Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-03-18

He seemed staggered by her holiness.
Your pretended ignorance does no;
deceive me he muttered, Il tell you
again that your father is In great peril
| Know where an officer waits At this
moment almost within call On every
rod Of the river watch is set You
reject my love and my aid alike. them"
A two-edged sword seemed entering
her heart. but her cold, calm look did
not charge
"NoUr love is ahhorrent to ME" she
cried, AS for your Md, have no
need Of It Now go Jasper Pole, and
never let me see your face more"
AS YOU will" said he, and with a
look that was In itself menace, he
turned about and walked of across the
parsonage garden Miss Saul opened
the gate in the boundary wall and ran
through into the tark-wooded grounds
beyond,
Father" Her voice, which she
dared not raise above whisper, was
snatchcd by the night wind and blown
of into the darkness She ran from
thicket to thicket She looked she
called but he was not there.
Father fathcr' Where are YOU.
father"
A step sounded on tho graveled walk
and Arhucke stood at her side. She
ran hreathleSsly toward him.
II saw him not half hour ago"
she cried; and then, in great agitation
she told him of Jasper Poles visit Ar
buckles face grew a shade paler.
"tle may have returned to his own
room, he said; "let us see.
And 50 led the way to the house, and
assembled with her to the chamber of
the prisoner lie knocked at the closed
door, but received no answer
Papa dear papa are YOU thcre?'
moaned Esther at the keyhole.
Silence. Arhucke tried the door II
yielded to his hand Together they
stepped inside the room II was empty
and deserted.
His impotence, no doubt drove him
forth into the darkness, said Arhucklc:
I'VE shall find him In some sheltered
spot of the grounds"
She seized his arm.
mo. no. | looked / called he Is
not there, Do you think he could have
heard Jasper Pole In his fear Of re-
capture, may he not have done some
desperate thing? ! feel | am sure
1t is SOL
The two descended to the grounds
again
without doubt overheard your
conversation, said Arhucklc without
doubt, II alarmed him in his weak
disordered state, who shall say to what
eXtent3 | am going down to the river;
wait here tin return will not be
lorg"
She sank into garden chair under
the trees For half hour. which
seemed to her an eternity, she remained
listening. watchful alone. Then
the mill-owner appeared again, stridinR
toward her mp the walk, He looked
pale and agitated.
ut Is even as | though" he said,
briefly. Gle has taken boat and. IN
his fear of Pole, followed our original
plan, made off alone down the river
She started from her seat She spoke
not a word--only looked at him
Il shall follow" said Arbuckle.
With a wild, heart broken cry she
ran after him down the winding path.
Come, then" he mnrmured. and
they hurried straightway through his
own gates into the street sloping toward
the river.
The clocks Of the tower were striking
nine. Arbuckle took the way Leading
to his mills.
Where their shadow stretched black
and broad along the water, they found
a boat rocking idly at her mornings.
Silently the mill-owncr handed his
companion to seat therein, and, cast :
ing loose from the bank shot out into
the strong current.
Arbuckle piled the oars and the boat,
keeping in the middle OF the stream,
was carried down 1t like a feather In
the breeze.
With Miss Saul's help, he raised the
sail, and, stiff breeze sprinRing up In
the midst Of the SCATTERING fog, the little
craft went spinning on down the cur
rent with redoubled speed.
On and on! Leaning over the gun
vale, Esther Saul swept the black wind
ing way with agonlzed eyes.
Look" she cried, suddenly" oh.
look-yonder-i the rIverr'
The parting Of the clouds overhead
In swift struggle with the moonlight.
cast tender gleaL1 far and wide alons
the watery way.
Arbuckle saw in the middle Of the
stream distant speck, which looked
like boat impelled by single rover,
1T is hei" gasped Miss Saul, recog-
nlzlng even at that distance the bent.
gray head, the feeble stroke OF the weak
uncertain arm. How slowly he goesi"
And then, lifting her hands with n
shrek, "He Is pursued-oh, God! he IL
lostp
Az she spoeh cloud Of vapor. mixed
with the long-reaching shadows OF the
stream. pulled lazlly Off before the
fVHr a.