The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1893-02-11
CHAPTER III.
FOR LOVES SWEET SAKE,

Loyalty 10 Tue JuuB Oh Il Wise
father had closed her heart to any action
that would bring about written cOmmu-
nication or a meeting with the man who
had betrayed a high business trust in
the eyes of the world. AMI she had
counted their love as dead, but in
one flashing glance at the pitiful
figure before her, FlOra's mind forge t
the impending peril of the hour-into
her true. wOmanly soul Surged a wave
OF infinite pity, love and anguish, that
invOluntarily wrung a cry like that Of a
fair, wounded dove, from her lips.
Past love, present sympathy, intui-
ton illumined and enlarged, the mourn
full story that haggard face revealed.
Suffering, despair, the fierce resentment
of chained soul CALLING under its bonds,
wrong, injury, sutfcring-ail these lin
gered, eloquent, pleading, in the pose,
looks and accents Of the man who con
frOnted her. Innocence, too. As she
shrank, one reproachful glance from
Ray WebSter's eyes told that she nigh,
better have awarded him dagger
thrust, than add to the bitterness of de-
SPAR by tactIy insinuating that she, too,
even dreamed of his being the guilty
wretch he had been adiudged.
Flora, my life, my love- he painted,
advancing, his hands extended, his soul
quivering on the reception she would
award him. "Oh, the weary waiting
the tOrturing SilenCe-but now, at last
In frantic, feverish distress she waved
him back. This was not the crtnging
supplication of a hypocrit, crimi-
nal. All, no. Above the prison rot, the
pallor of illness and suffering, there
Ln
nobility of the soul beneath, proud, I'M
furnished. The very boldnesS CT his APP
proach overwhelmed he-. BrcathleSS,
she recOiled.
"Wait!" she gaspcd, They told me
you were"
''In prison?" he interrupted quickly.
eyes, but hope can burst stone walls,
despair disrupt iron letters. l did not
expect to meet you so soon. 1t was that
man, Arnold Dacre, | sought Tell me
i am not too late? Tell me-hc is
still at Ridgcvile-he has not iIed9-for
the score he owes my broken, hlighted
life, must be paid, tears for tears, woe
fCr woe, hcart-break for heart break
"Arnold Dacrel"
TumultOusly she gasped the name, as
Z. a sudden revelation. Into her soul
hint Ray Webster's words conveyed. A
fierce accusation, a stern arragnment,
they seemed to hint at plot, villainy,
they illumined The vivid suspicion that
had famed into her own mind that morn
ing, that some hidden. sinister hand was
wrcaking trouble, disaster against her
father, herself and those she loved.
Then you thought me guiity?" cried
al Oh
Look look, Sh, it may not be too late
yet. Father. father
With a suddenness that clarified Web
5ter, a foverish hope springing to her
eyes, Flora abruptly ran to the river
edge.
CHANGING across the bread stream once
more, she caught a last sight of the
horseman bound fer the bank. With a
shock, her thoughts returned to her
fathcr-to his environment, his peril.
Your father? yes, | sec," spoke
Webster wOnderingly. "YOu called
him hcfore-you are agitated.
ellis life is menaCed. Oh, he has
gone on" walled Flora, wrirging her
hands tranticaIly, as the horSeman again
disappeared from view. 'Will no one
save him?"
''From what?"
She turned upon the questioner, her
self the supplicant now. Amid her emo
tion, her guivering hand sought his arm,
and rested there pleadinglY.
The Bank" she painted incohcrentlv.
"Ie must not go there 1t is trouble,
peril, perhaps death The thirst for his
blood, that man Dacrc says-a mad,
reckless mob, for the bank has failed,
and"
Failed? oh. the heartloss scoundrcl.
His plots have succeeded, | understand
all! Flora, there is but one way to reach
to warn, to intercept your father-thc
river"
He stepped to the remotcst edge Of the
bank. Her eyes swept the surface of
the stream which here ran at its swift
est. She knew its dangers for few
rods below the plunging falls tugged
at the current like a giant at stout
hempen ropes.
no, no. not that way. The bridge, ="
she cried
The bridge? why, he would be in the
town before | could reach it, | am weak,
out Of practice, but | was a good swim
mcr once and"
Splash. Without another word, Ray
Webster precipitated himself over the
edge of the bank.
Come back
A wall Of love and distress, as that of
some bride bercft stretching her empty
hands across the void that had swallowed
up loved one. Flora Merwyn tottered
on the bank.
At the feryid duplication, the water
dashed face looked up into her own, il
!umined now with a smile so proud, so
happy, that Flora Merwyn thrilled wildly.
Their eyes met No need tor the for
lorn fugitive to plead for a knowledge of
her feelings toward him now. Anxiety,
apprehension, love beamed forth. Soul
to soul, they stood rehabiitatedi
Il will save him, would swim through
a sea of molten fire to know what your
dear eyes tell me-" he cried, his voice
ringing with joy. "Oh. my love. my
love, If death meets me wonder, remem-
Der | am innocent, but strong the current
that drags me away from such a love as
yours"
She held her breath as he struck out
for the opposite shore Palpitating,
wavering size watched him. Could he
gain the banks' Would it be in time Il
oyertake her imperiled father. would
stern, self-reIiant Abel Merwy.. listen tC
his warning, heed it, owe his safety tc
the man he had sent to the felon's dock:
y cry of anxiety was wrung from
Fiora's lips as. gaining the strong cen.
trail current, she saw Paul Dalton
waver and struggle. The river wa:
trcacherous at midstream, being strewr
with rocks, which at one point formed
an island.
Against one Of these she saw him sud
denly hurled by rushing vortex OF tho
foam-creSted waters. 4 faint cry oil
pain reached her.
What had happened? Her risil 9 fear: