The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-07-07

"Come, Alice, let US have ride on
horseback. ! want to 90 up to Crof.
ton Woods. 1t will be magnificent
there to-day. Shall / order the
horses
"Yes, do, Calista," said Alice. u
am glad you proposed it; it is so dull
now Herman is gone"
"Foolish girl,n said Calista, play.
fully; "he has only been gone one
day, and you expect him back to.mor.
row. But girls will be foolish. So
be ready as soon as possible, Alice,
and we will canter off to Crofton
Woods"
She went gaily from the room, and
Alice laid by her book, and went to
prepare for the ride. She had no pre-
sentiment of evil. Innocent herself,
she suspected wrong in no one, espe-
cially her cousin, who, Of late, was so
kind to her. When they were about
to mount the horses, Calista said,
gaily, "Let US change to-day, Alice.
l want you to try Flyaway, and /
want to ride Clip"
"Do you think I could manage
Flyaways" 2" said Alice, a little anx-
iously.
"Oh, yes, easily enough; he is q
little fiery, to be sure, but shall be
near you. ] have never ridden Clip,
you know, and want to see how she
will like me-"
Alice's aunt, Miss Gray, stood in
the door.
"You will keep near Alice, Calista?'
she said, "and see that Flyaway is
kept quiet!"
Indeed / WILL" answered Calista,
"Don't you fear for her, Miss Gray"
They mounted the horses and pro-
ceeded toward Crofton Woods. When
they arrived at the forest they rode
along leisurely, looking about them,
and remarking on the beauty of the
day and scenery. They soon came to
a by-path, that struck off into the
woods; and Calista drew rein and
said: "This path is the one l took
the other day, when came here alone,
Let US go through it, and will show
you one Of the most magnificent
scenes you ever saw"
They turned their horses into this
path, and cantered off into the heart
of the forest. They had ridden near
ly a mile when they came suddenly
upon great ledge of rocks, standing
out bare in the wood and overlooking
a frightful chasm or ravine.
"What a strange place this is p said
Alice.
"Wc will ride to the top of the
HILL" said Calista, land then we can
see the ocean,"
"Can we z" said Alice. 81 want to
see il, but I'm almost afraid 10 ride
there on Flyaway; let us dismount
and walk"
"Oh, fe !" said Calista, little ner-
vousIy. II will warrant Flyaway to
behave lust as / want him to. Come
along, Alice; don't be timid."
They began TO ascend the jagged
hill, the horses stumbling over the
rocks; and at last they stood at the
summit. There was the ocean, sure
enough, lying blue and fatfo:nicss away
off in the distance; but Alice gave it
but passing glance; she was gazing
in terror down the terrible abyss, on
the edge Of which their horses were
"Oh, Calista," she cried, "why did
you bring me here? 1t is terrible I
am frightened shall be drawn into
that terrible abyss, in spite of me-"
Calista raised her riding whip.
"Alice Gray" she said, her eyes
with hatred and evil resolve,
"you shall never marry Herman Hol-
liston A few minutes more
and you will be in eternity, and shall
be avenged"
"Oh, heaven save me, save me II
cried Alice, attempting to dismount
from her horse; but Calista struck
him with her riding whip, speaking
sharply to him, and like the wind he
flew down the jagged rocks.
Alice, in terror, lost all power and
presence of mind, and in an instant
was hurled down the frightful chasm
and lay torn and bleeding at the bot
tom.
Calista, with hollow, demon-like
laugh, dismonnted and climbed down
the rocks to where Alice was lying.
With eyes like balls of fire, and face
as pale as death, she put her hand on
the pulse of the bleeding girl, and
found that life was quite extinct.
She then climbed up the steep,
mounted her horse, and rode with full
speed toward the house. When she
reached the highway, she saw two
gentlemen in carriage coming leis-
urely along. She screamed to them
wildly, and told them that Alice Gray
had been thrown from her horse on
the rocks in Crofton Woods and she
feared she was dead. The gentle
men, who knew Alice well, left their
carriage in the road and hurried to the
place where the poor murdered girl
lay mangled and dead, her beautiful
golden hair dripping with her blood.
They took her up tenderly, and bore
her to their carriage, and then drove
slowly toward the house.
Calista had arrived there long be.
fore, and was swaying to and fro, white
as a ghost, and blaming herself to the
distracted aunt of Alice for allowing
the poor girl to ride the fiery horse
Flyaway.
When Herman Holliston came back
to the home Of his betrothed, the
whole neighborhood was in commo
ton over the accident that had be-
fallen the beautiful and beloved Alice
Gray; but no one distrusted Calista
Langdon for an instant. When the
funeral was over the heart-broken
lover, after spending a whole night on