The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-07-30
0Na. AENS AyglS2e


"The bridge! They've tried to cross 1t.
and have fallen through
It took them ten minutes fully to re-
trace their steps, running around the
bldffy timber stretch. They reached
the bridge. Horror-eyed. appalled,, they
stared blankly at the trodden snow and
the gaping hole. through which the
darkling waters showed twenty feet
below.
HE went down. saw him In the
water, muttered one of the men.
But the otheri"
What other2"
The girl.
"Ah, yes! I forgot. There was o
girl with him. Jem, they're gone!
Man and woman both, sure as fate!"
They glanced far down the river
banks. They oven lined the stream for
somo distance, but found no trace OF
tho supposed victims of O terrible mis-
take.
Thus It was that rumor, speculation
and horror were rife at the little rail-
road settlement that evening, when the
two men returned thither, and told their
tragic story.
This man remembered seeing the two
arrive on the late afternoon train-that
one described the gaunt, solemn-faced
stranger seeking a conveyance to take
them across country. A party was
made up to mako search for some trace
of the bodies of the unfortunates, but,
after lining the bleak shores OF the river
for hours, they returned bootless from
their task at midnight, the swirling
waters and Increasing storm bidding
fair to sweep away or cover up forever
more the identity OF the man and the girl
who had seemingly met death at the
bridge.
AS the reader kIows, Edna Deane's
guide alone had sunk tht ough the broken
pianking. Edna herself, frozen with
horror, had remained for moment
chilled to helplessness by the sudden
disaster. Then, frantic with terror,
vaguely hoping TO reach some habita-
ton and summon Its denizens to at
tempt the rescue of her guide. she
dashed blindly from the scene.
Through the heavy snow she ran, the
darken!ng landscape showing distant
light. Towards 1t she bent her steps,
lost 1t as a copse interviewed, struggled
on again, crossed gully. reached a
rise In the ground. and then leaned
against tree, painting for breath. and
staring wild-eyed and alarmed all about
her.
Her bedraggled dress, soaked shoes,
chilled frame and apguished heart drove
every sense to vivid suffering. With 9
moan of distress she realized that hel
companion was past earthly help, thai
the river had swept him away. The in.
stinct Of self-preservation, the fright OF
! The moment dulled her memory Of thai
terrible scene Of the bridge; for utter
! loneliness and desolation spread before
! her; not habitation, human being Of
] liaht showed. She might have been {
thousand miles from civilization for al
It's evidences that existed In her imme
diate proximity.
"Ohl where shall 1 go-which way
shall turn? / am LOST
Her tones were hollow, the utteranct
despairing, affrighted Nurtured annie
| delicate care, scarcely clothed TO endure
| the rigors Of such exposure, she fell
that her strength and her will were fas
deserting her.
She tried to summon oil her fortitud,
and calmness. She decided that tn
town they had left an hour previou
must lie beyond level waste bounde'
on Its farther edge with ridge Of tree
and buahes. In that direction sh,
started.
Knee-deep in drift. swaying like
reed in tho wind, she wavered, fairi
in the center of tho vast meadow.
Snow was all about her-earth an
air seemed full of 1T. 1t daz1led he
vision, it penetrated sleeve and hood
Il choked and blinded her.
A fearful night, truly! The noise c
the rising tempest rang out like til
waves of angry sea. The storm ha
tiapped out the baleful light of moo
and stars In the strength OF might
glee, the wind raved and roared, SWEEP
Ing the drifting snow about her like
, shfoud.
"I-can-go-no-further!'
With q moan that was prayer, tn
! delicate girl sank down. Her strengt
had given out completely. The sno
came thicker, the winds blew taste
the CHASTITY white stretch before ht
be ran to be flecked with fire, as h,
, overstrained nerves drove the feve
,, blood from heart to brain.
! ooh. tho rest-the quiet!" she mul
INJURED, as she closed her eyes In TIL
fatal delight which cold and Q,
, haustion bring, to lure the delude
victim 10 the last long sleep. "Ra.
!, mond-Bea'rice-f goodnight
good night
A rare, eestatic smile stole over h
face. The suffering OF life was mer
ing into the delirium Of dreamlan
: , She had lain down to desc young,
: fair, SO little realizing how near dea
grazed her bonny heart!
"Oh! let me rest; am so weary
], A rough contact. blast OF wal
breath sweeping her face reused Z
benumbea girl to look up.
Then with frantic scream, $
. struggled to her feet ard stood trer
blipaly staring at on intruder, the sho
happily dissipating the lethargy that b
pumbed her senses, and bringing hel
!. realization anew OF the perils th
= menaced her.
u The hideous form that her uncerta
vision had exaggerated into some e
rible Great on Of her fancy, brush
close against her, its rough head swe
her hands and face, thrilling them to
s sense OF feeling with the animal warm
d OF its rough caress.
O A great homely faced horse, lost
d strayed from home, like a puzzl
i. wanderer over the black expanse, see
r ing shelter, the animal had saved
n lite.
: Il was going to sleep painted Ed
NJ with an affrighted shudder, oh!
% must struggle on, for Raymond's sa'
e Heaven help and guide me, cannot
l. ~