The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1922-09-01

tVtvANN NitNittgi muNh oa tHt NiitltNts
interior subdued the lights through
stained glass. He looked prlestly. AT.
most noble, indeed-yet his teeth sci
hard as he noted Marjorie's illumined
eyes and John Kenton's face openly
adoring. 1t was lmpossiDle-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 win.
Until now he had NOT been sure he
loved her. She had seemed but half
alive. a flower blossoming away from
sunshine. No wonder-living as she
did in a gray old house, with gray
elders for company, II lacking even
the stimulus Of ungratlfed wishes.
Her money had not tempted him--he
was too vital to be mercenary, wlthal
far from needy. Now, III with loves
fine fire, she was wholly adorable,
wholly desirable, Have her he must
and would, despite this pestilent out
slider.
A born actor. he masked his anger
under a seeming Of jolly fellowship
before the wedding, the going away
and other frlyolities had ended he had
screped a 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 him--it had turned suddenly
torrid after a single day OF freshets
that sent treams out of banks. They
were small but many, running down
to the mill pond, which stretched
broad, silent. silyery, for two miles
above the big mill. The rectory
abutted the pond-sO did Thornway,
Marjorie's home. Consequently she
swan Ike a mermaid, and loved moth
ing better than a water race before
sunrise in the heat Of ummer.
Ruel Hadden had been her comped-
tor many times, hui not always victor.
Her a%droitness Offset his greater
strength. Commonly they went mid
WAY the pond in a canoe, steadied 1t
with a mooring in deep placid water,
leapt oversize and spent blissful min
utes In clear, cold water almost ocean
blue At It's decps.
Kent0n swan only moderately well,
mainly through lack of practice. still
he did not love the water. Yet be-
tween the waters enticement, HAD
den's challenging eyes and Marjorle's
radiant face at mention Of a water race
he could not hang back. He would lose
il, OF course-but he could afford to
lose. She was his b~etrOthed--he
waited only upon such lapse OF time
rs would seem TO the elders sufficient
to claim her in face Of daylight. SO
through the asheu rose Of 4 stirless
dawn the shot mid-stream, was
anchored and the race was on. Up
current the three swan at irst-Ken.
ton lncauti0usly shooting ahead In
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 hoatlngl for a breath's space,
now sinking to the chin folded loving
ly In the waters sllken embrace. But
suddenly something caught him,
whirled him half about, sucked him
under for a second, then as he came
up painting bore him resistlessly away
from the others.
He heard MADDEN shout, Back For
your life. The mill race has been
opened" but It sounded far on. The
whelnlng current tossed him. bufeted
him-toOk It's will Of him-he fought
II with set teeth. with lsborlng breath
to the end Of strength and stay. Then
with blackness about him he felt a
clutch upon his shOulder-hls head
was above water-MarjOrie was beside
him, doing her best to draw him into
Ndtiutl WditI, WIN Ilhuueu cfylnk
huskily, Marjorie, this wayl I'll save
you or die"
save both - Marjorie called clear.
~, cllnging TO KentOn's shoulder. Her
touch brought new strength-somehow
they drew from the widest rush.
though not TO safety. MADDEN met
them-together the three were swept
toward the bank, where a giant syca-
more dropped a huge ~half.broken
branch within clutchlng distance. Blue
Tipped, barely conscious, Kenton could
not clutch II, Hadden had shouted for
help-a skin was racing toward them
from the upper pond, BUTT would
come too late unless-MarjOrie looked
up at the branch already parting under
their combined weight. Hold his
head she said family to Hadden, un-
clasplng her hands as she spoke. "Saye
Yourself the guilt Of the murder you
planned. You knew the race was 10