The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-03-01

stands facing Walter Crosbie and Sara,
his black eyes and olive-brown counte-
nance fully visible to them both. Under
his dark moustache there plays bitter,
cynical smile.
Sara utters little scream OF dlsmGy.
"How unexpected" she falters; and
then there is o silence among the trio,
which lasts until Walter Crosbie harshly
breaks it.
"yery unexpected" he exclaims ;
"and vet, after all, scarcely inopportune.
T for one am glad that it has occurred.
1t gives me, at least, the opportunity OF
asking you, in Mr.. Curtis presence, Miss
Sara, how much longer you desire that
this absurd masquerade shall continue.
With whonl-to make sort of epigram
ont of the situation (while he laughs q
low discordant laugh )-"do you wish to
walk home with, Mr.. Curtis or myself ?"
And then Ralph Curtis speaks
promptly:
echo Mr.. Crosbie's question"
| Whereupon poor, weak Sara bursts
into tears.
/ "Please go away" she murmurs,
brokenly.
'"I can walk home just as we'll alone
by myself"
Silence.
This time it is silence that Ralph
Curtis ends.
"That is no answer, Miss Sara
"Right," states Walter Crosbie, with
stern emphasis. cit is no answer.
"I-I can't help it," laments Sara.
-"Please go-both of you"
Suddenly fierce flash shoots from
the nightlike eyes of Ralph.
."Let there be some decision, he
cries. addressing Walter. off Miss
r Prescott Will not make it herself, 1t is for
us to do So"
|, al don't understand" replies Walter.
, Ralph draws near him.
| 81 beg your pardon" he commences,
speaking to Sara; and then there follows
| between the two men an inaudlble whls-
. pered conference which she, who wit
messed it, watches and wonders at. The
conference continues for nearly five
minutes; and at last Ralph Curtis turns
toward Sara.
"Miss Prescott, Mr.. Crosbie and 1
) have formed compact together. DO
= lou see where yonder road emerges
; from those clumps of shrubbery?"
eyes" answered the puzzled girl, In
right puzzled tones. =,
every well. We desire you to wait
here. We will disappear. When you
next see either of us it will be as he ad-
; yances toward you, doubtless at fullest
| running speed along the racecourse.
One will in all probability win the race
which we propose to run, but II 1t proves
a neck-snd-neck race, then-then -
/ "Then," Walter Crosbie here breaks
in, "you must walk home alone. Do
{ YOU quite understand, Miss Sara
Think, for q moment, and L feel sure
| that further explanation will be useless. "
, "I-I-have thought" quivers Sara,
and-and-I think-I am sure, indeed
) that I understand.
) every WELL" exclaimed Walter. "Do
: YOU consent to such an arrangement,
strange and wild as it seems Reflect
J for moment before replying.
Sara covers her face impulsively with
[ both hands, and remains in this; attitude
: for brief while. Then she covers her
: face again with equal impulsiveness, and
} cries out, in tones almost fierce with IL
tense excitement
} 81 have reflected; and consent.
r Sara is standing quite alone now, in
the clear, perfect moonlight Around
: her CLEAN the shadowy lawns, broken
; with their great, dark masses OF foliage.
5 Her eyes are fixed intently upon that
, fragment of opposite road which Its
| skirting shrubberies allow her to see.
She is listening-listenipg with strained,
, anxious ear, and with every nerve on the
qui sire of expectancy.
1 Presently there is q sound, at what
5 seems considerable distance, OF rapid,
: advancing feet. Sara's eyes fairly di-
, late, and her head stretches itself for,
E ward in the wild eagerness OF her feel
ings.
= The steps come nearer, nearer-heavy
l decisive thuds of vigorous feet against
: hard, unyielding gravel. "
And now, without moments wal1i-
ing, the steps cease. . Then there is
: mans wild, fierce cry: after that, what
7 seems second silence; and then the
| dreadful, cracking, unmistakable sound
/, of pistol.
$ Just for a brief space Sara stands as
though frozen into stone. Then she
Q rushes down the road, turns the corner
made-so to speak-by the great shrub
0 berry clusters, and darts on, on, with
s heetest speed. A long, quivering, terri
e fed moan leaves her lips, as she pauses
: at last by dark, outstretched form.
e Walter-Walter Crosbie for Gods
+ sake what has happened ?"
!, No answer.
!? And she sees the ghostly upturnet
face, and the long, CORY stream that oozes
S from its temple
1 Not two yards distant there is another
4 prone form. Sara staggers toward 1t.
S Ralph Curtis swarthy face CLEANS
Il livid and ghastly, in the pale moonlight
S ellis fault" he gasps-" all his fault
II He stabbed me as l was passing HIM
e Then fred-not till then. God hell
/ you-poor Sara-poor Sara !!
These are the last words he eve
n spoke. And so the race has been run
and SO death has won it.