Daily Republican., 1882-03-03

, ter Angus return-weeks to which sh'
had looked forward 10 longingly-wers
very dark to her. True, Angus was al
that was kind AID attentive, but ther.
was . serpent In their Eden, and thai
serpent was-Elfrida.
i Even Barbara was forced to see, aftel
the first, that it was no childish liking
on the girls part. but deliberate de.
termination to make conquest, which
Influenced her, and Barbara, scorRine
to enter into any rivalry, grew cold and
silent, and crushed her heart beneath
her pride. II he preferred Elfrida, she
would not interfere by word or look
fettered love was worthless, and he " %
free. save for those few words which he
had spoken on that first night, and
those were known sn]y to himself and
her they could easily be unsaid and
forgotten.
And 10 Barbara walked and rode and
talked with Angus, with always third
presence between them, and at last she
made up her mind chat this must end.
She would release Angus at once and
forever, and go back into the life which
had been hers before be came-only
without that life's dreams and hopes.
They had gone on this day-her last
day with Angus-for . walk down to
the sea wall-s rugged wall of masonry
between the town and the sea.
Barbara had taken her sketch book
with her, and, seated upon the jutting
platform, used by the government sur
veyors, she busted herself over 1t and
left the other two to their own devices
but when, after awhile, they left her
and went down, Angus with-what
Barbara proudly chose to think assum.
ed-reluctance being led away by i'm
perious Elfrida, she dropped her hands
in her lap and looked idly around her.
Below, was the silver sea above, the
blue summer sky, and ON the prone
made those two leaning on the wall.
How pretty Elfrida looked, as she
stood, swinging her hat by its ribbons,
with the yellow sunshine glistening on
her short bronze culs and lighting up
her perfect Murillo face, with its won.
derful dark eyes How handsome and
strong and proud was the man beside
her, with his eyes gazing steadfastly
out to sea, with never look at her.
remote and wretched
E.frida's voice came clearly to her
ears.
"You look strong, and you are very
brave, no doubt" she said. "What |
would you dare for one you loved ?"
Anything" said Angus, looking
still away from her.
"Do you see that flower down there?"
Eltrida leant a little further over the
edge and pointed to where, some dis |
tance down the wall, q small blossom
futtered In the breeze.
"Would you dare get that for the
woman you loved ?"
The words were scarcely spoken be-
fore she was alone. Angus, light as a
and, with the help Of the
crevices in the masonry, was letting
himself down outside.
Barbara sprang to her feet with a
low cry of horror.
Far down below the water splashed
and sparklel on the jagged rocks, and
Angus hung there-doomed to certain
death if the fingers of that one hand
which held him up as he stopped down }
to pluck the flower, failed him for an
instant.
Elfrida stood looking at him half
with look of triumph, half of terror,
on her face.
"Knot your handkerchief and hold it
over" commanded Barbara in low,
incisive voice and the girl obeyed.
For an instant longer he hung there,
the veins GU his temples standing out
like cords as he bent lower to reach the
flower.
An instant, and his fingers touched
it; then as he Strengthened himself he,
for the first time looked up.
He saw Efrida leaning over, and
beyond her, sharply outlined against
the sky-Barbara.
lie took the flower between his teeth
and drew himself up slowly with both
hands. Elfrida stood back and waited
for him with triumphantly sparkling
eyes and outstretched hand.
He looked at her with one long, con-
temptuous glance, and turned away,
,pringing up the steps of the rude plat
form.
"Barbara," he said, and his voice
thrilled her strangely, "my love, this
lower Is for you"