Nevada County picayune., 1892-04-28

iltlstlI,
She closes her key with a littl
snap, goes mp to the blazing fire il
the huge, ugly stove and holds on
her slender hands to its warm ra
dance.
The petted darling of wealth,
home and innnmerable friends In ;
common serge grown" She laughs
softly and rubs one hand up anC
down the sleeve of her dress. 81
wonder what Mr.. Chester would say
were he to see me now! All, pool
aunt, | wish you could have lived
But perhaps it is best as it is, and
am glad-glad you could not leave
me one dollar. Poor, proud Jack
When he hears that II, the sup
posed heiress-am poor, even poorer
than he is, will he come to me
them"
The door opens and slams, letting
in cold gust of rain, wind and
snow.
An, Lem, is that you?' she says
brightly, as a young giant of fellow
comes toward her, shaking the snow
from his clothes like great dog
How could you remember me on s
night like this? And no overcoat =
she exclaims. why, you will
freeze.'
His handsome face lights up witt
a smile that displays a dazzling row
of teeth.
Perhaps l stopped in to get
warm" he said roguishly, land moi
to see you at all. Why, it was only
yesterday that l saw youn'
Then the brightness dies out Of
his face, and some of the youthful
ness goes with it.
"Ah, what an eternity that has
been to me-" he says, his eyes darh
with earnestness. Every minute
spent away from You is blank.
never knew what it was to count the
minutes before you came. | never
had this restlessness before, bu
with you | am calm; you quiet me
just one glance from your eyes
that is enough
She lays one soft little hand OF
his powerful brown one.
Poor Lenn!" she says softly
Il am sorry"
He turns away and draws out
hand across his Goes, then smiles al
her in almost his usual light heartee
fashion.
by the way" he says, II am
afraid the bridge across the rivel
just below here will not hold 902 to
night if it is as lJaded as usual
Well, I'm OF; may he back this
way in an hour to help YOU keel
away the cold. y
He buttons his coat about hi'
throat, and draws his fur cap ovel
his eyes. At the door he looks bach
and hesitates.
II feel strangely reluctant to leave
YOU here all alone" he says wist
fully.
"Why, what could harm meT'
Nothing in all Trenton, that
know of-but--would you like me tC
stay with you?"
"How good you are!'' she says
but do you think wovld allow yol
to go without your supper in ordeI
that you may protect me from un
seen peril?" She laughs merrily
"No, Lem, | am as safe as it-as i
well, nothing can happen to me, a
all events. So go with clear con
science.
And this time he goes and doe
not look back,
She shivers a little as she remem
bers what he has said about tn
bridge. What a sudden chill of ter
ror his words had struck to he
heart.
The bridge will not hold SO2 /!
she says to herself. ut is throug
passenger and will not stop unless
signal it. | must find out. 1t
not due Tor half an hour yet. l shaI
have time
She throws long, dark cloak owe
her shoulders and takes down a re-
light from the wall. With anothe
Glance at the clock she rushes on
into the stormy black night. Dow
the track she speeds, the lanter
dancing through the darkness like
wl.o,the- -wisp. The bridge is ahou
a quarter OF mile from the static.
But she knows every step OF tn
way Suddenly a deep, roarin