The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-07-26
From Appleton'S Journal.
4 WORK Of RETRIBUT[0N.
CHAPTER V.

A very safe and delightful retreat thi
cave seemed to hem when they fount
themselves sheltered within it-notwith
-ssa.anJing the facts ths they were in dec]
darkness, and wet alm~t to the skim
'Stand STILL" said Tlr,rston, relcasin!
Miss Loring's hand or the first time
"and I will strike m!tch.''
SIS it possible you lave matches will
you?" she asked.
''I am an old soldicrand an inveterat'
smoker" he answered IL am neyc
caught without matches and I carry my
case wrapped in leathe, so that damp
ness cannot affect them. See hercp'
The next instant feblc, short-livet
blaze lighted up their,lace of refuge
and showed Miss Long q stone, or
which she Immediately st down.
"We are at least shdered from the
rain," said Thurston, asthc temporary
Illumination died away, and safe from
the electricity, since wateis a non-con.
ductor. Now, if you ca possess your
soul in patience for viii, | hope that
the storm will exhaust itst, and We may
90 home by moonlight aft all"
~ can possess my sou in patience
very easily" she answered. 'It is better
to be here than to be riMg along 4
forest-road in such Il storm ,shis. How
the rain pours
And lightnings, as they play,
But show where rocks our path I've crossed,
Or gild the torrents spray.
''You cannot be very ncrus, Miss
Loring, or you would not | able to
quote poetry"
81 am not at all nervous" 81 replied.
"Pray set your mind arrest on at point.
have always felt that if we called
upon to face death ITSELF mn death
in some sudden and viole horm-I
should be as calm and collec .os l am
this moment"
"You might find yourself iStaken.
Facing death is not such an ea: matter
as YOU think. 1, who have FACET many
times, know whereof l speak"
"But there was always doubtl that,
was there not? If you were 'solutey
certain that death was before u-say,
for instance, that you were on sinking
ship in mid-ocean-you wouldavc no
fear of losing composurc, wouldou? 2"
II suppose not-the inevitati is said
to have always sustaining pow Un-
der some circumstances, howeveI "an
imagine that, apart from courage man
might shrink from the prospect leav-
ing those whom he loved hclpleSchind
him."
"And would that be your case
The abrupt question did not snd as
it would have sounded at anott time
and in another place. So uttcrlMcon-
ventional were their surrounds, so
strange the darkness encompassinhcm,
that the ordinary rules govcrnin,ocial
life seemed for the present laidsidc,
and Thurston replied withcuta m@nt's
thought:
''Not at all. If this stream bee us
were able to rise and overwhelms, l
should have the satisfaction of fling
that l left no human being in the rid
worse for my death, and but one Eon
who would feel any active scntime of
regret"
She laughed slightly-not Il mirful
laugh, by any means.
''Then you have an advantange sr
me in the possession of that one per,.
| should leave several human beg
better for my death, inasmuch as my.
tune would be divided among them, a
not one who would mourn me beyono
week."
The instinct of distrust was so stro
in him with regard to everything viii
she said or did, that he set this spec
down to mere striving after effect, al
answered more lightly than he wou
otherwise have done:
"You have surely forgotten all yo
admirers"
"Thank you for reminding me
thcm," she said, but her tone chang
from earncstncss to mockcry. Il wond
how many among them would mourn +
week ! Well, We reap as VIC ha
sowed, suppose. People call me br
liant, beautiful and fa"cinating, b
many Il commonplace W nan is richer
love than am
1t was impossible even for Thurston
doubt the sincerity with which the
words were uttered. Half bitter, al
wholly sad, the magnetic voice sounde
and he felt his heart strongly stirred
its tones. A doubt of himsclf-of !
own capabilities of resisting this woman
powcr--bcgan for the first time to Gre
his mind. Had Mrs. Jennings be
right? Was he, after all, playing wi
fire?
'If you are poor in love-" he said,
is because YOU have flung it away fro
YOU in carclcssness or scorn. | kno
Miss Loring, that devotion the most p;
sionatc and true has been poured o
like water at your feet"
''Do you know % she asked; al
there was not little skcpticism in II
tone. "Thch you are wiser than | al
But | confess | have always been incre
ulous where protestations OF passion VIC
involved. Perhaps l did not feel intcr(
enough to put them to any test. Life
a riddle to which | have never found
kew, and | have often thought that it
not worth searching for"
There was something SO pathetic
the half-wcary, half-rccklcss ring of h
voice that Thurston said, involuntaril
"You are too young, and far too Ii
orally endowed with every good gift
Nature, to feel anything like that. SUI
", you cannot seriously do So"
She did not answer, for as he sp0
the most vivid flash of lightning whit
they had yet seen illuminated the who
wild scene with an uncarthly glare, lea
ing from point to point among the era!
while the roar of the thunder ovcrhc
seemed to shake the solid rocks aroul
them.
When darkness again fell, yelling fro
sight the white sheets of rain, the sur
ing, whirling torrent, Agatha said: 49,
"Can VIC not go farther back? i.
rain or the spray from the stream is ia
ing over me-"
Let me strike a match. Now, give i
your hand"
In the farthcst corner of the rock-rcct
he placed her, and then established hi
l. {,, in'f ii bor a ~,