Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-01-22

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ment, his rider drew him sharply back
to avoid k,,ockiug her down under the
startled animals hoofs.
ooh sir, for Gods sake don't 60 on
that bsadge!' the girl cried, passionate
ly, catching the bride IN her desperate
earnestness. 81 have just crossed it 70
warn you of your danger. Look look!
the other end of it has broken away,
and in minute more it will all be gone !
! Oh, ttank God thank God I was rot
too late to save you!"
"Save me you did, indeed. my noble
girl" responded the stranger, springing
down from his saddle, after one swift,
l.orri6ed glance at the now ruined
structure, te support his almost tainting
rescuer. "For, if ycu had not checked
me, should have been hallway across
1t now. beyond doubt. And-see'
pointing, with quiet, thrilling smlle,
to where the very centre Of the bridge
went down before their eyes and was
engulfed in the swirling vortex-"that
would have been my fate!'
Austlce shuddered, and, for the first
time, lifted ner eyes to the face of the
man whose life she had saved. Then he
started violently, and food of hottest
crimson swept over her delicate, snow.
white cheeks.
"Wny!' Si,o cried, cit is STU You
are Mr.. Stuart Grey p she corrected,
checking her abrupt, excited tones.
"Yes, | am Stuart Grey he answer
ed, with a look of astonishment, and
giving vent to soft, aow whistle ere
he spoke. "And you ? Why "a quick
flash of intelligence lighting up his
darkly handsome faee-"you must be
my mothers little favorite, NJ iss Anstice
Owen, of whom she has told me so much
in her letters? All: shall soon assure
her love and confidence were not mis-.
placed"
| Then he drew her trembling arm
within his own, and, leading his horse
by its bridle. walked on beside her to
her home. But he did not accept her
gentle lnyitation to go in.
If must hasten home to set my
mothers mind at rest" he said. That
is'-wlth pleasant laugh-"I must
ride back to the station and 20 home
by the longer but safer route. You see
Miss Anstlce, not fuding the carriage
waiting for me upon the arrival OF the
train, | concluded they might have
missed my telegram so, after waiting
several minutes, hired this horse and
took the old short cut hon,e, thinking to
surprise them. Aud it would have
proved the "short.cut to eteruity-but
for you" he added thrlllingly, as he
pressed her little hand end SAID; Good
night"
$50 that is mothers little fayorite,
the minister's niece" h. unused, as he
rode away. Not IL beauty by any
means so mother wrote of her,
which is certainly the truth. But |
like her face, like that pure, waxen
complexion, so like a dainty white flow
er, like tn ose delicate, yet firmly ourv-
ell lips, SO full of character and more
than all, like those beautiful gray eyes
yes, they certainly are beautiful
through which one may clearly read a
pure, brave soul. Yes, by George -
with a burst of irrepressble enthusiasm
IF she isn't brave little thing Ia
like to know who Is -
In due time Miss Ethel Tlavis came
to make the visit to Mrs. Grey which
she had promised. But her stay was
not a long one, and when che went
away she left her butrothal ring behind
her. Il love you, Stuart she confess,
ed, her naughty blue eyes dropping;
"but | had not the courage to refuse
the magnificent fortune that your rival
offered me. And came down here,
because the temptation was too great
to take one last glimpse Of haprines. >
"She is IL heartless tlrt, and | shall
never forgive her-never !" declared
Mrs. Grey, Indignantly, when Stuart
informed her of it. my poor boy, her
selfishness has ruined your happiness
! for life y
Far from 1t mother, he returned,
with one of his own bright, winning
smiles. You forget that | ASKED Miss
Travis to marry me because-because
it was your wish far more than my own.
But there is little Anstio,e mother
and his dark eyes as we'll as his hand
some lips, smiled softly now-'l think
have loved her since the very moment
T first looked into her sweet face, when
she had Just crossed that sinking bridge
10 save nv life. wonder if she will
Lov, mn poother1 y