The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-05-11

none too stiddy on its under pinnin',
fer the water that's ragin' and tearin'
down the creek. No. stree! / hain't
goin' teW hitch them ar bosses up fer
any SIGH puppus, not if I git my walk
in'-papers fer it the next mint, the
old man averred, obstinately.
Williams was always allowed his own
way in such matters; and Fay knew
that an appeal to her grandmother
would be useless. "
But she soon decided what she should
do; and she purposed to do it before
there could be any chance for opposi-
ton.
She wrapped her dainty ball dress
of white gauze and pink satin, with
her gloves and fan and pretty satin
slippers, into a snug parcel, then she eX-
! changed her house gown for a riding
habit. And the instant Williams was
a safe distance from the stables, she
| made her way out Of the house, saddled
| and bridled her pony, and was soon
! galloping away Oh the forbidden jaunt
She was too jubilant over her man
euver to notice that the already clouded
shy was beginning to darken ominously:
| and she was not startled when 4 few
big drops OF rain began to splash down
| fitfully. ...-
She had ridden three miles Of the
| five when a dense black gloom sud
| denly settled over the earth. Atweird
blaze Of lightning darted from the low
ering clouds directly above her; and at
the same instant there was u boom
of thunder as if the heavens were being
rent in twain.
| The rain began to pour down in
| AM bn oxx-f,11 11OiS0S nf fhQ
storm were commingled with the roar
! ing of the swollen stream as it ragged
! against it's stony banks now not hun
bred feet beyond her.
| At the sudden awful thunder crash
her pony reared and SHE'D, terrified by
| the sound and by the binding light
ming flash; but Fay kept her seat, and
| after a moment he went forward
steadily enough
At the bridge he stopped again, and
it was with difficulty that she could
urge him upon it.
This hesitation of her intelligent beast
! might have warned her OF danger had
she reflected.
He started across with a snort and
| bound us il protesting against what
she had forced him to do.
! Within dozen PAGES of the farther
end, she felt the old wooden structure
suddenly quake beneath her, and 1t
was not until then that she noticed how
the water was apping against the floor
beams and swirling around the top
most stones of the abutments
The girl had barely realized her ac-
tual danger when the bridge rocked and
lurchcd, to be lifted the next instant
bodily from it's foundations by the
swiftly accommodating mass of waters.
At the first. lurch the pony reared
on his launches tossing her from the
saddle like a feather.
Thus freed from his burden, he shot
forward with a wild leap and reached
the SAT-, solid ground OF the roadway
beyond.
Fay was unhurt by her fall. and she
managed to regain her feet, although
she was unable to stand erect for a
single instant, as the bridge was Whlrled
downward on the flood.
The beams and planking of the old
structure We're fastened by strong
spikes: these held it intact for some
little time. and it fiOated raft-like Oh
the current. which dashed it from side
to side. and finally lodged it against
a jutting point Of ground.
l. AS IT. JUlUlCl IllC l<lllIt, SOuhS, IhUlI,
who had been racing along the bank,
bounded like Il deer down the slope to
the waters edge.
Jump, Fay, for your life! Take my
hand + am here to save yOu!' called
the eager, tender voice of her lover.
Young Dayne had followed her at a
little distance from the start, deter
mined to watch over her safety in spite
! Of her re,bCffS and diSpleaSure,
She seemed neither to hear nor to see
him.
She was crouching down in the center
Of the rocking, lurching structure, hel
fair face paid as carven marble, hel
blue eyes staring straight before he1
rs if unconscious of his presence.
The young man looked at her be-
secchingly.
Had the shock deprived her of rea
son? Or did she really hate him sc
that she preferred to die rather than tc
be rescued by him?
Whatever it was there was no time
, to waste in speculation of that kind
. He must act at once if he would save
, her.
He stepped hastily upon the lurchins
bridge. And as he did so a fresh onse
,, of the flood dislodged it, and agar
| WIllElotl IL uONu lie SlIedII.
At that instant the disaster occurred
which he had dreaded. The beams ant
plankings were beginning to separate
, | and with every lurch the detached tim
;, | bers f1oated away, leaving q Trailer ant
!. smaller raft to support its living
! freight
The hapless girl never stirred. Ever
| when Il few planks were all which re
manned between them and drownin;
= she did not change her attitude nor di'
she look at her half-distractcd com
Y paniOn.
e 1t was nearly dark by now. But Il
: they were swept around a bend of TIN
torrent. there was still light enough TO
: the young man to discern a little isle
q a mere speck of ground-midway il
Il the channel and directly in their path.
Y His plan was formed in 4 twin]1line
As their few useless and shattere
S planks drifted near it, he seized til
l. girl in his arms. and, with 4 sudde
effort Of almost supehuman strength
O he leaped across the watery space an
h