The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-01-19

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's train,
| that which bore her and Jack on their
westward way, had been brought mp
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. 1t
would have been some comfort could
they have known that, though miles
apart, they were at least on the same
hide Of the stream that swept between
them and the altar Of their hopes.
And there was deep anxiety under
thereof where once again the Farrars
were installed, for the mother was pos
sessed with the fear that Willy would
be mad enough to try to swim the
stream, and, though Fenton had had his
signalmen out forbidding any such at
tempt, no acknowledgement 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
scoyy that was launched Mt the bend was
battered to finders, and bottle after
bottle, corked and slung long yards out
into the stream, went bobbing derisive.
ly away, carrying their peDciled 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 ieldglass at the post, when
brought to bear, revealed Farrar at 8
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
ing self destruction. 1t was n thrilling
scene.
Then, many other people seemed bur
dened with troubles of their own. Ellis
had never recovered either strength or
spirits since the events cf that Christ
mas week, and her lovely face YVES thin,
and the bright, bravo eyes Of old were
Swallowed with a pathetic sorrow but
though this shadow had como into her
life nnother one, much harder to bear,
had been swept aside. Ever since her
lovers words had revealed to Ellis that
it was her own brother, to savo whom
Malcolm Leale had periled life and lost
his sight, the girls eyes sccmed grad
ually to open to the utter cruelty of her
suspicious. the injustice of her treat
ment of Helen Daunton, tho woman
whose life that very brother had we'll
nigh wrecked forever. In the long hours
Of her convalescence she had turned to
Helen in humility that was sweet to
see, and now the love and trust between
them was something inexpressible. But
there was something even Helen could
neither explain nor justify, and that
was Jack Ormsby's conduct since her
Lconvalescence.
: True, Ellis had told him in their last
interview that alrwas at III end between
them; that he had forfeited trust, faith
and even respect and placed q barrier
fbetween himself and her forever. She
mad refused him further audience, and
her last words to him had been full of
scorn, even of insult. But no word of
anger cr resentment had escaped him,
ana surely man who deeply loved
wou!o haE1Dor anger now. SoDDlng her
Heart orNt, the girl had thrown herself Oh
49,. 8 breast just before their return
to Frayne and told a part Of her story
until thenconcealed-how, in their last
interview, Ormsby had gently said that
he would Vex her no more with his
%pleadings, but if q time should ever
come when her eyes were opened and
when she could believe him honest and
worthy he would come at her call, and
she had humbled herself and called,
but all in vain. To Helen she had told
the whole story of that humble letter
and that neither by word nor sign had
he acknowledged it.
But Helen saw q ray Of hope. The
little note had been intrusted to Wayne
late Thursday night, and no had prom.
ised to deliver it early Friday morning,
and all that day had Ellis waited eager.
ly, and nightfall came without the look
ed for visit. Wayne came on saturday
to convey some conventional cords of
farewell from both officer, $50 sur
prised to hear Of the sudden 4eturn from
California; so sorry not to have seen
them, but time was very short, and"-
would she never hear the last of the Sew
enth-"Ormshy had had to attend the
review ut the armory Friday night, an6
then there woo irct ITO - ~rinin Leal
and get him aboard, for their good ship
sailed at 2 a. m. to catch the early tide
at Sandy Hook. Falteringly Ellis had
asked if he were sure he had given
Ormsby her note-if--if Mr.. Ormsby
had read it. Wayne was quite positive.
But Helen you'd not believe. and
with unabated hope she awaited
Wayne's return to the post. They ar
rived o week before him, for on leaving
his charge at Washable the previous
menth he had hurried. straight to Wash
ington in response to a from
the secretary of war, had made his re.
port and then gone to New York. Not
until the Monday before the wedding
did he reappear, and then only by de-
termined effort did Helen corner him
long enough for CROSS examination.
Certainly said Wayne. II remem-
Der the note perfectly well. | put it
with n from the club that i found
there and handed both to him together.
He'll be here to the wedding. He's corn.
ing right along with Kitty. I'll ask him
again, If you like.
Don't dare ever mention it, major,
or that I asked any questions concern.
ing 1t. How long has he been baok?''
asked Helen, with vivid interest, an.