Taiban Valley news., 1921-12-16


adoring. 1t was impossible-they
scarcely knew each others names-yet
actually-of that his heart, hot with
jealous hate, left him in doubt. And
all the six. months since he came to the
parish he had looked upon her as his
to take or leave at will.
Until now he had not been sure he
loved her She had seemed but half
alive, flower blossoming away from
sunshine. No wonder-living as she
did in a gray old house, with gray
elders for company, and lacking even
the stimulus of ungratified wishes.
Her money had not tempted him--he
was too vital to be mercenary, withal
far from needy. Now, lit with loves
fine fire, she was wholly adorable,
and would, despite this pestilent out
slider.
A born actor, he masked his anger
under seeming of jolly fellowship
before the wedding, the going away
and other fTivolitieS had ended he had
scraped remote college acquaintance
with Kenton and all but compelled him
to come and share the bachelor free
dom of the rectory. Here the weather
helped hint had turned suddenly
that sent streams out of banks. They
were small but many, running down
to the mill pond, which stretched
broad, silent, silvery, for two miles
above tha big mill. The rectory
abutted the pond-so did Thornway,
Marjorie's home. Consequently she
swan like a mermaid, and loved moth
ing better than water race before
sunrise in the heat of summer.
Ruel Hadden had been her compeu-
tor many times, but not always victor.
Her adroitness offset his greater
strength. Commonly they went mid
way the pond in a canoe, steadied it
with a mooring in deep placid water,
leapt oversize and spent blissful min
utes in clear, cold water almost ocean
blue at its deeps.
Kenton swan only moderately we'll,
mainly through lack of practice. Still
lie did not love the water. Yet be-
tween the waters enticement, Had
radiant face at mention of water race
he could not hang back. He would lose
1t, of cOurse-but he could afford to
lose. She was his betrothed-he
waited only upon such lapse of time
as would seem to the elders sufficient
to claim her in face of daylight. So
through the ashen rose of a stirless
dawn the canoe shot mid-Stream, was
anchored and the race was on. Up
current the three swan at first-Ken-
stead of saving his strength. He was
half blown when the turn down stream
began-then Marjorie led, with Had
den a yard behind. 1t was heavenly
to catch breath, going with the current,
now floating for a breath's space,
now sinking to the chin folded loving
ly in the waters silken embrace But
suddenly something caught him,
whirled him half about, sucked him
under for second, then as he came
up painting bore him resistlessly away
from the others.
He heard Hadden shout, Back For
your life The mill race has been
openedW but it sounded far off. The
whelming current tossed him, buffeted
him-took its will of him-he fought
it with set teeth, with laboring breath
to the end of strength and stay. Then
with blackness about him he felt
clutch upon his shoulder-his head
was above water-MarjOrie was beside
him, doing her best to draw him into
calmer water, with Hadden crying
huskily, Marjorie, this way! I'll save
you or die!"
"Save both!" Marjorie called clear
ly, clinging to Kenton's shoulder. Her
touch brought new trength-somehOw
they drew from the widest rush.
though not to safety. Hadden met
them-together the three were swept
toward the bank, where giant syca
more dropped a huge half-broken
branch within clutching distance. Blue
Tipped, barely conscious, KentN could
not clutch it. Hadden had sho ated for
help-a skiff was racing towaNl them
from the upper pond. Butt would
come too late unless-Marjorie looked
up at the branch already parting under
their combined weight. "Hod his
head!' she said family to Hadden, un.
clasping her hands as she spoke. "Save
yourself the guilt of the murder you
planned. You knew the race was to
be opened"
Hadden looked into the eyes of an
accusing angel, then wearily at the
boat. 1t seemed to stand STILL despite
frantic rowing. He tore the handker.
chief from about his throat-deftly,
swiftly he bound Kenton's wrist to
the dipping branch-then loosed his
own hold, and with one word, "For.
give" let the water bear him where
1t would.
Miraculously it spared him, sweep.
ing him in toward jutting rock,
whence he was rescued, senseless,
bruised and broken. He was hope.
IoccIxy GOO rrod op1 boltod bo5I, In his