Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1894-05-31

| terg
He laughed outright, called me fool
ish woman and told me that must not
cling to superstitions.
"a strange trait, that, with the Swe-
dish people," he added. "They swear
by signs Why, upon my word, Cesca,
if You go on like this you will be telling
us that you see some of those funny lit
tie men popping out of the rocks yonder,
akin to those that your Swedish peasants
declare dwell in the forest. And while
l think about it, Rip Van Wrinkles little
gnomes did use to play at tenpins not
far up the river-over in Sleepy Hollow,
you know" he jested.
He had no sooner spoken than huge,
thick cloud flung its black mantel over
the face of the sun. The wind arose,
higher, madder, faster. The waters of the
Hudson rose and pranced and stood up-
right. A great, roaring noise of threat
and chaos filled the air, deafening in its
force. The waters below dashed and
foamed. Small sails were picked up,
tossed and hurled shoreward.
The outing parties made for the shell
ter of cafes and the village near by.
Confusion reigned. The sky grew dark
black. The imps of evil seemed to rise
out of the very earth beneath our
feet. Agents of fury and warning dan
gled from the sky. A brilliant flash of
lightning crossed the scene, quickly
followed by crash of thunder. clung
to Irene, who was quaking with fright.
The flash had told me that Ivan was
deathly pale.
TOO late to move nowr' was all that
he could say.
"Butit is hardly upon us. We might
reach the nearest cafe. Besides, this
tree is dangerous conductor" pro-
tested.
"The whole scene is shrouded," he
whispered. "We are as safe here as any
wherew
Another flash came! In the direction
Of the bushes to the west I noticed o
figure stealing toward us-a woman.
Look! She has lost her way. Come
nearer 10 me-closer, Ivan, closerl /
fear! l tremble!" cried, as he clasped
me in his arms. But the woman only
quickened her pace, which we discov-
cred by the frequent flashes of light.
Faster and faster she ran toward us.
Irene, becoming inconsolable, rushed off
to the nearest cafe.
The woman was now upon us! For
an instant bright flash illuminated the
spot. looked; | saw face.
Great God! Vera!
''Ivan!' cried. "Do you see! A
spirit! Her spectre! Veras ghostw
The man strove to speak. His tongue
was lashed to the roof of his mouth. He
moved-confronted her, the phantom
like figure, as daredevil might face
harbinger of death!
cat lastw the woman cried.
"Vera" screamed Ivan. and fell upon
his knees before her.
SIT is here that l find you" she con-
tinued. 81 have tracked you many
times, thinking that you were but build
ing our plans as we agreed"
"As who agreedT" Ivan cried.
"You, Ivan Trolsky, my husband, and
|, Vera, your wifey' she answered, as
her hot temper fired her. Eyes, as we
agreed! l have crossed your path score
of times. Under the park tree heard you
plight your troth. In the lovers seat |
have heard your passionate words of
love. have watched and waited pa
tiently, believing that you but schemed
as we had promised. But now you have
gone too far. Your words are no longer
empty sounds You love that girl! All,
deny it mott Trust to woman's eyes to
read the perfdy in man heart!"
"Vera" he protested, as 1 crept further
into the shade to miss the flash of her
temper.
"Out upon til" she exclaimed. "The
farce has gone far enough! You would
have made it tragedy! Oh, knowl The
girls failing health but few weeks
back, her discovery of her weakness,
your attempts to poison her! 1t is too
true! And where is the stranger YOU
found fainting in the street? Olef-where
is hep
God! Olef!" screamed, as the fright
full truth all darted to my brain. "The
stranger, the accident, the hospitalr ]
bent my tortured heart to listen.
"Where is he?" she repeated. "You
have told me in your letters-the forci-
BILE detention of Olef at your friends
house-now confess It'll And the se-
curities that you stole from his bag and
sent to me! All! you would-would have
killed the girl for her fortune, as we
agreed! But your heart even blacker than
mine, turned false to your wife! You
ruined the plot by your perfidy Jeal-
ousy drives me to confess It'll You loved
her! l am here to avenge the wrong!
You would have wrought tragedy-till
your mind turned topsy- -turvy, and then
you would have wed the girl, deceiving
her into the belief that | was dead!
But now it is my turn! We will end it
here! Aye, and with a tragedy indeed
Now pay for your sinsl' And with the
stout arms of maniac Vera bound him
in his tracks; then with giant force she
pushed him to the cliff. My heart stood
still! The ground whirled!
At last Ivan found his speech.
"Woman! what would you doe" and
he struOpled with her no ono nf b;o foot