The Forrest City times., 1892-01-29
Dark DarreII's Bride.
CHAPTER xrn.-coNrrSuEp.

stream, rolling and rocking in the angry waters. Darrell at once perceived that it was the greater portion of the piers of the | famous bridge that Anneris Darrell had 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 it. At that moment something crashed below, and the old Mill shiyered and shook.
 "Ilma," said Sir Philip rapidly, "there is one hope-it lies there. If we can reach that pier before it swings round" He said no more, but sprang to the sill, clasping the slight form firmly with his | left arm.
 ceiling to me, darling-so. Now Heaven be our helpv'
 He dropped into the tide which was only few feet beneath the window. Not 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 hundred yards distant; If Darrell could keep afloat for one minute, he and his precious burden must be driven up against the pier, l and he could climb to almost certain safety.
 | "Couragew he whispered, though even | in that wild moment he knew the exhorta. tion was needless; for the steadfast eyes were fearless.
 whring mass of water, a deafening | roar in their ears, something huge and black before their eyes, and Darrell's 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! I There was danger yet. If the Mill should fall before the pier swung round, its frag- ments, dashing up against tho pier, might turn it over, and death would then be certain and instantaneous. Meanwhile the position of the fugitiyes was secure; and even in their great peril both gazed in awe and admiration upon the magnifi- cent spectacle before them.
 | The villagers on the bank had seen them; and mighty shout went up, and hat and handkerchiefs were waved. The shout came to them faintly through the roar of ! the weir, and Darrell waved his hand {; but he never moved his eyes from the Mill | l starlike eyes fixed, like his, on the white | walls, and pressed one kiss on the half parted lips.
 | Slowly the arK of refuge began to move. | The current had caught one end, and the unwieldy mass swung round. DaNell watched the slow, gradual movement in | deathliko 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 drfted of | rapidly with the swift current. Then H. ma, with passionate sob, hid her face | on her lover's breast. He could not speak he could only press his trembling lips to her golden curls. Were they saved? ' Straight down midstream sped the strange bark, and the crowd4-runniDg, leaping, ! shouting, waving hats and handkcrchiefs- as if such demonstrations could aid the fugitiyes-kept pace along the bank. In 1 three minutes more the Mill was far ' distant.
 "And the landscape sped away behind,
 Like an ocean flying before the wind"
 "Would to Heayen," said Darrell, look ing back, "I could know if my brave Has, sans life was savedw
 They had passed the last struggling house in Scarth Abbot, and now the stream flowed less rapidly, and the moving pano- rama glided by more gently.
 "Bear 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"
 ..I know we shall be saved, Philip v'-- l .l fna xxytt1 frsrc ttt,rx smile. She looked back. "The Mill Is still standing-see"
 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 l fell over into the river.
 In awe Philip Darrell and his companion eazed still towards where the Mill had once stood. The thoughts of both turned to the guilty being swept away with the ruin to q terrible retribution; and even Darrelrs stern wrath was softened, for he held his darling to his breast--sayed- 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 6 cross-current, their craft had altered her course, and was drifting rapid- ly inland. What shout rang back from Darrell to the frantic crowdl It seemed as if all the villages within ten miles round had sent forth their population; for Scarth Abbot could not bring together such . throng. Darrell could now distinguish several of the Court servants and others | whom he knew; and some one shouted in stentorian tones that there was carriage near; but for the most part the spectators could only shout inarticulately and weep and laugh together forGery joy.
 Nearer yet! There were stalwart vil- laeers and farmers up to their knees in water; and one old man was sobbing aloud and crying out brokenly
 "Yes, 'tis fulfilled. That was it-we've read 1t all wrong! He's saved the life, and the curse is turned to blessing"
 A loud shout was raised by the onlook- CTS. The bridge pier was aground. They were saved, saved by the love that gave all for Iove's sake. The life was yielded, and both lives redeemed; and thus was InRelhard's full deed plotted out and the curse turned back from DarrelPs house. How the people, wept, and shouted for toy! How they called down blessings on Ilma's golden head, and on her valiant lover who had breasted the raging floods for her sake, and borne her in safety through all Strong arms and gentle would have relieved him of his charge {; but he would not loose his clasp. Be- wildered now, dazed, like one brought suddenly from darkness to brilliant light, | lima cluno conyulsiyely torher preseryer,