Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-05-24

head, 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; bold feat for even
so fearless a climber-he must follow
the path Fanny has taken, but he is
not thinking of Fanny as he hurries
along. His uncle at Biddeford was
an old man; he had already had one
seizure, and this might be anotner.-
John had few friends or relations, but
those he had he loved with the inten-
Sity of deep strong nature, and his
heart was full of anxious fear for his
uncle; he had left him so well and
hearty, and so full of warm sympathy
with his nephew's happiness.
So that when John, in his headlong
race, comes suddenly upon the group,
or, rather, the pair, for Mr.. Russell
hos moved off to discreet distance
the young fisherman is so 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
e a C h other,-for Captain Standish's
whiskers touch Fanny's cheek as he
whispers,-John'8 hand is on the cap.
tain's shoulder, and the captain stun,
bles backward into the hedge.
Keep your distance, will you p
John says, fercely; that young wo.
man is not free to listen to your fool
eryr'
He has grasped Fanny'8 arm while
he speaks, and now he hurries her
along with him back by the way he
came.
Vehement action has calmed down
the tempest Of his anger. As he
strides along, he is forcing himself to
decide what he shall say to Fanny.
He has a dim remembrance of the
point where he left Davie, and be
stops short Of that. The light has ia
ded SO completely that he can only
just see Fanny's face plainly.
She is very white and trembling
! She remembers what John said Just
now about murder, and as self is usu
ally paramount in her thoughts, her
terror is that he means to fling hel
over on to the sharp pointed rocks
below terror so great, so paralyzing
that she cannot even shrek for help
Even if she could, her voice would be
powerieSs against the wailing, scream
! ing sea gulls, and the roar of the waves
as the wind lashes them into foamine
heights.
But John has no mind to harm her
/ Spite Of all, he loves her still, but HI
has learned at last to put trust in hi!
own misgivings. instead Of Fanny Hey
wood.
Fanny" he says, in a choked voice
81 brought you here to tell you wha
must be said between US two"
He stops and tries to clear hi
voice, but it remains hoarse in spite
Of him Fanny takes little comfor
and looks up, but his stern, set fac,
brings back all her fear: she clasp
her hands over her eyes and erie
out with terror.
The strong, awful calm that haC
come to John after his first outburs
gives way at the CRY, and his ange
breaks through like a ground swell
betokening how deep it lies hiddel
away.
" Be quietr' he says, sayagely, an,
then the sharp pain at his heart nerve
, him, as pain will nerve to self.maste
ry.
, " Fanny, when | asked you if yo
: could love me well enough to be N
wife | thought Of you as a man think
of tue woman. | thought | WASH
worthy Of your love, even though
1 gave you my heart and soul in eI
5 change. | gave 'em you, Fanny; yo
: have been first and foremost in ever
!, thought I've had since then. l al
: not making a merit of so doing;
: don't know as | can take them back
God knows how love you still, bu
I'll nor take wife who's not conten
r with the love have got to give he,
who will not keep herself for m
alone. l will not put myself in tn
c danger Of marrying where | cannC
+ trust.
5 She had kept her eyes hidden, an
/ he had not seen the shame and th
r sorrow that had filled them, but hi
last words stung her into sudde
' fire.
5 Nobody asks you to" cher voic
: has the taunting ring in it he is leas
r able to bear.) 81 am not likely
d ask any man to marry me, Mr.. Fry
e least of all whom | have made greG
mistake by ever having anything to
with | always felt had thrown m,
self away, and now l am sure of i
| am fit for something better than
= fsherman's wife, l can tell you;
y rough brute that has no manners fC
= his betters. Let me CO."
She pushes him, and at the same M
= ment Davie lounges up.
L L "Did you hear signal ?" he say
5 I'm thinkin' it came from beyon
L Hedden's Mouth. Come on and te
;, the lieutenant Why, man, where
We going, off in the dark alone; u
~ help noane; wait and gle me a bel
wi the life boat"
"" John only shook off the grasp b
q friend had laid on his coat, and hu
. q ried off into the darkness.
- well, I'm blowedw says Davi
there II be summit more than commC
amiss wi a steady chap like that U
afore he'd run a mucker along the cl
y edge in the dark" And Dayie hu
. . ries back to tell the lieutenant of IL
% signal he fancies he has heard.