The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-02-21

A Wild, Weird Tale Of love
and Adventure.
by AMOS LEE.

and Adventure.
ny AMOS LEE.
Ru,s,sHEp NJ SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WIFE
THE AUTHOR
fco,wioassd, 1887. by @. W. Dilinohom = An
Rights Ressrrsd1
ibeeua month, year, century-he knew
mot, nor cared-but at last there rose, far,
far away on the uttermost, EXTREMIST verge
of the horizon, feeble, upward-crawling
line Of smoke, which came near and nearer,
and grew dense and yet more dense. On it
rolled with ever-increasing rapidity, until it
rushed ahead with lightning speed.
Within, and almost hidden by this mighty,
roaring column, belching forth FIRE and
smoke, he detet led the outlines Of a vessel
Straight toward the rocky islet, straight
towards himself it came, with unerring, un-
swerving course
Now he saw and recognized 1t.
1t was the "Namovna," enveloped in rag
ing shee. of fame that shot upwards and
backwards, roaring and laundering with
terrific sound, and, high in the farthest
tip of the yet unscorched bowstood Natalie,
in speechless horror, her snowwhite arms
stretched appealingly toward him.
Nearer and swifter, yet, swept on that
frightful, rolling pillar Of fire, the sea boil
ing and seething in its track and vast
clouds of white steam arising and inter-
mingling with its million blazing stongues
and smoke of inky blackness.
With an almost incredible suddenness it
stopped its headlong speed short distance
from the rock, and at once began quickly to
sink
Jump" shrieked Fairfax, in terror And
back over the thunderous roar rang the
piercing cry:
Save me Save me o, Arthur, save mei''
His soul on fire, his strength nerved
to utter desperation, he leaped far out from
the crags over the sea, and struck-not
the water, but solid earth
In an instant he had awakened from sleep
and found himself standing erect, with
nerves and muscles strained to their ut
most tension, his arms extended rigid from
his side, his head bent eagerly forward,
like one alert from fear Every nerve
tingled with horror. And his ear could
have caught the faintest possible whisper.
What was itl What did IL meant The
cold sweat stood out in great beads over
his forehead, and it seemed to him he could
yet hear that piercing cry for help ringing
far along the shore and in the woods.
If ever man was thoroughly awake, he
now was.
He ran to the water and glancing up and
down heard or saw nothing, save the sui
len waves knocking angrily against the
rocks, and the shining pillows, glistening in
the moonlight. From the forest came no
sound, but the far-away, sea-like murmur OF
the pines.
Nothing nothing! nothing, at all Only
;a,silly dreaml And, yet that call that cry
for help 1t was real nwas no delusion
of sleep, for it rang still, in his ears with
too true tone to be aught else but genu-
incl
In terror-yet he could not have said why
he stood, listening with Dated breath.
Hist hark What was that, borne'by on
the passing breezel If there was ever wal
of woman for help that was one. Clear ran,
lilSu ltSOuiiuCu- - -T77 \
g Saee mel A,th1ri o to die thusr'
Wild and mad with blindest rage and fear
Fairfax bounded over the rocks and fled into
the wood, like one insane, as If all hell were
pursuing him. On, ON he dashed, needing
neither bush brier nor crag Torn and
bleeding, straight forward, towards the
call, he pushed.
Again he heard it, and nearer still; and
again he paused.
40 God have pity Farewell, my Ar
thurl'
| With a ,demoniacal shrek of impotent
rage, Fairfax tore onward through shrut
and low-lying branches, calling out tiercely
"Hell and its torrents to him who harms
her!'
Soon he sprang from the forest out into {
broad clearing where ran a narrow, quiet
cove of the sea- This time the cry sounded
as if among the rocks,
Breathless, painting like wounded deer
his garments torn to shreds, bleeding il
every limb, be dashed down the slope ant
fell headlong on the jagged stones, tearing
the flesh from his face and body. When hi
arose, tottering and staggering, half-blind
ed and dazed, his left arm hung limp an(
motionless by his side, but his eye, wild ant
haggard, shot around the glances of MAI
determined and desperate even to death.
Naught! naught! could he see! Naught
except black, il-omened bird Of strang,
form and plumage. Standing motionless OF
q crag that overlooked the deeper part o.
the cove, it suddenly shrieked out in those
same weird, unearthly, frightened tone!
that he had heard before; and, spreading III
wings, sailed YEARLY away toward tn,
pines.
With an execration, Fairfax hurled ,
stone after it. Thrown with unerring ain
and tremendous force, the missile hit tn,
creature so that it tumbled heavily to tn,
ground, where it lay fluttering in tn,
throes of death.
Fairfax glared at it with no other emo
ton than that of hate and glutted revenge
A raclling pain in his forearm now at
tracted his attention. CHANGING at himself
he for the first time, became aware O
his frightful condition.
Blood was streaming from various bruise
all over his body. His clothing hung abou
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