Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-05-06
II Ell D a RK


hills Just before them q slender bridge
.spanned . stream, and on the other side
path led on toward Woodcliffe, Sir James
Irwin 8 residence .5 s s5.
80 Why, Leroy, what is the matterf Are
you illp' Il =s
No, no, am not i'll. will tell my
story. = 81. 4. SIS .2::.5.
&'s But you look so strangely y exclaimed
his friend. Are you sure you are not
ill?'' ..s 81.
It is nothing, Cecil, - Leroy said in
deep, hoarse voice. "Hear my story. A
year ago first visited this place. and ere
I had been here many days saw Lillian
Irwin, and-do you wonder at it!-fell
madly in love with her. She did not seem
to be utterly Indifferent to me, and, in
fatuated, lowered near her till could
restrain myself no longer, and, feeling
that my love was returned, asked her to
become my wife, But she scorned my
love, almost spurning me from her, and
In my anger swore dreadful oath Of re-
venge upon her, vowing that another
should never claim her for his bride
false hearted coquette that she isl
"Stop!'' And Richard Cecil sprang
with bound to his feet, confronting the
other with clinched hands and blazing
eyes. "Say not q word against her or I
will fell you to the earth! No one shall
dare defame her and live! Beware!'
For an instant Albert Leroy stood gaz-
ing in the face of his friend, and then,
with a Kissing oath, he sprang upon him
with tigerlike fierceness.
Staggering with the suddenness of the
attack, Cecil clutched at the throat of his
antagonist and then fell backward over
the edge of the stream. But even as he
fell his outstretched hand caught shrub
that grew out from the bank, and, cling
Ing desperately to it, he strove convulsive-
~ to regain his footing.
Above him bent the face of his treacher-
Gus friend, stern and pitiless, and below
the torrent dashed along over it's rocky
bed, white with foam.
"Help, for heaven sake, Leroy!" cried
Cecil, forgetting that it was he who had
assaulted him.
"Ha, hal" And the young mans face
glowed with an evil triumph. "Do you
suppose would save you, my rival, from
death? This is the way will have my
revenge upon her! No one shall ever
claim her if it is in my power to prevent
itl''
"Leroy, would you murder mep" gasped
Cecil, gazing up wildly into the face above
him.
"Yes!" was the answer, deep and thrill
ing. "Before I would see you marry her
would plunge dagger into your heart
with my own bands. You shall die, even
upon the eve of your bridal, and the bridal
shall never be until stand by her side as
the bridegroom. Die!"
And, bending low, he detached the
white, nerveless hands, and with low
cry Cecil Ainsworth fell down in the
seething waters. A moment the dark
browed murderer stood and watched the
body as it was borne away by the torrent;
then he turned and strobe toward Wood
cliffe.
Without pause he walked leisurely up
the front entrance, and, reaching the
door, he was about to enter when it was
flung open and tall form appeared on
the threshold.
"Good evening, Sir James Irwin" said
Leroy, with bow.
"Ah, Mr.. Leroy, is it your said the
baronet hurriedly. "Have you seen Lii
lianf"
"What do you mean? Is Miss Lillian
missing?" exclaimed the young man in
surprise.
eyes, gone we know not WHERE" an!
swered the old gentleman somewhat anx-
iously. "Just before sunset she went
out alone We have searched everywhere
for her; but in vain. 1t is SO strange-so
unusuall But Cecil, is he not with you?"
"No; he did not come with me from
the village" Leroy answered. "Where
can Miss Lillian have gomez"
II do not know. I fear-I know not
what!;'
care they searching for her now?'
"Yes, all are looking. Oh, heavens,
what has happened to her that she would
vanish SO mysterious]y and upon the eve
Of her wedding day!''
II must go and search for her," And,
turning away, the young man rushed into
the darkness.
On through the stiffness beneath the
great elms the young man passed, his eyes
bent upon the ground and his thoughts
fixed upon the disappearance Of Lillian
Irwin.
Suddenly from the darkness just before
him two figures emerged, and with low
cry he recoiled as il from some spectral H.
fusion. In one he saw the form of the
man whom he supposed to be lying dead
at the bottom of the torrent in the glen,
and in the other Lillian Irwin, supported
by the arm of her betrothed.
A cold perspiration bathed bis forehead,
and his hands were olinched till the nails
out into the flesh.
"Albert Leroy!' Richard Cecil stepped
s sp}te your w, Lillian Irwin win yet be.
come my bride. Some good angel sent her
to my rescue. and even her light strength
sufaoed tQ.saye me from the death that
you had consigned me te, and ~ your plot
has como to naught. d and 1ee mo n5vsi
look upon your face againl You are far
too despioable for me to attempt to punish
you for your. crime. 1 give you your life. =
With one look at the pale, yet beautiful
face Of the maiden before him, Albert
Leroy turned and fed into the darkness.
New York News. -
s.E ~ .: A Kings Old Chariot. 81.
m 100 70 I'M A.,