Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-09-04

that Maud was in truth lost to me hope fled far
from me, and in its stead came despair Full OF
fierce, angry thoughts, walked away to the
Cliffs, and throwing myself down upon the rock,
fell into deep feverie, from which l was
aroused by the sound Of Abert's CHEEKY voice
close at my side. looked up he was standing
on the very verge Of the cliff ;-one false step,
one slip, and he would be precipitated into the
ocean, two hundred feet,-and then, -ulen-
title, wealth. Maud ali would be mine A
demon possessed me, and lacked the strength
to put him from fme,-nay, perchance, lacked
the loiu springing to my feet spoke in low
hoarse tone.
"Albert Grey, will you give up Maud Clemens ?
Will you give her up, l say? want her. You
have severything,-l nothing Give her up to
me- l say !"
"Why, Richard are you mad Give up Maud
when she has just told me that she loves me !!
when she has Just promised to be my wife !"
" She shall never keep her promise !" l
shouted, "Never never
And then l sprang upon him, and with a pow
erful thrust hurled him down, down, over that
terrible precpce. stood alone on the Gill;
alone moment after that fearful act, look
cd out upon the soa like one stupefed then,
suddenly realizing the deed had committed, L
flung myself recklessly down over the rough side
Of the cliffs, until reached the little harbor
below, where my poor brother had moored his
sail boat.
Hastily, madly, like one pursued by death,
leaped into it, and spreading the sail, fled away
from the land Not once did look back upon
Bartle Cliffs, did not dare Ah how dearly
loved my brother now,--how bitterly l repent
ed now, when love and repentance were too late
Out upon tho tossing waters, away from that
fatal spot sped the little bark all day, all night
it flew onwards, what did it matter where it
bore me, 80 only that it WAS far, far away from
Bartle Cliffs. Two days of remorseful agony,
and knew no more until awoke to concious-
ness, after long fever and found myself
aboard a vessel bound for New Zealand.
For period OF five years | wandered restless
y over the wild countries Of the globe, and then
l returned to England, resolved TO seek Maud
Clemens, and confess my crime. She would
spurn me from her presence knew, but that
would be less terrible to bear than tile silence
which oppressed my burdened heart
So it CHANGED that one beautiful morning,
found myself standing OH Bartle Cliffs my
heart cold and shiyering, my breath coming and
going in quick, short gasps. There on the spot
from which l had hurled my brother, kuelt
down and prayed for forgiveness Rising to my
feet started back for there almostat my side,
stood Maud Clemens, gazing upon me with the
sweet gentle smile remembered 30 well. ln
rapid, incoherent words confessed all my temp
tation, my sin, my repentance.
"Oh !" concluded " could the sacrifice OF
my own life bring HIM back, God knows it would
be my GREATEST happiness to lay it down at your
feet. But it is too late oh Heavens too late
am powerless now to do aught but mourn my
sim"
" Not 30, brother !. spoke voice had
thought never to hear again. "Your sin is light
or than you have believed, and in love for the
future, you can atone for the wrongs OF tie
past"
He opened wide his arms, and with a wild cry
l threw myself upon his noble breast. When
grew camer, he told me how, when hurled him
from the cliff, he had fallen upon narrow ledge
of rock but a few yards below. Being but little
injured, he had contrived to Chamber up to the
summit, and looking out over the sea, had seen
the little boat which bore me away, fleeing from
the coast.
Maud was his wife now, and in sorrow, they
had mourned for me as for the dead, believing
me to have pershed at sea-
They are both gone now, Maud and Albert,
and am alone, patiently waiting the summons
to join them, for my sin is forgiven because of
my great repentance.