Louisiana capitolian., 1879-07-26
THE FATAL GIFT.
Go back with mo to tho summer Of
by WM. -. POLLOCK.

IL was the full tide, and tho hour
midnight---a clear, cold night, moon
less, but not dark, for myriad stars
glanced down upon the bay of San
Francisco in soft, pale glow that, re-
llccting from the swelling waters,
caused II thin phosphorcsccnt light,
rendering objects tolcrably distinct.
Here, as had often before, In re-
sponse to the promptings of II fancy
that led me to seek the solitude of the
night, alone, in sight of the dark wa
tcrs loved SO well, ! stood one night
upon the end of n pier that stretched
far out into the bay--tho last and
lonclicst Of all that line the city front.
was all alone. No sound but the
sigh of tho wind, and tho mournful
rise and fall Of the tide upon the piles
beneath, and the drcary dripping of
the water us 1t fell away from the logs
ut every reccding swell.
Suddenly my chr detected another
yet familiar sonnd-stcady yet steal
thy foot-fnlls close at hand. turned
and behcld the figure of u woman
looking down in wrapt abstraction
into the water.
Startled ut the possible errand Of u
woman in that locality and tsuch an
hour, cautiously gained my feet and
approached her. My presence was
not detected.
CHANGING now furtively up and
down the pier q stood behind her),
she hastily removed her shawl and
then her hat---both of which ] per-
ccivcd, even in this uncertain light,
to be of rich ial-droppcd them
at her side, and, clasping her hands
over her eyes, made o rapid motion
forward and stood upon the very edge.
Her hands were then thrown wildly
up '
mIoldm ] said, grasping her by the
arm, crash creature, what would you
do 7"
She turned suddenly upon me, and,
grasping my wrists, held them as in q
grip of iron, while her luminous eyes,
burning with an intense light, yet ex-
hibiting no signs of surprise Or fear,
looked dauntlessly into mine.
"Fool! what would yoM do7 Be-
ware! Go; leave me. II is best" she
added in q fearful whisper, releasing
my hand and pushing me from her.
"By heavens, you shall not do this
thing" ! cried, springing again to-
ward her. But she waved me back
with gesture so fierce and presence
so naughty and imperious that !
paused in apprehension. felt grow
ing in my heart an interest for this
unknown being / could not repel. AL
ready q fear grasped my mind that
she would accomplish her implied
purpose, and that would be power
less to prevent, An influence could
not comprehend nor control prompted
me to say:
81 would save you.'
A loud, wild laugh greeted this re-
mark sharp and sudden it rang out,
and MS suddenly ceased. Her form
quiycred for an instant, wavcred and |
then sank slowly in a heap at my feet.
A strange look of terror came into
her face, and grasping my coat she
raised herself to her knees, while she
said hurriedly:
"Oh, sir, you know not what you
do. Go; leave me, ere get you have
timc-e'cr it will be too late. 1t is
better for ALT is best for you. "9
"Who are you ?" asked, my inter
est growing momcntarily greater.
mo matter. 1t were death TO know
to know me-"
"You have home ?" pursued.
"None."
ga mothcfW
"NO."
Her manner had changed. She sat
now perfectly quiet and possessed,
. with her face averted. In the interval
Of silence that followed | had time to