's mind,
for her color rose but she said nothing, only
nesting TO her lovers breast. Presently
she said slowly
"Philip, il seems so strange that the
fulfilment OF the prophecy has come about
as | always tried TO hope it would; aud
yet il was by blind faith in only one pos
sible meaning attaching To the words that
the true meaning was made manifest"
In silence Darrell bowed his face on the
golden head. Love, peace, happiness! All
the dark clouds that had shrouded his life
were swept away suddenly by the little
hand that clung to his-the hand that
should yet caress his children. Ycster-
day he had been doomed man, and he
had cursed the fatal love that had brought
woe aEd death TO the woman he loved;
to-day, snatched by that love from death,
saved by the life laid down TO save hers,
that woman rested on his breast; and be-
fore them both stretched the golden years,
bright with dazzling light that now he
could not meet. For the first time during
that night Of passion and anguish, Of wild
hope, Of inefable dread, of terrible and
sustained effort, and blessed certainty Of
happiness, the strong spirit gave way,
and Philip Darrell weept aloud.
Up the village street was born on q
hastily-improvised stretcher a bruised,
shattered form, still breathing. II was laid
down I'm the common room OF the inn. Mes
sengers had already run on to tell Roland's
mother and TO fetch doctor, and the doc
tor was quickly on the spot. lie looked
down at the dishgured form In pity.
al can do nothing" he said; "it is USE
less to disturb him. lie has not five minutes
to live"
The doctor bent down to the dying man.
From n CHASTITY cash in his forehead blood
was slowly trickling. Roland tried to
speak
"Ilma--Dark Darrell-the curse"
"They are saved" said the doctor, his
voice trembling with emotion" Sir Philip
saved her. They are at the Grange"
A sharp spasm contracted the dying
mans livid features. He tried to speak
again, and in the effort rush Of blood
stopped speech and life at once, At the
same Moment Mrs. Sabine and her two
daughters fastened breathlessly through
the crowd.
"Keep her backp' cried the doctor,
hastily drawing a mantle over the crushed
form. "This is no sight for his motherW
4 great fragment Of the Mill had been
washed ashore nearly a mile down the
river, and man was seen clingng TO IL.
Sir Philip DarrelPs groom and another had
ridden into the water aud rescued the
hapless ereature-Roland Sabine--and the