The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-06-10

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torted Mark, fercely. al know who
you are. You are one OF those mer
who go about the world and call them
selves gentlemen-who steal a simple
lassie's heart with their lies, and, wher
they have grown tired of it chuck il
away, like children play with the shin
gle."
" l am not going to handy words will
fellow like you," cried Dudley, liyid
now with stifed passion. 81 suppose
can converse with a pretty girl if ]
like, without being brought to accoutn
by low-born fisherman"
"Low-bon you call me, do you p
repeated Mark Fenton, in tones Of with
ering scorn. "If am low-born, / am
honest, which is more than some folks
are and | would rather have to beg fo1
my bread than call myself no truer
gentleman than youT
An angry oath, followed by still
angrier blow, was all the answer vouch-
safed to Mark Fenton's unpalatable
speech, and the two men closed together
in fierce and desperate struggle.
They ne7red the edge of the cliff, but
in their mad anger they were utterly
forgetful of their perilous position.
A moment more and they had both
reeled over together-over the great,
rugged cliffs of old red sandstone-on
to the beach below, that made one
dizzy to look down upon.
In the morning their bodies were
found by some fishermen who had
missed Mark Fenton's presence from
among them, and had Immediately be
gun to make anxious inquiries. Mark,
though senseless, was alive. His fall
had been broken by piece of project
ing earth, and he was carried home with
a broken arm and wounded head.
The graceful, youthful figure of Dudley
Carleton lay crushed and dead upon the
beach, and one of the fisherman-who
had known him best, through having
sometimes accompanied him and his
friends on their boating EXCURSIONS
went and communicated the sad tidings
to his relations.
Meanwhile Mark was borne away TO
the cottage where he lodged aud the
worthy housewife, who had become
terribly alarmed at his absence, pro-
ceeded to dress his wounds with all a
mothers tenderness.
Her only sou had been drowned a few
months previous to Mark Fenton's COM
ing to make his home among them, and
she had learned to looltnpon the young
fellow in the light of that son she had
lost.
One hour later and the news had
reached Hetty, who entered the cottage
with wild despairing cry and threw
herself by her lovers side.
"Mark oh dear Mark--liye for my
sakel" she calculated, in accents we'll
nigh choked with emotion. "I never
knew how dearly l loved you until now.
I never knew that all The world is as
nothing compared to you. have been
q foolish, wicked girl, and I want you to
forgive mel"
Mark Fenton opened bis eyes, and
fixed them on the white, haggard face
of Matthew Golding's daughter
"NIy poor lass" he murmured, family
pressing the delicate fingers which lay
in his open palm, 81 knew you'd regret
it before long. Don't take on, my dar-
ling; 1 am not going to die yet I feel
so much better now that have seen
you, and heard your own sweet words.
I am sorry Mr.. Car 'eton's dead shall
always feel that | had something to do
with it and yet He who is one day to be
my Judge knows that l meant him
no harm. Don't take on so, lassie-
don't take on So"
ooh, Mark / am great deal more
to blame than YOU" continued Hettie,
still weeping, 81 can never forget
what wicked girl have BEEN"
+" Yes you will, dear; wait till l come
down on the beach again." rejoined
Mark, "and we shall be so happy to-
gether. Kiss me, Hettie, and let me
see you bright and cheerful every day
that will do me more good than all the
doctors in England"
And it was as Mark Fenton had said.
He did grow better every day, although
his recovery to health and strength
was more lengthy affair than either
he or Hetty had ever anticipated; for it
was not until the following spring that
he was seen at his work again, and dur.
ing that time the frequent visits of the
worthy rector had cheered and soothed
him, and he went about his business at
last like the Mark Fenton of old. A
change, however, had come over Hetty,
and perhaps for the better
A magisterial inquest was held re.
specting the discovery of Dudley Carle.
toms body, and his death was asserted
to have been occasioned entirely by his
own passion.
Hetty could not do too much foi
Mark to prove the affection that he once