Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-08-07

the house, when you propose to her to sit
down, as she often does. in one of the fish
ermen's boats, you also taking a seat
with her. FIRST, however, before stepping
in, manage to shove it down little, SO
that when you get out 10 assist her, give a
slight push with your foot, and the surf
will do the rest. You will, of course, make
an effort to save her, but rs there will be
nobody i'll hearing, you will fail to render
her any assistance. But when You find
that it is too late for any one to rescue her,
then hasten to alarm the villagers. while
l will be nearly frantic with grief.
"Thcre !" said the f .ir plottcr-"if you
cannot manase 80 simple thing as that,
after it is all chalkcd out for you, you GER
tainly have no courage"
At the opening of our story. this pro-
gramme had been strictly adhered to, and
the most horrible, though not the last act
in the drama, had just been successfully
carried out.
The false will had been ready for many
days, to be exchanged for the old one,
which would be Immediately destroyed.
and the three had gone out for stroll up
on the beach.
Arabella soon complained Of n severe
headache, and begged to be excused. that
she might return to the house. But, in-
stead of doing SO, as she had proposed, she
went further down the beach, and seated
herself upon rock, which had been pre-
viously arranged between herself and her
lover, to await his arrival, when he should
have accomplished his part in the horrible
tragedy.
She had waited u long time, and had
heard the shouts OF alarm which had been
sent up by the fishermen, who had volun-
teered to make an etfJrt to save the unfort-
unatc woman, although there were now
signs of a storm.
The heavy black clouds seemed to rise
out of the sea, and mutteriny thunder was
heard in the distance. whilst large white
caps rode triumphlntly upon the billows,
now rising high, now sinking beneath
them, when new ones, larger, winter and
more ghost-llke, would rise in the places of
those swallowed up by the hungry waves,
and like angry spirits dtshed the sea-foam
into the faces OF the horror stricken group
upon the beach.
| An attempt was made to launch a few
small boats. but the wind being so strong
/ the search had to be abandoned, and the
kind-hearted men bowed their heads, and
went slowly back to their homes.
As the villagers went their way, all 80
sld-hearted, Meredith Weston sauntered
slowly, and even mechanically, down. the
bcach-for his senses appeared to HIM al
most bcnumbcd-to the placeof rendezvous
with Arabcla.
! She saw him coming, and noticed his
almost tottering steps; she saw him try to
! lift his feet, to climb the two or three steps
in order to reach hcr, and she saw him
| open his mouth, and even move his lips.
But no sound issued forth, and she stretch
ed forth her hand and helped him to
mount and when he had been seated,
he related the horrible scene of the
tragedy.
. Come" she said, let us hurry to the
lodge. Have you the new will safc?" she
asked, rising to her feet and laying her
{ her hand upon the arm of her companion,
who seemed to hesitate.
"Yes, ArlLclla; it is safe in my breast
pocket" he replied, after some moments
pause, But | wish to heaven it were
in the sea, and with IT instead of that in
noccnt woman" he added
"Hush -
And putting her arm through his, she
drew him upon his feet, and they moved
on toward the lodge.
When they had gone Il short distance
| from the rock, whore they had been sit
ting whilst Meredith rehearsel his part of
the tragedy, two women crept cautiously
out from behind this rocky fortress, and
instead of following the couple along the
leach, they climcd over Il sandy, stony
cliff, and reached the lodge some minutes
before the arrival OF the lovers, and enter
ing by the back way, were, in their proper
| places for these women were the two
house-maids when the others came in by
the lodge
The maids had gone out upon hearing
the sad news of the drowning Of their mis-
tress, and ran toward the sea, and rs they
came in sight of the rock they saw Miss
Anderson sitting there SO quietly, with her
face toward the sea; and never having
/ quite liked her, they us,,ecteI her of hav-
( ing symctLi..s 20 do with the loss of the
lady, and SO they concealed themselves
I behind the rock. and decided 10 leHit the
result. They had not long been here whoa
/ she was joined by her lover. Hence tkey
were in possession CT the main points of
the case.
+ The remainder Of our story is soon told.
Early on the following morning the house-
maids preferred the charge of ,hurder
against Meredith Weston and Arahela An
/ derson, who were duly arrested, tried, and
found guilty, They subsequently con-
/ fessed their crime, and were awaiting their
sentence, which had not yet been pro-
nouuced, when, one morning, the jailer
was greatly shocked, upon entering Mere
/ Jitb,s coll 10 find him, lvinfr dead Inon his