The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1894-01-05

Everything went quietly on in its &C
customed routine, began to smile at
the absurdity OF my last nj ,ht's vision.
~ had eaten too much sopper; sttsid
out too long whispering sofl lothings to
Marion" | said to myself.
Toward night party OF visitors ar
rived. Such things were frequent,
Newark was somewhat Of a summer
resort for city people, and a sojourn
there was not complete without visit
To the powder mills.
went out to meet this party and to
assist them in changing their shoes and
garments that might have buttons Of
any metallic substance, for it was one of
the cardinal regulations that no person
should be allowed in the interior mills
who had particle Of metal about them,
or nails in their shoes, for the fear of
combustion by friction.
Our visitors were two gentlemen and
three ladies. The two elder ladies did
not notice particularly, but the younger
one attracted me in spite of myself.
Why, didn't know. She was not really
beautiful-my marion was much more
brilliant--but there was something
rbout her better than beauty,
The gay company, laughing and jok-
ing, and bantering each other in re-
gard to their fear, followed me in. The
lady in blue walked quietly by my side,
saying very little, barely replying to the
lively sallies Of her companions-per-
haps she thought it i'll timed mirth; !
don't know.
We had been all the rounds and had
returned to the reception room, next to
the drying room, at one end Of the main
building, This apartment overhung the
pond, from whence came our supply of
water, the basin Of which was formed Of
large dark gorge in the hollow of the
wooded hills, There was large swing
ing door opening from the room directly
over the pond for the convenience of
casting ont rubbish, and this door |
threw open for the visitors to obtain a
view of the prospect beyond. They soon
tired Of this, all but the lady in blue, who
still stood looking out over the dreary
scene, lighted by the departing rays Of
the lurid sun. -..--
Suddenly heard low, ominous hiss
from the adjoining apartment, a sound
which once heard is always remembered;
my blood turned to ice in my veins.
recognized my fate-in another sec
ond's time we should be in eternity.
snatched the woman by my side and
plunged through the gaping doorway.
simultaneously a deafening roar burst
upon my head-a crash, as if the globe
was rent--ten thousand cannons were
discharged in my ears--the blood flowed
from my eyes and nose-.the air was
black with missiles. which reached the
water only little later than we did.
Down, down we went, it seemed, to an
interIninable depth, but that plunge
saved us.
When we came up everything was
still. A deathly silence had fallen on
all nature-the place reeked with a
suffocating smoke, rolling up from the
ruins, dumb as the vapor of death.
swan to the shore with my com
panion and supported her up the bank,
She was not unconscious. Her dress
was drenched with blood. | lifted my
arm to seek the wound, and saw that
the crimson tide flowed not from her
viens, but from the mutilated stump
where once belonged my own right hand
1t had been blown off
| went home as one in walking
dream | remember very little of it ex'
oept that the lady in blue was with me
that she talked soothingly to me in q
sweet voice, and that afterward, when
suffered untold agonies from some SHARP
instrument, she stood by me with words
Of gentle rest and peace; after THAT, all
was blank.
There was little snow on the hills
that | could see from the window
When awoke to consciousness spoke
my first thought, Where is Marionr
Mother tried to put me off with al
evasive answer, but | would know the
whole truth, She told it to me with
great reluctance. Marion had not beer
to see me since the day Of the accident
and then at the sight Of me she uttered
a shrek of horror and fled from the
room.
but has she sent no message"
There is a note, but you must moi
read it till you are better, You have
been eight weeks delirious, and the ex
citement may be fatal
'tGive me the letter" said, with al
my stern self will in my voice. IF not
will get up and seek it myself"
She brought it to me, the delicate
rose perfuned thing, no more heartlesi
than she who dictated it. 1t was ele
gantly got up altogether.
Miss Ware sympathized with m;