The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-04-17

Not far below he saw q great -four
mill near the river, while along the
bank, above him, ran mill-race, which
opened on the river by means Of q
sluice. The sluice was now open, and
the waste water from the fume was
pouring into the river like great
cataract, stirring the waters into boil
ing whirlpool, which must Inevitably
swamp the skiff and drag the castaways
down to their death.
Accrington gazed in dismay, then
shouted for help till the welkin rang
again.
A voice replied. and following its di-
rection he saw through the slanting
lines of binding hail the vision OF
horse stretcned to the gallop on the op-
posite bank of the mill, and its rider
waving his hand to him.
The thunder of the machinery'in the
mill prevented the workingmen from,
hearing anything else. No one came out
to shut down the sluice
The steep banks gradually sank to,
grassy levels, and the horseman was
seen leaping the ditch Of the roadway
and urging his horse down to the brink,
Again and again he was about to plunge
in to the rescue, but the eever-quickening
torrent drew the skiff past him. and he
galloped on again. +;
Accrington watched the gallant stran-.
ger with hopeless eyes. He did not be-;
lieve that swimming horse could save
them from these fierce waters
At last, having outstripped the skif
by about fifty yards, the horseman
plunged in and swan his powerful ami
NAL obiquely to the center Of the river,
and stood there on sunken rock, up to
the horses belly in the water.
Amazed to see him stationary, Ac-
crington swept nearer and nearer, doing
his best to guide toward the stranger,
who shouted directions which were al
most lost in the roar OF the falling
water.
Nearer and nearer the castaways drew,
aud now the stranger set his horse
broadside toward them, and braced him
self for the shock; and Accrington
frightened his grip Of Loveday, and gave
the sweet sweet face long look, which
might be his last.
And then the shock came-skiff and
clinglng forms struck the living barri-
cade, which staggered, and plunged, and
command Of the rider; the skiff settled
against the horse, and a pair OF eager
hands seized Loveday and drew her up
clear of the water. .
Accripgton lifted his bloodshot eyes to
the rescuer, and saw-Auberon Crecy! !
"You!" grated Accrington, all his sat
isfaction poisoned.
Auberon did not heed him, he was por-
ing over the pale face OF Loveday with
despairing anguish.
aLoveday! my Loveday!" be trem-
blingly besought her; "look up, dear, 1t
is Auberon; you are safe with Auberon!
Have you driven her to her death?" he
said to Accrington with sudden bitter
reproach, ais she dead?"
Accrington made no reply; but turned
with frantic energy to the work OF
righting the skiff and baling it out, that
she might be taken ashore as soon as
possible. He had obtained foothold on
the fat rock, which Auberon had de-
tected in the channel by the peculiar
run Of the water over it.
He it was who had pursued poor Love-
day, having traced them to Silverstream,
and learned that she had started for
home alone; he had lost the sound Of her
horses feet soon after crossing the bridge,
and while retracing the way had heard
Loveday's cries when the first recognized
Accrington; guided by the sound he had
struck off the highroad through horse
path On the river bank, and had soon
caught up with the skiff turned bottom
up, and accompanied it, in search of q
place where he might enter the stream.
sUnless we can make the men hear,
and shut down the sluice, there Is little
hope that any one of US will get safely
ashore" said Auberon, who was wrap
ping the chilled form Of Loveday in his
own overcoat, and forcing some sherry
between her lips from his hunting flask.
"My horse is almost done, and yonder
whirlpool drags US towards it at racing
speed. We must unite our voices and
shout for help" Accrington drew forth
his own limiting flask, which was filled
with more potent stimulant than the in
nocent Auberon's, and handed it up,
saying anXiously,
@Try the brandy; it's best II I could
only have got at it before she would not
be so far gone, but dared not loosen my
hold of the boat. She is chilled to death,
I fear; she is not drowned, oh, no, she
only went down once and had her up
instantly. Chafe her temples with the
spirit, and her hands. When the boat is
dry we might wrap her up and lay her in
the bottom"
Thus planning and working for Love-
day. all animosity for the time was
dropped; and they shouted simultan-
eously, and consulted with each other
with odd unanimity Of purpose; though
all the while at the bote9m OF tnelr con-
sciousness lay passionate doubt on
Auberon's side, and on Accrington's,
fierce unscrupulous jealousy.
Suddenly Loveday revived, and opened
her eyes on the dreary scene, half OBJ
scured by night now; two slender hands
clasped her, two strong arms held her to
a wildly beating heart; water all around
and q fierce roar in her ears. Where
was she?
Then Auberon's beautiful eyes looked
into hers; his pa'e lips smiled gently;
she felt the eacircling arms gather her
up more tightly to the bounding heart
"Loveday! my own love-" whispered
Auberon; @are you not. are you not?"
A wild thrill ran through the maiden's
bosom; her eyes looked into his eyes
strangely, solemnly; heaven and earth,
and all that in them are, were quite for
gotten by the two
"Sweet, say you love me, or I shall
die!" whispered Auberon, in daintiest
accents, his warm velvet lips on her
cheek, and the friendly dusk concealing
them from the busy Accrington. @Say
il, darling"
She lay in his arms, wonderful heav-
emily smile growing and growing and