The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-12-04
Jonathan Delvim's
p
Tr0G
Continued from page 81

Wnen ner nearL went HoI Will ilei
hand. There were hectic spots in the
center of her white checks, and she
started ~nervously at every unusual sound
from without. The wind moaned dis
mally, and hurled the frozen rain II
lentlv against the window-panes. In
the lull of the storm she could hear the
crunching of the ice-cakes in the river,
and the sound made her shiver, as II
her own heart was being ground be-
tween the pieces. a wall of the wind
louder than usual caused her to call
out in fear. To her ears 1t had seemed
a cry from the dark river. With I'M
spcakablc agony she had heard from
the cruel lips of her tiance how iona
than Dclvin had been captured, and
of his mad plunge into the Charles River
yet. in spite of all, her heart bade her
hope. Had he not promised Aunt Dor
othv that nc would be at the wedding,
And to keep that promise she almost
believed that Jonathan Delvin would
come from his icy grave in the river.
There was a knock at the door. 1t
was a message from her father. The
b"TlltgTpOIl ldD tplllt, lit "thAlllS Su'obo
were assembled, the minister was present
all were waiting the coming OF the bride.
Mistress Betty went slowly down the
broad stairway and into the large room
where the ceremony was to take place.
As she entered the room the great clock
in the hall began striking the hour of
ten. Her eyes went quickly from one face
- ....l.- ,,-.,I th.u bod ,Ttrr1aI fhe
room. He was not there She felt that
she would recognize him in any dis
guisc.
He was dead Lieutenant Wilton had
told the TRUTH
For an instant her form swaved.
Then she Strengthened up. and walked
with stately step to her station by the
side of the bridegroom in front of the
minister. In the hush that preceded
the beginning of the sacred ceremony
she heard the cry of the wind without,
and the pounding of the rain on the
window-panes. and the far-off crunch
ing of the icc-cakes in the stream: and
she shivcrcd as though a cold, wet hand
had bccn laid in her own.
At the first words of the minister
"A chill swept through the room. All
f,lt il. and the flames of the tall candles
flarcd. Then the curtains of a window
parted, and the giant form of Jonathan
Dclvin stepped into the room. The
water ran in streams from his clothing.
His face was CHASTITY in its paleness.
and there was a look in the glowing
eyes before which the men fell back
and the women covered their faces
and shivered. Straight to the side of
Mistress Betty strobe the tall figure.
Il have come for my bride. \
the glowing eyes looked stead
fastlv into the face OF Mistress Betty;
and then the great arms caught her
up. and bore her swiftly toward the
window.
a pistol shot rang out. In the dcathlv
stiffness of the room the sound was like
a clap of thunder. MY Cod it is
Jonathan Dclvini Seize him, Kill him,
Don't let him cscapcl" and Lieutenant
Wilton, dropping his smoking pistol
and drawing his sword, sprang toward
the rctrcating "A
Then women screamed and tainted.
and men drew their swords and rushed
madly after the fleeing man, who by
now was at the window. Again the
curtains parted. and a pair of strong
arms seized Mistress Betty and vanished
with her, and Big" Jonathan Dclvin.
a long. naked sword in his right hand