The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-05-18

ribbon-like cloud lines. BY the time sne
reaches the end-o the rock path her forehead
Is dinted With q frown. 49,
The path ends its shelf.like course along the
cliff, and slopes down to the left In steep DE.
| scent to the road leading to the beach; on the
right it mounts as steeply to the upper part o.
the village. A lane with high hedges fr1nged
with pluMy fronds OF ladyfern, and nearer the
ground, rarer, more minute kinds nestle nKe
green tassels in the chinks OF loose-piled
masses of stone hidden by long, satin strips OF
hart'stongue.
ways meet. She is thinking about John.
Il don't believe he thinks half enough about
me-he wouldn't dare be 30 masterful he
did |"
And then (for good intention repented OF
seldom gets a second hearing,) Fanny tells
herself she is an Idiot. IA nice slave I shall
be when Pm married If Pm never to look at at
any one or speak to any one put IT, MN. M9sss w
ont of slghs ?" and she hardens herself in this
one idea Of her own beauty, and the amount
of admiration due toit.
She stands still, looking wistfully down the
steep lane to the beach. A sound OF voices
comes up to her, a hearty laugh, and then
some words which bring blush to her cheek
blush of pleasure; her lips part, and her head
is thrown'back saucily as two gentlemen come
In sight, saunteriug up the path.
!sBy Jovs I! this Is lucky"
Captain Standish takes his cigar out OF ms
mouth, and says, sGood evening""
He Is a tall fair youth, with pale hair and
ewes. there is q washed-ouC look about MIN.
Mr. Russell has more manly aspect, ne is
short and Understanding OF the bull
terrier breed.
light that she hardly knows what is said to
her, or what she answers. She has quite for
gotten her intention Of going straight home,
and stands listening and laughing while the
captain talks.
~ PART H.
John stands listening too-just where Fanny
left him-llstening. and not yet hearing the
the cliff, dipping their black-tipped wings IN
the creaming Gull of the waves, and then ris.
ing In sudden flight with tanning outspread
feathers, or sinking again slowly as the air re-
slsts their pinions.
But John is not frowning. He smiles at him
self He thinks that he has wronged Fanny
by his halr-formed fears. Dear little crea-
girls worth nothing If she hasn't spirit OF
her own. All! at Biddeford therell be none
of these fellows coming down to plague honest
menW
John Fry came back yesterday from Bidde-
ford; he has an uncle there, q fisherman, who
has offered him share of his boat and his
business for a very moderate compensation.
John John Fry, / say! Hollo where
are ye?"
A coast guard, in blue flannel and a shiny
hat, comes running along the rock ledge. as
easily as If 1t were six feet wide.
He stops short when he sees John, sets his
legs wide apart, and both hands so down to
the bottom Of his pockets.
H"Well, Dayie ?"
'sLook alive!" said Davie, with o red face,
and jerking his thumb over his shoulder. "Yer
rocks and there's one awanting ye."
"Wanting of me ?" Y0 N +HeS '7ss
John p..l[s off his wideawake, doubles it up,
and then f1attens 1t out with his strong, brown
hand; finally, this proceeding having failed to
solve his perplexily, he moves on to where
Davies thumb Is pointing.
"There'll be bit of gale tonight atore the
boat reaches Minehead," >" says Davie; and then
he stands still and lights his pipe, while John
Fry hurries down to the beach.
Unless he had scrambled down the face OF
the crag-a bold feat FOR even so fearless a
climber-he must follow the path Fanny has
taken, but he Ia not thinking Of Fanny as ne
hurries along. His uncio at Biddeford was an
old man; he had already had one seizure. aud
this might be another. John had few friends
or relations, but those he had he loved with
heart was full OF anxious fear for his uncle; nc
had LEFT him so well and hearty, and SO full OF
warm sympathy with his nephew'5 happiness.
So that when John, in his headlong race,
comes suddenly upon the group or, rather,
the pair, for Mr. Russell has moved on TO q
discreet distance--the young fisherman ls 50
bewildered. that for an Instant he stands in
silent wonder.
For an Instant only. 1t is quite dark in the
narrow lane between those high fern crowned
hedges. Before one can note the changes that
have come into the two faces so near to each
other-for' Captain Standtshs Whiskers touch
Fanny's cheek as he whispers-John's hand Is
on the captains shoulder, and the captain
stumbles backward into the hedge.
sKeep your distance, will you p John says,
fiercely: 'sthat young woman is not Tree to
listen to your foolery
He has grasped Fanny's arm while he
speaks, and now he hurries her along with him
back by tht, way he came.
Vehement action has calmed down the tenn
per of his enger AS he strides along, nc ls
forcing himself to decide what he shall say TO
Fanny.
he has dim remembrance Of the point
where he left Davie, and he stops short OF
that. The light has faded 80 completely that
he can only Just see Fanny's face plainly:
She is very white and trembling. She re-
members what John said just now about muir
CIs
thoughts, her terror is that he means to fling
her over Oh the sharp pointed rocks below
terror so gseat, so paralyzing, that she cannot
even shrek for help. Even If she could. her
voice would be poWerless against the wailing,
screaming sea gulls and the roar Of the waves
as the wind lashes them into foaming heights.
But John has no mind to harm her. Spite
of all, he loves her still, but he has learned at
last to put trust in his own miSgiVings, instead
of Fanny Haywood.
"Fanny," he says, in choked voice, VI
brought you here to tell you what must be said
between uB two.'
remains hoarse In spite Of him. Fanny takes
little comfort and looks up, but his stern, SCI
face brings back all her fear: she clasps her
hands over her eyes, and cries out with terror.
The streng, awful calm that had come to
John after his first outburst gives away at the
cry, and his anger breaks through like q
ground swell, betokening how deep 1t lies hid
den away.
"Be quieem he says, savagely, and then the
sharp pain at his heart nerves him, as pain
will nerve 10 self-mastery.
"Fanny, when asked you if you could love
me well enough to be my wife, thought OF
you as man thinks Of true woman.
thoughtI wasn't worthy Of your love, even
thoug gh gLve you my heart and soul In ex-
change. / gave em you, Fanny; you nave
been first and foremost in every thought I've
had since then. Pm not making merit OF so
doing-I don't know as can take them back.
God knows how I love you still, but I'll not
take wife who's not content with the love
rye got to give her, who'll not keep herself
for me alone. pll not put myself in the danger
of marrying where can't trust.
She had kept her eyes hidden, and ne nao