The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-04-06
CHAPTER xI-(Continued.)

remembered her now. How well he
remembered that sun bonnet and that
homely gown. He remembered how
his heart had gone out to that pretty
face at first sight. He remembered
how he had said a few dainty moth
lngs to the girl and had ridden away
mountainward. Where had he ridden
to? Here the picture became con-
fused again, and memory declined to
serve him.
He walked up and down his room,
and with the soft air bathing his face
he became more composed. He made
another effort Fred Ashland appear
ed to him, dressed in mixture of the
Earb in which he had seen him only
month back, and Of that in use among
the mountaineers. 1t was Fred Ash
land and it was not Fred Ashland
there was something perplexing about
the man-and Fred Ashland received
him cheerlly, and told him that he had
fodnd gold, and that he required his
help.
On q sudden, the remembrance OF
Dick Ashland'S letter, but lately III his
hand, flashed across his mind, and the
scene stood revealed to him, distinct
aud clear.
"Great heavensw he cried, 'thats
Dick Ashland! Dick Ashland! Dick
Ashland! The man who has never
been heard of again-the man who
found the gold--the brother and the
living image Of that man who came to
me the other day"
He sank into his arm chair and sat
there stonily, tapping the floor with
his foot. But Lucy's face cleaned
s1o in I11r, TWILIGHT onH hn o.
membered that, in few moments, he
was to shake her hand, to assure him
self again of her kindly sympathy, Of
her love.
The expectation soothed his anxiety
and left him hopeful and bright He
waited, as he thought. for an hour or
more, and then he thought another
hour passed Sir William had prom
ised that he should see Lucy that
night. and Lucy had not yet come.
The last CLEANS of day had sunk in
a food of amber light behind the tree
tops and night had settled over the
scene with soft and pearly blues. Her
bert was still thinking Of the woman
he loved, and who loved him so we'll,
when the door Of his room opened
noiseIessly. and-yes, there was Lucy,
stretching out both her hands to him,
her face little paler and little sad
der than when he had last seen It,, but
still as lovely and as sweet as ever.
There was the warmth Of SURPRISING
Joy about their mutual greeting, and
for few moments they stood looking
into each others eyes, While a silent
tear ran down Lucy's face.
But he had so much to tell her. He
grew warm upon the subject of his
newly-recovered faculty, and she list
ened as if she drank life and happ1-
ness with every word. He was so glad
to be able to tell her all he reme1n-
bered, his boyish history, his days at
school and afterward and he wan
dered on to his rovingS on the pralrleS.
Lucy's face became paler yet, and a
hushed awe trembled on her brow.
He told her all that he remembered
about their first meeting, and about his
encounter with Dick Ashland. Sud-
denly a look of horror crept over his
features. He started up, as from a
fearful dream, and stared at the girl
who sat in front of him.
'My Godv he exclaimed, tits come
back to me! It's come back to me! 1t
was David Maclane who murdered
Dick Ashland, and he who tried to
murder me!'
He rose, writing his arms in the air,
and, with staring eyes, he retreated
step or two
81 can see him as if it were now" he
added, in nervous rapidity. Il can
see him in the moonlight. 1 am lying
here, and Dick Ashland is lying there"
He pointed with OutStretched fingers
to two distinct places on the carpet.
awe were both shOt-thOse flendS, the
Maclanes, have shot us from the gulch
head above. ] can see David Maclane
drawing a big knife across Dick Ash
lands throat, and the blood is squirting
all over him as he kneels, an l fire at
the hound from where / lie; and he
comes running toward me and grips
me by the throat and takes my pistol
from me and beats me with it on the
head-savagely, furious1y And | hear
q woman's voice crying Stop! stop!
and 1 can see you, Lucy-you, Lucy
coming down the gulch slider!
The hot tears were streaming over
his face. His breath heaved as if in
suffocating agony, and bis hands qulV-
cred by his side.
Lucy had risen, also, and was stand
ing there like white statue of des-
pair, WflnSlnS nef HdHdS III FolCElSoS,
fearless torture.
He gazed at her long and intently,
drawing his breath in vain efforts to
speak At last he clutched his hair
and cried:
your father and your cousin MUIR
dered Dick Ashland-and you-you
saved my life"
He fell down on his knees and
Hra o0ad himself To where she stood
and covered her cold hand with kisses.
You angel of angels: Why did
not know ere this what I owe to you?