New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-19

II down. But It's hard lines, he SAID, with break
in his voice. It's hard lines
Keep MP your heart. my boy returned Langton
touched by the yonng mans artess expressions OF
grief It's bad but might be worse II the girl
loves you it won't matter 10 her If you have six
hundred year or sixty thousand. And # she
doesn't mind, why should you There are better
chances the cards than Canada, anyway. Hang
on aud watch, that's my advice, since you ask H..
One by one the guests wandered back 20 the Hall,
and distributed themselves over the careted desert
OF the great drawmg-room. while the ladies ON
cated at the piano. Miss Elsel being warmly
pressed 20 sing begged tO bc excused and Roueric'
after several vain endeavors 10 get within CONVEX
satiOn distance of his inamorata-each attempt
being ceverly frustrated by Lady Matllda-wan,
dered of TO smoke sadly contemplatve cigar, and
muse upon her manifold Projections and his own
unworthIness.
Lady Matilda. buried in the downy depths of an
armchair her eyes apparently exploring vacancy,
but in reality keenly watching the movements Of
Langton waited with feline patience, She was too
wise a woman to meddle actively in the matter and
court another rebuff but LangOn's aiiectation OF
indifference had by means blinded her to the true
state Of the case, and she hoped still. Elsie sat
apart. beside the window, half in and half ont Of
the food of moonlight which partially ut the draw
ing-room. But LangtOn, with the exception OF
few phrases of course, did not trouble her with his
conversation, and presently retired quietly, leaving
lie sat at the window of his room, and looked ont
the mOOn-i0oded park. past the thin ribbon OF
silver which marked the course Of the river, past
the rich-leayed trees that stood like islands OF
shadow in a of light. lie was looking beyond
them into his own future. He was cal ner now.
and cOuld look at II quietly in spite of the terrible
gusts of passion that still shook him for moment,
and passed, leaving the calm deeper. SO far he
had done well, and was satisfied with himself
upon the whole as he had right To be. The prime
temptation of his life overcome, and his passion
had made him false neither to love nor friendship.
The calm beauty of the night seemed ~ draw
him from the house out into the alley in which ne
had had heard the condolences Of the lovelor1
RodcIic He could not pass the spot without some
thing OF a trcmOr His hopes lay buried under that
grassy mound, and great wave OF some naueiess
emotion, made up of love and sorrow and hopeless
hope rose in his soul. And before II sank again he
saw before him something that sent the blood from
his faCc-Rodcric and Elsc, dlinly visible IN the
shade AT the turning OF the alley. lie slipped back
into the darkness with curse on ms s ana SOME
thing very like prayer IN his heart. Some bind
feeling that his trial was being made unnecessarily
bitter crossed his mind. The voices reached him
where he stood. too low FOR the words they uttered
to be understood and then another sound, unins-
taxable in the silence of the night, FAINT as II was.
white figure Huttcrcd by him, lost IN the shadow,
and Nanc's step went slowly crunchmg the grass III
Lanqton left the spot with hurried unequal steps,
and walked rapidly across the park IN the direction
of the river. When hc came 10 its banks he turned
and walked with It's current Before he had gone
a mile the sound Of the falling OF distant waters met
his ears. aud presently he came 20 the spot at which
the bed of The river suddenly made sheer descent
Of some twenty feet lie stood at the brink look
ing down al the tpaming caldron INTO which the
water rushed with roar and clang like the shouting
of an army. Some vague thought that in that fur
iOus he'll 81 warning waters hc might find the peace
denied to him elsewhere crossed him As he galed
But stephen Langton Was not OF the stun whereof
suicides are made.
The towards remedy hc muttcrcd, rs he turned
away. Not that not that
He continued his stroll along the edge oi the basin
until his further progress was barred hy the tres
that ran 30 the edge. intcrtwincd brcast-hirh with
brambc and hrushwoud and which served To marx
the bounds of his domain. Here, peri9rce, he
turned and rctraCcd his steps. What was the black
shadow recumbcnt ON the edge of the fall. on The
very spot ON which he had stood ten minutes hc-
fOrei lie drew nearer 10 Il with silent steps some
thing too hidcous 30 be called hope growing ~ 7
heart as hc advanced. The figure moved ana hc
saw the moonlight full upon it's face. IL WAS
Rodcric Vane With shout that rang high above
the tumult Of the fall he rushed down the bank.
Nane was his feet and met the shock.
'Langton Good God, what are you doingf
liz held his arms about his victim and rcsolutely
thrust him back foot 10y foot until they stood upon
the edge. With all the tenacity Of despair the
supple youngst"r cling about him. holding on WIN
hands and teeth IN last hard struggle Tor dear me-
but Langton loosed his grip, and drove him win
a cruel blow over the brink. One sitting gureling
cry aud body struck the water. he murderer
knelt upon the turf. and looked down INTO the
foam. ms II fancy. did he indeed see the " hite
face looking up Mt him through the surgcsi What
matter The appeal was yOicclcSs' ana could Oe
heard hy no man save himself.
The horror Of the place was 40 strong upon nun
that he ran like hunted hare across inc par
straight for the house. lie slipped M unpercelNcd;
and mounted the stairs HIS drrss was torn ana
disordervd aud his check was bleeding lie must no.
lie seen 80 lie hastily changed his dress, slanched
the slight scratch and then, pale but calm, dn-
see ndcd TO the drawing room. Il,
The guests were grouped IN the centre OF the
room evidently under the influence OF some strong
emotion Of surprise or wonder. A. he entered ms
sister broke through them. and came towards hlin'
her necklace in her hand .
Stephen look Ny emerald What does 1t
mean
He looked and saw colorless as his own hagrard
face the lewe centrepicce. IL was no fable then'
this old wfcs story. TIE was come upon nm;
lie fell back with outsretched hands, as II To warn
of some pa pable horror that threatened him.
The dreamer sprang 10 his feet, his eyes daztlcd
by the flood OF light that inundated the room IN
which he sat and glared out upon the scene Dsiore
him--park and garden and river and sky flooded by
the rosy morning light. clear voice rang up from
below: