The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-02
Our Daily $bort Story

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 Then, as the horrible truth dawned upon figure.
 When the artist arrived at the ravine Was seething mass of water which pore uown everything before it. The will AoWs were wrenched up by the roots and swept along in one mad tumble of sway ,ns. snappfng branches, whitcncd with foam.
 John Drew was running up and down tne shore, waving his hands like a mad man. I've drowned her. I've drowned ner! ne kept shouting. Then his eyes rested upon de Pledge. Tt was you, you mound. that I meant to drown for try ing 70 take my Mamie away from me. :" Anos seisang the artist about the waist. he tossed him into the middle of the tumbiing waters.
 When Louis dc Pledge opened his eyes ne was lying on a sandy beach. His head tnrSbbed so badly that at first he could not think; then. as he saw twisted will LOW branch near him, it all came back 10 hini. In the distance was the high ridge crowned with naples. where be had discovered John Drew at his insane decd. Getting up, he stretched his stiffened limbs, and, to his great surprise, found mat no was not disabled. Evidently the mad rush of water had swept him out to this little island in the middle of the river.
 Passing round a headiand, he noticed a patch of white on the sand, and. hur. rying forward. saw a dainty shoe pro- trudipg from under a white skirt. Hast fly pulling away the debris which cov- cred the body. he discovered Mamie Pay Eant. her hands still ciutching the easel
 'The fieud! to murder an innocent girl, he exclaimed. taking her up ten- derly. "If he isn't hanged. 1t 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 eyeiids culver. 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 wreteh!'' hissed dc Pledge. And she really loves him. be- heve.''
 Presently Mamie opened her eyes again, and looked wonderingly about her. Why, it's you, Mir. de Pledge?" she said, in astonishment, starting to her feet What am I doing here?" Then she looked at the dilapidated easel. "Oh. I remember now. The reservoir broke and I was car ried away by the water. Oh. it was dread- ful!''
 For moment Louis de Pledge looked at the pretty face with it's tempting lips, and was half inclined to take the harm less filtration of the past few weeks se- rlously. and tell her that he loved her; but the memory of a girl in New York rayino fr,1c ia nd for his return, brought him to his senses.
 They have seen us from the shore. ' he said, "and they are showing off q boat" As they stood upon the beach wsiting 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 cowardIy deed to Mamie. when she ex- claimed: "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 a marrow escape!' he began, hur- riedly. as the boat. propelled by John Drew and ! neighbor, approached tho 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 xant. Mir. Drew. all safe and sound. You ought to he entitled to a kiss after such q miraculdus escape. Come, we'll all turn our backs" l4
 For a moment John Drew gased at the speaker in specchless wonder. Was he nocking him? Surely he meant to de- nounce him to the police as soon us they landed. Then sn 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.
 T think must be going back to town this afternoon. Miss Payzant." said Louis de Pledge at breakfast the next morning. i've spent a delightful month. and l shall aways remember Willow Gap.
 ''I wish you could stay another week. Mir. de Pledge; because John and would like to have you--for the best man." she added, looking him squarely in the eyes,
 Pm sure I feel highly fiattered. Miss Payzant. and should be delighted; but l really can't stay another day. l sha'n't forget you. though"
 And he didn't. For a beautiful oil painting of willow Gap" as it was be- fore 1t was laid in ruins, now adorns the mantel Of Mrs. John Drew's parior.