Putnam patriot., 1916-11-10

needless peril That he was really in danger she felt sure, She knew that Murray was apt to lose himself fin his drelms. Perhaps some visionary mood had blinded bim to the menace of that mounting Ice ridge in front of the glacier. Or had h. madly chosen 10 stand or fall with this structure that meant so much to him2 She would make him yield to her own terrar, drag him ashore, if necessary. with her own hands.
 She stumbled, but saved herself from a fall. then gathered her skirts more closely and rushed on. measuring with instructive nieety the length of every stride. IL was not an easy path over which she dashed. for the ties were unevenly spaced. Gaping apertures gave terrible climpses of the river be low. and across these ghastly abysses she had to leap.
 The hoarse bursts of shouting from the shore ceased as the workmen be- held her Hitting out along the steel causeway. They watched her in dumb amazement.
 All at once o'Neil saw her and hur- ried to meet her.
 Eliza" he cried, be careful What possessed you to do this?''
 Come sway- she gasped. ''It's dan gerous. The jam-look! She pointed dswn the channel
 He shook his head impatiently.
 "Yesr' she pleaded. Yes, Please! They wouldn't come to warn you they tried to stop me. You must go ashore" The frightened entreaty in her clear. wide open eyes, the disorder that her haste had made affected 0'Neil strangely. He stared at her, hewilder- ed, doubtful: then steadied her and groped with his free hand for support. He could feel her trembling wretch. edly.
 There's no danger, none whatever" he said soothingly Nothing can hap pen
 You don't know The bridge has never been tried. The ice is battering at it and that jam-if 1t doesn't burst
 But 1t will. It can't last much longer"
 Its rising
 ''To be sure. but the river will over flow the bank"
 Please" she urged. You can do no good here. I'm afraid"
 He stared at her in the same incred- ulous bewilderment; some impulse deep within him was struggling fer expres. sion, but h. could not find words to frame 1t. tis eyes were oddly bright as ke smiled at her.
 Wont yos, go ashorefs she begged.
 "I'll take you back, of course, but want to stay and see'-
 "Then--lH stay"
 "Elizar Her name burst from his lips in q tone that thrilled her. but with 1t came q sudden uproar from the distant crowd. and the next instant they saw that the ice barrier was giv- ing way. The pressure bad become ir- resistible As the Salmon had risen the ice had risen also. and now the mar row throat was belching it's contents forth. The chaos of upended bergs was being torn apart; over it and through it burst deluge which filled the valley with the roar of q mighty cataract. Clouds of spray were in the air; broken masses were leaping and somersaulting; high up on the shore were stranded fees and fragments left .n the wake of the moving body. On ward it coursed. ciashing and grinding along the brittle face of the glacier: over the alder tops beyond the bend they could see il moving faster and faster. like the crest of tidal wave. The surface of the river lowered swift ly beneath the bridge; the huge white pans ground and milled. shouldered aside by the iron sheathed pillars of concrete
 See, It's gene already. Once 1t clears passageway we'll have no more gorges, for the freshets are com Ing The bridge didn't even tremble- there wasn't tremor. not scratchr' Eliza looked up to find o'Neil regard ing her with an expression that set her heart throbbing and her thoughts scat tering. She clasped huge. cold bolt head and clung to it desperately. for the upheaval in her soul rivaled that which had just passed before her eyes. The bridge. the river. the valley itself were gvrating slowly. dizzily.
 -'Elizar' She did not answer. "Childr' O'Nefrs voice was shaking Why did you come 10 me? Why did you do this mad thing? I saw some thing in your face that can't believe that I-can't think possible. It-it gives me courage. If I don't speak quickly I'll never dare Is ft-tr,se? Dear giT!. can 1t be? I'm so old-such a poor thing. Ynu couldn't possibly care. snd yet why did you eofusy' The words were torn from him. He was grfpped and shaken by power ful emotion
 She tried to answer but her lips were soundless. She closed her eyes. and Murray saw that she was whiter than the foam far beneath. He stared into the coiorless face upturned to his until her eyeiids futtered open, and she managed to voice the words that clung in her throat.
 i've always-loved you like thisr'
 He gave cry like that of a starving man. She felt herself drawn against him But now he. too. was apeechiess.
 Couldn't you see?" she asked breathlessiy.
 He shook his head I'm such a dreamer. I'm afraid it. cant he true. I'm afraid you'il go away and-leavo ne. You won't ever-will you, Eliza? | couldn't stand that" Then fresh re- alization of the truth swept over him