Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-12-11

I tore down the dim shore, calling
madly the name OF the man I had
murdered.
Only the sound of the waves, the
roar Of the falls below, the night
birds thrill answered me. The void
had opened up and swallowed my
rival. Huldah was free, but tramp!
tramp! tramp! eyer the accusing foot
steps. and always behind me, pursu-
ing, challenging, accusing!
Looking back now I marvel how
passed those dreadful days, those
wakeful nights Of the two weeks sue
ceding. Twice had called upon HUI
dab. was amazed at the fact that
she betrayed no anxiety. none Of the
suspense Of a bride expectant whose
object Of devotion had mysteriously
disappeared. My guilt drove me to
make my visits brief and constrained,
although Huldah seemed glad to see
me. She had with her now cousin,
pale-faced, hopeless-eyed girl, who
seemed an invalid. Martha Dawes.
No word Of the fate Of Telford had
reached the newspapers. ! had lined
the river for miles, making cautious
inquiries, but with no result. Then
one evening those torturing footsteps
drove me to resolution: would
see Huldah once more, confess and
leave the place forever.
1t was twilight when reached her
home. She sat in q rustic chair In the
garden humming q low tune. Miss
Dawes, near by, was gazing with sad,
far-away eyes at the crescent moon.
leaned over the chair and said to
Huldah:
"I wish to tell you something Of
Vance Telsord."
She started. glanced quickly at her
guest, and, her finger on her lip, led
me to distance.
What Of Mr.. Telford?" she chal
lenged. with a certain sternness thai
chilled me.
He is dead, and lam his mur
derer!"
And then the words leaped over eacf
other tumultuously as told my story
all Of 1t, without reservation.
She grasped tree for support, hei
face q white void.
go away!" she faltered, waving hei
hand distractedly. II must think
think!"
It was all over! She hated me, sh'
despised mel / wandered about aim
lessly, but the influence Of fatalit!
drew me to the river. Ever. It seemed
calling to me, for miles trod II
banks, the footsteps-tramp! tramp
tramp!-beating necessarily on m!
agonized ears.
must have gone several miles
when / drew behind bush near tn
shelving shore of the stream to avoi'
meeting a man progressing slowl,
with the aid of cane. / was In n,
mood for companionship. moved to-
far, my foot slipped. went headlong
and was conscious Of my head striking
the water and rock at the sam
time. Then I was insensible.
My blood curdled as regained cor
sciousness, for / recognized that tn
man bending over me had dragge
me to safety, and that man, in forr
and substance, Vance Telford!
Within an hour knew all the stor
of his rescue down the stream, hi
convalescence, his hegira now to tn
Evans home. And then learne
that It was the sad hearted Mis-
Dawes who loved him, and that Hu
dah had arranged for their clandei
tine marriage because her cousi
could not live without him. He
family did not like Telford. nor di
Huldah, but 1t was arranged that TIE
ford was to wed Miss Dawes secretl
and then go away and make a ma
of himself. for he had been q sa
profiigate.
But now I knew the man was !
earnest when he told me how his ma
row Craze Of death had reformed hin
Arm In arm we went to the Evan
home, to make two anxious heart
happy, for Huldah really loved me.
And then-the footsteps died OF
forever.