The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-02-18

SAAesS S>AsA~AA69
in the post chapel at high noon. with
every body en- grande tenue, there would
be no wedding at all, even though Will,
like modern Leander, SWAN this wild
western Hellespont in search OF his
bride. Far away to the east the floods
had swept their battering ram Of logs
and trees and dashed it against the
bridge abutments at the railway, and,
though the Farrars were safely here and
had been for several days, Kitty IS train,
that which bore her and Jack on their
westward way, had been brought up
standing long miles toward Cheyenne,
and there was no telling when the pas
sengers could be transferred to the wait
ing cars upon the hither shore. And so,
believing the other in waiting at the
post, bride and groom elect woke to
their wedding morn to rail at fate. It
would have been some comfort could
they have known that, though miles
apart, they were at least on the same
side Of the stream that swept between
them and the altar of their hopes.
And there was deep anxiety under
the roof where once again the Farrars
were installed, for the mother was pos
sessed with the fear that Willy would
oe mad enough to try to swim the
stream. and, though Fenton had had his
signalmen out forbidding any such at
tempt, no acknowledg ment had been
received to the effect that the repeated
message was understood. An Indian
who thought he could cross at Casper
rocks, several miles up stream, was
swept from his pony and only saved by
the strength of his horsehair lariat. A
scow that was launched at the bend was
battered to flinders, and bottle after
| bottle, corked and slung long yards out
into the stream, went bobbing derisive.
" away, carrying their penciled con-
tents with them. Arrows, with silken
strings attached, dropped helplessly in
the stream. Bullets, similarly tethered,
snapped their frail attachments and
whistled over the opposite shore and
| told no tale other than that of anxiety.
Every feldglass at the post, when
brought to bear, revealed Farrar at
O'Clock Of his bridal morning striding
and probably swearing up and down the
bank, tugging at his tiny mustache and
sprouting beard and possibly threaten.
i ing self destruction. It was thrilling
scene.
Then, many other people seemed bur
dened with troubles of their own. Ellis
had never recovered either strength o.
1 &1,a of hot CT
mas week, and her lovely face was thin
and the bright, brave eyes of old were
| Swallowed with pathetic sorrow; bu
though this shadow had come into he
life another one, much harder to bear
had been swept aside. Ever since he.
lover s words had revealed to Ellis tha
| it was her own brother, to save whom
Malcolm Leale had periled life and los
his sight, the girls eyes seemed grad
ually to open to the utter cruelty of he
suspicious, the injustice Of her treat
ment Of Helen Daunton, the woman
whose life that very brother had vel
nigh wrecked forever. In the long hour
of her convalescence she had turned t
Helen in humility that was sweet t
see, and now the love and trust between
them was something inexpressible. Blu
there was something even Helen coul
neither explain nor justify, and tina
was Jack Ormsby's conduct since he
convalescence.
True, Ellis had told him in their las
interview that all was at an end betweel
them; that he had forfeited trust, fait
and even respect and placed barrie
between himself and her forever Sh
had refused him further audience, an
her last words to him had been full c
scorn, even Of insult. But no word Q
anger Or resentment had escaped him
and surely no man who deeply love
would harbor anger now. Sobbing he
heart out, the girl had thrown herself O
Helen's breast just before their retur
to Frayne and told part of her stor
until then concealed-how,. in their las
interview, Ormsby had gently said tina
he would vex her no more with hi
pleadings, but if time should eve
come when her eyes were opened an
when she could believe him honest an
worthy he would come at her call, an
she had humbled herself and called
but all in vain. To Helen she had tol
the whole story of that humble lette
and that neither by word nor sign ha
he acknowledged it.
But Helen saw a ray of hope. Th
little note had been intrusted to Wayn
late Thursday night, and he had prom
ised to deliver it early Friday morning
and all that day had Ellis waited eager
, ~, and nightfall came without the lool
. ed for visit. Wayne came on Saturda
to convey some conventional words {
farewell from both officers, $50 sui
| prised to hear Of the sudden return frol
California: SO sorry not to have see
them, but time was very short, and'-
would she never hear the last Of the Sev
enth-" Ormsby had had to attend th
review at the armory Friday night, an
then there was just time to rejoin Lea
Il /