The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-11
[CoPYRIeHT, 1892, BY TnLorsoN & soN.I

For her plea for mercy was, "For God
sake no-Ralph, don't-you dare not do it,
And with IL her hands went out, not 20 self
defense, but TO cling to him as IL by bodily
force. since all else was unavailing to kseI
him back from the accomplishment OF hi:
fell purpose.
For a moment or so, strange as it may
seem, he did not shake her of.
had any eye Of man seen them so stand
together, 1t might easily have believed that
he 1t was who was being overcome-by
good-not so resolutely set to accomplish
such terrible evil
Set, truly, he was for the girl was NOS
content with her first, as it were. imPulsive
pleading, but did not fail TO substantiate it
by every means in her power. By every
endeavor, every womans art she strove TO
win from him the mercy she knew all the
while would not be vouchsafed. Rearing
up before him in new, strange, almost awe
some beauty; falling on her knees IN her
prayerfulness; sCrupliDg not merely To cling
to him, but to Irvine her long arms round
bis neck; ay, even at last to
press, not merely her facial glowing now
with the intensity Of her earnestuess-to
his cold marble one, but to rain upon it
kisses even upon the lips which had already
spoken in matt 81 in which they for once
at least were not likely to have lied.
All, it was strange, most strange to think,
and terrible as strange, such a scene.
Surely never before had these womanly
arts been used to such an eud. To subdue
and cajole for love or vanity, often. to win
the precious boon Of life-nay more, TO
save a soul if such savings could be-
! never
But to no avail
| Though that last touch-the kisses on
his lips-1night have stirred him to some
response of whatever sort, it was not so
with Royal. 1t was the striking Of
chuch clock in the distant town which
| called him TO act.
The time was come for what he had set
himself to do, and he would do it,
That he had displayed no weapon, nor by
any gesture ind Gated the possession of such,
had not caused the girl to doubt the full
ness of his dark intent
1t had been her eyes indeed, which had
travelled so often, while she had pleaded, to
the narrow stream which ran almost at
their feet as they stood. She knew il was
deep and swift and would serve his purpose
as surely as he in setting himself TO mis- task
had been assured that chance was as certain
to betrlend him in this instance as in every
other.
None the less, because of that knowledge
when reused to action at last. it was, as it
were, an Involuntary one. Namely, max
ing a step back from her be all but lost his
balance on the sloping bank, so that with a
cry at last of fear, sue made a movement
forward, and caught him by the arm.
Had it been his trick to put her off her
guard or nots
1t mattered little; but at least he had a
little overcalculated his balance, and must
have fallen into the rushing stream but for
her.
And so she had saved him.
But least of all could that save herf
He recovered himself sooner than she.
1t was donel Heaven alone knows howl
Did he catch her up in his arms In the
embrace she had ever prayed for in vain
and SO cast her headlong into the cruel
waters Or did he strike at her as she stood
before him-strike her down like log to
the earth. and then drag her by her glory of
dusky hair TO rivers the reedy edge, and so
let her be sucked downtown into sur1ing
tides 1t mattered little.
IL was done-this other deed of dread
She who so lately had stood up in all her
pride Of life and beauty, lay upon the
bosom Of the rushing stream still as already
lifeless.
Not as in that other case would this
crime be hidden.
This little river could not keep Its secret
as did the mighty London one.
Not hiddenl
Who says notl The stream, it was true,
was not wide nor so well-sto with such
secrets as to confound them but it would do
u X
gaunt monster with not merely gaping
jaws. but grinding teeth, which would
devour, or at all events rend to pieces, be-
yond all recognition, whatsoever came
within its reach.
The swiftly-howing water would bear its
burden, swiftly. swiftly to where the tor
rent became an eddy, to where the great
mill wheel whirled INCREASINGLY round and
round. There would be not a sound other
than OF splash and roar of the water; the
wheel would grind perhaps a little slower
than usual, stagger even for a moment, and
then go on, on, on as ever, and not trace
be left save dull, red stain for a while on
the snowy foam, soon alike to fade and die
out
Chance again, 1t seemed-a ghastly
chance favored the murderer.
But he could neither rejoice or be glad
Only his work done-hee away-away from
the place as far as his feet would carry
him
1t was we'll he did so, for the consumma-
ton of his plans seemed to be likely TO be
even yet more horrible that had at first
seemed possible.
Reused from her insenslbility by the
touch of the icy water, the drowning woman
made frantic efforts to save herself, seeking
to stay her course by means of the weeds
and grass at hand, but in vain only to drift
nearer and nearer the even yet more certain
more terrible destruction.
This truth, aforementioned or recognized
in the other danger. suddenly seemed to
burst upon her.
For the moment the knowledge so par
alyzed her strength of mind and body that
her senses seemed again on the point of
leaving her. But in time she gathered up
the strength to try and save herself once
more, though the cry of bitter anguish
which was wruug from her lips seemed ut
terly vain in those desolate regions. There
were OF course men at work In the mill but
the noise of water and the machinery would
OF necessity deafen their ears 10 any voice,
most of all one so weak and faint as hers.
But 1t has been said, In time, she cried out
For desoIate as was the spot-the muir
derer even already too far away for the
faintest echo of it TO reach him even had he
not been deaf to to any sound but the
humping of his doubly- burdened heart
against his side-the cry for help was none
the less heard and answered.
us 1t my fancy, or are they already on
my tracks 1t is sooner than | said; but
what il they have followed up the clew
sooner to meke sure. l distinctly saw three
figures dart across the edge of the copse.
Royal was right l haven't a moment to
lose. but | will see her once more and do
what l can to put myself right in her eyes.
IL they are after me, that cut across the
common and back around to the edge Of the
a