The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-12

carelessly, but his heart beat faster
''Weddin'.' said Abe. with satisfaction.
M nieee's goin' ter be married. Justlce'n
be-hicl-here shortly"
Franklyn kept strong hand upon his
emotions and waited.
IT'S a great day, sir. Hope ven jine
US. Thar's the happy bridegroom over
yander," and the tipsy tavern-keeper
pointed TO the figure of Hi Conley lolling
upon a dirty table across the room. At
his words Hi rose unsteadily and looked
at Franklyn with an ugly light in his
eyes. He was not as drunk as Abe, but
ne was the more dangerous.
Yes, sir! I'm the bridegroom. An
I reckon 1 kin look out for my wife.
too. 1 want all you felers TO take notice"
he said, waving his hand to the crowd
at the bar Anybody that gifts ter shin
nying round my wife'n git inter trouble
That goesr'
'Oh, you're all right, HI" responded
Franklin with a laugh. But he desired
with mighty desire to seize the fellow by
the throat and choke the breath out of
his cowardly body.
Mrs. Abe followed the engineer into the
dining room for a moment.
Il reckon you kin have some dinner,
sir" she said. But Resell hat ter wait
on yer. 'Twon't take her long an 'twon't
hurt her s'longs she's actin so ofish."
ohS went 10 the loOl Oh tN6 STAIRS anu
shouted: Rose! You Rose! Come down
we're. Here's Mr.. FRANKLIN to be waited
on"
In moment the girls white face ap-
peared at the door.
THANK God! thank God" she whisper
ed, tremblingly. Il had given up hope
l sat there waiting to hear the-the JUS
tice come, with this by me-" she drew out
from under her skirt sharp bladed knife.
ht H.
and"
Great heavens" gasped Franklin.
would you kill yourself?'
She drew herself up to her full hight
and she seemed suddenly taller than ever
before. DO you think for a moment l
would marry that wretch? Better death
a thousand times. Although I am a cow
ard and fear bodily punishment, the knife
was at my breast when aunt called me"
She flung it down upon the table and
FRANKLIN seized the weapon as though he
feared she would do herself harm with II
| even now
Now what do you want me TO do?' she
asked. Evidently the idea that he might
tail to protect and save her had never dis
turbed the girls mind Franklyn could
not tell her he was as yet powerless.
Il saw the lawyer" he said, feebly.
And is he here?" she asked eagerly.
| He will take me away?'
HE cannot until he gets an order from
| the court"
Then how will he stop the marriage
and"
He can't" returned Franklyn, with a
sudden burst of desperation. "IIe can't
save you; but 1 can, and I'll do itp'
Yes, Mr.. FRANKLIN. l never doubted
you she said, with a blush, and In some
surprise at his vehemence.
| ffOUipk NJ
said. Serve me some dinner here-any-
thing will do. I will go out after 1 have
| eaten and tell Abe that l will be back
from the lumber camp before the cere-
| mony; and I'll leave some money with
his wife to treat the boys.
You must slip out the back way and
get down to the river unseen. I'll join
| you there, and Wen get away in my ice
boat-there's nothing on the river can
stop her once she gets going. With five
| minutes start l don't believe they can
! overtake US, either off skates or horse
back. Wrap yourself up warmly. Now
| bring me in something to eat"
| She obeyed to the letter. In ten min
utes he Joined her at the rivers edge Ev-
erybody had filed into the little bar-room
at Franklyn's Invitation, and not soul
was in sight as the engineer raised the
yachts mainsail and pushed the craft out
upon the ice.
Rose darted out of the bushes and he
| lifted her in board bodily and with a
mighty push leaped in himself. The Ice
| Wrath started slowly There was
a light but fair wind, and as soon as
they were out from under the land the
| huge sail would feel it,
FRANKLIN was scarcely seated at the TIL
| er when there was a wild shout from the
tavern. He glanced back The men were
swarming out of the place, and at their
! head was Hi Con,ey. Rose hid her face
! in her hands and trembled.
| Conley swung a rifle above his head
then brought the weapon to his shoulder
and fired recklessly after the iceboat. The
| bullet sang less than foot above Frank
| lyn's head. Hi was an excellent shot
when sober. The engineer heard him yell
ing for his return and threatening to
shoot him if he did not obey.
But the Ice Wrath was steadily creep
ing out into the river and the sail bellied
with the wind. There was no second shot,
but glancing back Franklyn saw half a
dozen of the men leap upon horses and
into sledge which stood before the tav-
ern, and the whole cavaicade clattered
away down the river road. They meant
TO overtake him at the landing or head
him off before he reached there.
Are they coming?' cried Rose
'Iney Al never follow US upon the ice, "
said FRANKLIN, cheerfully. There was
some danger from those on the river road,
however. The wind might die out and
leave Them stranded, or the horses might
even beat the ice yacht in the race The
road was considerable shorter than the ice
route. 1t cut off big curve in the river
ten miles below.
But the Ice Wrath gathered speed With
the wind directly astern the ice began fair
ly to ''squeal beneath the heavy runners.
The powdered ice flew about them in a
cloud and the huge sail tugged as though
trying to drag the mast from its socket
Franklin was determined not to reef the
sail unless actually obliged to, and as he
tackled the Ice Wrath flew about, bal
anced upon her starboard runners. Rose
screamed and chung to his arm, but the
| engineer, CHANGING back, saw the horses
pounding along the river road, and re-
joiced that they were gaining upon their
pursuers.
The race was young, however. When
the Ice Wrath went to the eastward
the wind was not so fair and F'ranklyn