The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-07-08

tne mill pond proper. Roses mill stood
stark and Idle, the race swallowed in
the whelming food. A little way of,
upon a green swell, the big fire-new
Rose house haunted gay walls aud
staring tower. The doors stood wide;
otherwise there was no sign of habi-
fancy.
Lois waved her hand toward IT, say
ing: Johnny. when you are master
there you'll let me go up In that tower,
l hope. l have wanted to ever since I
watched the men building II, and un-
less you take me up l know l shall
never get there"
No. you won't never git thar q
woman's voice half screamed, half Sob
bed behind them. Jenny had pounced
upon them, mounted like themselves,
her black curls streaming free, eyes
blazing. lips narrowed to a scarlet line
In a death white face. She rode
straight at Lois. crying shakenly: 'T
hate you so I'd kill you-ef 'twant that
you're on my groundl Go way, and
don't you never come nigh me NO
morep'
Lois listened. her glance of superb
scorn softening to pity as the wild IT,
| rade ran on Silently she refined her
horse aside. making to. pass Jenny.
Johnny pushed I'm between the two
girls. Jenny caught his arm, with a
shrill. sobbing cry: Don't leave me!
Let her go by herselfr
"You are crazy or worse" he said
angrily. wrenching himself free. .Jem-
L Il.
wheeled and spurred it madly at Lois
Lois swerved. backing her horse. Then
all in a twinkle the ground crumbled
beneath the animals feet. He went
i rolling and crashing downward. to land
In the deep water with a mighty, sick
] ening splash
81 have u great mind to fling you aft
err Johnny shouted hoarsely, spring
ing down and rushing to the crumbling
| verge.
Jenny wrung her hands. IL new
er meant ter kill Twas my devil
done it." she said. dropping down be-
side him to peer below. Instantly she
sprang up and began scrambling down
ward, swinging agilely from ledge to
ledge and shouting back: Il see her
on the shelf half wayI Ride. ride! Git
ropes and men! I'll hold her safe tell
you comel l will, oh, willr'
Il shall not trust you," Johnny cried,
scrambling after her. But in a trice
his head swan. He saved himself
from fainting and falling only by cling
ing fast to shrubs rooted In the blufi
face. Lying along ledge, he watched
with fascinated gaze the slim. upright
figure creep and writhe perilously
downward. When it leaped beside the
other one, a huddled heap upon the
narrow shelf, he could watch no Ion
ger.
The huddled figure stirred and held
out its hands. Lois had freed herself
and leaped OF as her horse went down
BY almost miracle she had landed il
leafy shrubbery, to rebound as from ar
air cushion to the messy shelf, unhurt
save for scratches. bruises and nervous
shock.
"'m goin' to take you back" Jenny
said, nodding upward. mot the way
comedy a sorter path pap had mad'
fer me. SOS ! could come when
please. Jest shet your eyes and folle
blindfold. I won't hurt you. I know
1t amt wuth while"
Lois did as she was hidden. In tel
minutes, that seemed like ten hours
she found herself again on the uppe
level Johnny was there to seize upol
her as though he would never let he
go. He did not mean to be cruel
Lois danger had driven everything
else out of his mind.
Jenny watched him through a tens
. half minute. then with a low, choke,
"Goodby" sprang out and down, to en'
in the gray depths. At sundown the.
found her, dead and beautiful. wit
a the beauty Of peace after stressfu
storms