Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-06-02
CHAPTER XXIII.-(Continued.1

in another channel. At a sudden turn
OF the road a gust of wind lifted the
Old palm-leaf from his woolly head, aud
carried it far away. Now. dear mars'r,
sad Bill, laying his hand on that Of Mr..
Delaheld, you'll sartin let 'em breathe
While | picks up my hat, case you see
how'll you look gwine into town wild
me bareheaded."
CHANGING over his shoulder. Mr.. Della
field saw the hat away over the fields,
and quietly taking a bill from his pocket
and placing it in the negro's hand, he re-
piled, THAT will buy you FIVE such hats.
Yes, but de bosses, de bosses! ex-
claimed Bill, almost frantically. Don't
you see Ferd il gwine to gin out!
Mr.. DelafeId feared so, too, and more
to himself than TO his servant, he said,
perhaps the cars will be behind time
they usually are"
Without considering Il Q consequence,
Bill answered. mo. they won't; case
hear how they hired an engineer who
drives all afore him-gits ahead of de
time an all dat"
The next minute he repented a speech
whose disastrous effects he foresaw. and
he was about to deny it as a fabrica-
ton Of his own brain, when his master,
who really saw signs of tagging in the
nervous. fiery Ferd, said, Bill, you have
a peculiar whistle with which you spur
up the horses. Make it now; Ferd has
run himself almost down."
As they approached the town, they
heard a heavy, rumbling sound. 1t was
the roll of the cars in the distance. \
few more mad plunges and the horses
reached the depot covered with foam
and frothing at the mouth, just as the
train was moving slowly away. With
one plying farewell glance at his dying
grays, Mr.. Delafield exclaimed, Cut the
harness instantly" and then with
bound bound sprang upon the platform.
which be reached just as Bin called af-
ter him in mournful accents, "Ferd's
dead, m rs'r, FerG isl
But little cared he for that. Rosa Lee
was to be oyertaken. and 10 accomplish
this, he would willingly have sacrificed
every horse of which he was owner. even
were they twice as valuable as the dap
pied grays.
Mr. Delafield. with closely knit brows
and compressed lips, sat musing in the
car of the time when Rosa Lee would
be his wife. They were about half way
between Augusta and Charleston and go
short curve there was a violent commo-
tion-the passengers were pitched for
ward and backward, while the engine
plunged down steep embankment,
throwing the train from the track, and
dragging after it the baggage car, which
in some way became detached from the
rest Fortunately no one was seriously
hurt except Mr.. Delafed. whose injuries
were simply mental as he knew this ac-
cideut would probably detain them for
many hours.
The sun had long been set and the
stars were shining brightly ere they
were able to proceed, and il was after
midnight when they at last reached
Charleston. Driving Immediately to the
landing, Mr.. Delafield. 10 his great joy.
found that the steamer bound for New
York still lay at the wharf and would
not start until morning. But was Rosa
Lee on board? That was a question
which puzzled him, and as there was no
way of satisfying himself until morn
ing. he sat down in one of the state
rooms and rather impatiently awaited the
dawn of day.
The hurry, the confusion and the ex-
element of starting was over. We were
out upon the deep blue sea, and from the
window of my state room | watched the
distant shore as it slowly receded from
view, and felt that was leaving the land
of sunlight and flowers. Notwithstaud-
ing the fatiguing journey of the previous
day, | was better this morning than |
had been for many months before. for
had slept quietly through the night.
An hour or two after breakfast Char
lie came to me with a very peculiar ex-
preston in his face, and asked me TO so
upon deck, saying the fresh breeze would
do me good. | consented willingly, and
throwing on my shawl and a simple Leg
horn hat which had been of much service
TO Tue at Cedar Grove. and which Mr..
BEL ifeld had often said was very becOm-
ing. / went out with Charlie, who LED
me to the rear of the boat. where he
said we were not so liable to be disturb
ed. Stating me upon a small settee, he
asked to be excused for a few moments,
saying l should not be long alone. The
motion of the boat produced a slight dir
illness in my head. and leaning my elbow
upon the arm of the settee, | shaded my
eyes vi.h my hand and sat lost in thought
until / heard the sound of a footstep.
1T was Charlie | said. so l did not
look up. even when he sat down by my
side ana wound his arm round me. wrap
ping my shawl closer together, oh. so
gently, Charlie Is very tender OF me
since my Sickness | thought. and much
loved that he should thus caress me.
1t thrilled me strangely, bringing back
to my mind the night when | sat in the
vine-wreathed arbor. where should new
er sit again.
For a moment there was perfect ST
lence. and | could hear the beating Of
Charles heart. Then leaning forward
and removing my hand from my eyes,
he pressed kiss upon my lips and whis-
pered rs he did so, My own Rosa"
Once. when | was apparently dying,
the sound of that voice had called me
back 70 life. and nov with a cry of joy
/ sprang to my feet. and turning round.
stc0d face TO face with Richard Delaheld,
who stretching his arms toward me,
said. Come 10 NJ Bosom. Rosa. Hence
forth il is your resting place.
The shock was too much for me in ms
weak state. A faintneSs stole over me.
and if | obeyed his command. il was be-
cause | could net help il. When | re-
turned TO consciousness. Richards arms
were around me. and my head was rest
ing upon his bosom. while he whispered
to me words which | leave to the mag
nation, as l dare net give them to the
world. lest h. Uncle Dick l call him
should be a. CRY in his way. and bave
learned to be a very little afraid OF him
since that morning when on board tie
steamer "Delphine" we sat and talked
together of the past.
Wonderingly listened while he tole
~. how L,ns, he had loxs.i NE. how II had
filled his heart with bitter grisf wien
he saw me about 10 marry another; how
his sister had deceived him or he should
have spoken 70 me then; and how. In
moment of temptation. when he stood
over my pillow, be had asked that |
might die, for he would far rather hat
death should be his rival than a fellow
man. Then as he thought how near