Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-09


 ing the ruined sluice, through which the water was now laundering into tlpe lower reservoir. Miss Payzant took my easel few minutes ago, and has gone to the ravine to do some sketch ing"
 "I've cut the timbers in the lower sluice!" exclaimed John Drew, and dashed down the slope toward the ravine. He had not gone five rods be- fore the weakened gate gave way, and with deafening roar the water poured into the ravine.
 For moment Louis de Pledge stood in blank astonishment, thinking Drew mad, Then, as the horrible truth dawned upon him, he sped away after the retreating figure. ,,
 When the artist arrived at the ravine it was a seething mass of water which bore down everything before it. The willows were wrenched up by the roots and swept along in one mad junble of swaying, snapping Branches whitened with foam.
 John Drew was running up and down the shore, waving his hands like mad man. i've crowned her! I've drowned her!' he kept shouting. Then his eyes rested upon de Pledge. "It was you, you hound! that meant to drown for try ing to take my Mamie away from me" And, se;zing the artist about the waist, he tossed him into the middle of the tumbling waters.
 When Louis de Pledge opened his y,o Ix,;~ His head throbbed so badly that at first he could not think; then, as he saw a twisted willow branch near him, it all came back to him. Tn the distance was the high ridge crowned with naples. wSlere he had discovered John Drew at his insane deed. Getting up, he stretched his stiffened limbs, and, to his great sur prise, found that he 4was not disabled. Evidently the. mad rush of water had swept him out tothis little island in the middle of the river.
 Passing round a hea adland, he noticed a patch of white on the sand, and, hur- rying forward, saw a dainty shoe pro- truding from under white skirt. Hast fly pulling away the debris which cov- cred the body, he discovered Mamie Payzant, her hands still clutching the easel.
 '"The fiend! to murder an innocent girl he exclaimed, taking her up ten derly. 'If he isn't hanged, it won't be the fault of Louis de Pledge' And he carried his burden up to a grassy slope and was about to lay her down, when he thought that he saw one of the eyelids quiver. For the next hour he worked as he had never worked before trying every device he had ever heard of for saving life under similar conditions, and at last Mamie sighed, opened her eyes,, and said: Why didn't you come, John?" and then closed them again.
 ''The inhuman wretch!" hissed de Pledge. And she really loves him, 1 believe"
 Presently Mamie opened her eyes again, and looked wonderingly about her. Why, it's you. MT. de Pledge?" she said, in astonishment, starting to her feet. What am I doing here?" Then she looked at the dilapidated easel. "Oh, Il rem ember now. The reservoir broke and I was carried away by the water. Oh, it was dreadful!"@
 For a moment Louis de Pledge looked at the pretty face with its tempting lips, and was half inclined to take the harm- less filtration of the past few weeks seriously, and tell her that he loved her; but the memory of girl in New York who was trusting him and waiting for his return, brought him to his senses.
 '"They have seen us from the shore" he said, "and they are showing off boat" As they stood upon the beach waiting for deliverance, he noticed the end of a freshly sawn piece of timber lying at his feet, and at sight of it his anger at. John Drew famed up afresh. He was just about to denounce the mans cowardly deed to Mamie, when she exclaimed: "Oh, there's John in the boat, tool" And the next moment she blushed so prettily that he quietly showed the tell-tale piece of timber adrift.
 ''Such narrow escape!" he began, hurriedly, as the boat, propelled by John Drew and neighbor, approached the shore. "The reservoir broke and washed us both out here. It's a thousand won- ders we weren't crushed to death, not to speak of drowning Here is Miss Pay zant, MT. Drew, all safe and sound You ought to be entitled to kiss after such a miraculous escape. Come, we'll all turn our backs."'
 For moment John Drew gazed at the speaker in speechless wonder. Was lie mocking him? Surely he meant to de- nounce him to the police as soon as they landed. Then an inkling of the truth penetrated his slow brain, and, climbing sheepishly out of the boat and blushing furiously, he took Mamie in his arms and kissed her. -
 ''I think must be going back to town this afternoon, Miss Payzant," said Louis de Pledge at breakfast the next morning. I've spent delightful month, and shall always remember Willow Gap"
 T wish you could stay another week, MT. de Pledge; because John andI would like to have you-for the best man." she added, looking him squarely in the eyes.
 ''I'm sure I feel highly fattered Miss Payzant. and should be delighted; but really can't stay another day. sha'n't l l.