The National tribune., 1894-02-15

Her familiarity with every foot of the road
| told her that it would be certain death to at
| tempt TO turn Kit to either side.
From mere instinct she pulled at the reins
| until her strength began to give out, and then.
| with death in hundred forms lowering around
her, the river. the Jagged rocks below, the
| yawning chasms about her, strange peace came
over her. .a
| She began to think rapdly-like the skim
ming fight of bird-till. with the vividness
Of a lightning flash out of perfect darkness the
bend occurred to her.
1t was perfectly clear that they could not
go around it at the pace they were making.
But although she shrank involuntarily from
such death the pace and elation still mas
tered her, and she did not struggle. That was
TO be the end, then. Well, it was fitting that,
if her present life must close, she and Kit should
die together
And then suddenly dashed horseman round
the bend dashed and looked, and turned and
set himself.
" Save mel" she shrieked.
Like AN answering echo came another shrek,
nearly as human the Shrek of Kit, as unable
to stop or turn in her mad career, she plunged
beadiong over the precipioe
Again came that moment OF agony, that
horrible straining and rending of muscle
from muscle and sinew from sinew; again
Juanita hung over the abyss from Arthur's arm,
and then, as she felt him slowly dragged from
the saddle her own selfpossession and strength
returned.
The homewRrd journey was made in asilence
that was mutually agreeable. Juanita sitting
on the horse that Arthur had ridden, and the
latter walking by her side She knew not what
TO say or think.
An accident which had caused Kits death
could not be concealed as had the other. Her
father, startled out of his easy-going affection
hr,f ha, 6 Io
fuss over her. and insisted OH remaining with
her for several hours after dinner, instead of
going as usual to the Office. Arthur mean W bile
Kept away, anticipating the merchants depart
ure. He took it for granted that after such a
shock, Juanits would remain indoors for the
rest ofthe afternoon. To his astonshment he
suddenly came upon her arrayed in her pict
urcsque canoeing costume and carrying the
red paddle she used on her shoulder.
new mood WIS upon her. To his remark
that he had thought she would stay indoors for
the rest of the day she said with marked i'm
patience that she wouldn't think of such
thing" and passed him brusquely.
He would go off for walk. Watcbful of all
the signs n her demeanor he felt that the crisis
was approaching. He would get his final an
swer soon, perhaps that very evening. AS his
eyes fell upon his uniform, which he had only
worn on the day Of his arrival. a fancy mas
tered him. generally so free from fancies-the
fancy to put it on. He would make his last
charge in his regimentaIs Hardly knowing
where be went lie found himself about o'clock
in the woods not far from the point where the
bay met the ocean.
He began 10 90 over in his mind the accident
on Indian Head, as the moment was reached
when he had fancied an electric culver run
ming through him; Enthusiastically the feeling
came with more distinctness. 1t was even
if the ground had shaken under him.
With this strange roaring came TO his ears
from the bay. Springng to his feet, and part
ing the underbrush before him, he ran to the
shore. The afternoon had been without wind,
but now the waters of the bay, apparently from
the effect of sudden sqnall had risen into
choppy waves which beating the shore at
his leet. and just in front Of him. Juanta, with
nervous haste, was driving her cannoe, labor
ing heavily, as il leaking, toward the shore.
He ran out on the rocks 10 show himself
called to know if she could get to shore, and
made a motion as If 10 swim ont to her. She
replied By gesture of confidence. half turned
as If to paddle in another direction. and then
came on more slowly till he caught the canoe
and drew il up shore.
Did you ships wave?" he asked
Yes" She said, slowly; the storm came so
suddenly. | don't understand it. And the
waves were very high; and after the water
came in decided to come ashore if l could"
She stepped out a stone while he emptied
the canoe. As she rescated herself she proposed
TO him to get in. and he needed no second invi-
tation. The surface of the bay had subsidized as
quickly as it had been raised. aud now lay before
them mparativeiy smooth. JuaRits moved
TO the bow and left TO him the paddle.
For half hour he guided her in silence
hither and thitber, glancing often
the while at her downcast eyes. At last, as
they lay off little rocky islet, he had made