The Forrest City times., 1892-01-15
the Laroae., ana tn. young squir. va.

Wrlst ana speakinR quite etcFniy m her agony and terror. "what has happenedy"
 "He's down therv, lady-in uncle's cot tagc-drowned. Father found him"
 But lima waited for no more; she ran down the slope neetly as deer she had reached the bottom, and had turned to ask Zeph, who was little way behind, where the cottage was, when a stslwart form-which even in that second she recog- nised as that of Job Hcston-sprang out before her, and, before she could utter a cry or word, thick shawl was thrown over her head, and she was lifted in a grasp against which her widest struggles would have been vain. She did not struggle, she did not try to cry out--it would have been useless if she had. She perceived, even in that bewildering moment of hor- Ter never to be forg tten, that she was tho victim of terrible deception--that Job Heston and his daughter were but the tools of Roland Sabine.
 "Don't hurt her, father," she heard Zeph say, as she was being borne rapidly towards the weir; but it's roar grew louder and louder, SO that Jobs muttered reply was lost In the thunder of the angry waters. Were they going to throw her overt She almost wished they were. But no; she was carried on--stiIl on, over the lock bridge. They were taking her to the Mill---tbe Mill that would be washed away that night. Where was Zeph nowf Gonei An, Heaven, there was some sense of pro tection while in her presencei She was . woman, evil though lima knew her to be.
 lima did not faint, not once did her keen wits desert her. Every faculty was sharpened. Sue quickly revolved the feasibility of any appeal to her captor, and dismissed 1t as worse than futile. In the first place, Heston was firmly con- yinced that Dark Darrell would perish in that nights floods, and therefore he would only laugh at her If shc promised him reward from her lover if he would save her; in the second place, she felt certain that, though the roar oftho weir prevented her from hearing anything else, Roland Sabine was close at haud, and possibly nay, probably--armed; so that treachery on Jobs part would be instantly frus- tratcd.
 Her cousins object was, she thought, to imprison her in the Mill, and to try to force her into promise to fly with him, leaving her, if she refused, to perish in the floods; and, horribly as this fate was, 1t was Elysium compared to that which she had first conceived, and which even now was not beyond possibilitys
 Her hurried reasoning was cut short by Job pausing; then he commenced to as- cend steps. He was going into the Mill. Then for the first time she heard steps fol- lowing. On they went, still on; they had passed the first floor. Next a somewhat steep ladder was climbed, something was set down, by the man who followed Job the man was Roland, lima kncw-and the next moment she was put down gently, the shawl removed. and she found herself in the disuscd corn-oft from the narrow window Of which she had gazed few days before, and Roland Sabine stood before her, the dim rays of lantern shining upon his ghlstly face.
 Not less ghastly was the face on which he dared not look, while the large brown eyes sought his in a very agony of appeal. Even Joo Heston, villain though he was, turned away, and seemed unwilling to gaze on the beautiful fragile creature he had brought to dreadful death.
 Roland first broke the terrible silence. He advanced a step towards his victim.
 sIlma," he said-amd his voice sounded hard and changed, as changed us his aspect -.you have nothing worse than death to fear. There is but one way to escape open to you.'
 The girl did not answer him; but he saw the look of terror pass from her eyes, and deep long breath of inefable relief made her breast hcave for q second. The horror of the situation was too new to be yet fully comprehendcd, and the thought of death as something to shrink from had vet to come; 1t was as all angel Of light that it came just now.
 Before Roland could speak again, Job strodes towards the large trap-door that gave adnittance to the loft.
 "I'm of, sir" he said. "Tain't safe to stay here long; and, if you'll take my ad. vice, you won't stay long. The floods may be up any hour, with the rain falling in the mountains as it is. Good-by. missy You dreed your own weird when you let Dark Darrell catch your fancy with his handsome face and glozing tongue" He uttered q harsh laugh, perhaps to hide some gleam of better feeling in his hardened nature, as he left the haplesi girl to her fate; and the next moment he had disappeared through the trap door and descended the ladder, whistling loudly. Roland sprang to the window--for lima did not stir step or move her ashen lips-and looked out. Was it the gleam of water that he saw immediately below! Was the river, in the few minutes that had elapsed, up to the door of the Mill! It had almost washed their feet as they entered, but now He turned, and suddenly graspcd Ilma's wrist, with | grip 90 strong that at any other time shs must have cried out; now she seemed
 beyond feeling physical pain.
 sIima," he cried hoarsely, "there art not many moments to lose; the floods ma,
 be on us directly. Do you understand | Come with me- fly with me-be my wife
 refuse, and leave you hero to perish There is no escape; and there is no rclent ing in me. would kill you with my owl hand.-he said those words through hi | teeth, his face close to hers, his hot breatl on her cheek--"sooner than see you ii | Philip DarreIps arms-his bride. Nov choose; there is no mercy. brought vol
 here tonight to choose between life witt me aud death with him."
 Steadily, calmly, with the awful roa | of the swelling waters in her ears, tin young girl looked into the face that scene, scarcely human. Low and firmly she spoke
 the Iirst words she had uttered in her fsta
 prisou-house.
 .I will die. l am not afraid to die.
 my time is so short, leave me alone to pray
 for am not sinless, though have dom you no wrong"
 | Roland relaxed his grip and fell back. l "Are you mad." he said in a hoars'
 whisper. Ibid you comprehend me whci | said die with him'y You shall not di
 alone--no. no--that were cruel"
 He lausned till the rafters rang, and tn
 girl recoiled with new and fearful ter
 TOT in her heart. Hollands wild word
 when he parted from her that morning