The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-09-03
GOALS OF FIRE.

havelOved her? Arose brimminsw with
sunbeams, the blind felt her beauty
and turned to breathe it's fragrance.
Never, from the moment l first saw
her, has she ever heard an ungcntlc
word from me. leone ola cold, silent
family; but in her presence my heart
turned into fire and my tongue into
music.
What strange thing is tho light OF
beauty! In youth, how much strong
er than the light Of truth! There are
fishes in the depths Ofthe ocean whose
only light is phosphorescace. The
sunbeams turn black before they reach
so deep. So unreal but so beautiful is
the light in which lovers move.
| met Alice in the White Mountains,
and one would search far to find Il
more ideal mountain maiden. \
form light and graceful as the mist! IL
breath and voice as fragrant and mu-
steal as the mountain pine. Il glance
that, like the wing OF the eagle, bore
the soul to the stars!
| had become betrOthed to her in a
romantic spot-on the summit OF the
"Nlaidcn'S Leap" n low peak among
the White Mountains, around which
losses n sea OF giant, rocky pillows.
We lived in New York, and the first
year OF my married life knew no cloud
except that which the art OF fancy
sometimes conjures upin sunny sky.
to tame the excess Of Inc int. Alice had
t,.1n ~ I
admired her beauty and versatile con-
versation. had but little love torso
ciety, but l was proud OF her success
and encouraged her to become a lead
er OF our little set. Among our init
mate friends was Il young lawyer,
John Manwaring, rich, hand
some and talented. No thought OF
jealousy III connection with him
ever entered my head; indeed. my wife
was jealous OF my love for him, and
often used to say, pettishly, that she
believed cared more for him than for
her. She often quarreled with him on
pretexts so frivolous that I was
ashamed of her, and had to apologies
for her rudencss.
One day Alice and l were going to
walk in Central Park. had stopped
a moment to talk to a policeman, and
Alice was IL few rods before me. As
was fastening to overtake her. a ribald
broker whom / had met in Wall street
touched me on the shoulder and, nod
ding his head toward my wife, said
with u pleasant smile:
"No chance for you there, Schuyler
Manwaring has got ahead OF YOU"
There are some words that carry q
collateral conviction to the heart that
all direct arguments would fail to Sc
cure.
A moment before this jest 1 would
have stakcd my life on Alice's truth
but as the poisonous words bit into
my heart, knew that from the begin
ming had been betrayed.
said nothing to Alicc-I was, per
haps, "a little more polite. remember
looking at her wedding ring and whis
pering softly:
"Alice, you have never had this rim!
off your finger?'
At which she blushed and cast dowr
her eyes.
That same week Manwaring was tc
visit Cuba.
told him that I would 90 with him
that / wanted his opinion in the pur
chase OF cigars, and that his society
was always SO agreeable to me.
Why could he not read my heart
Sword to sword, knife to knife. hand tc
hand, was wild to find myself in som.
country where lives pay for wrongs.
Manwaring was in Il strange humo1
during the voyage. Twice we wer'
caught in a storm. Despite the cap
tain's warning, on both these oc
casions Manwaring insisted on remain
ing on deck. In the height Of eacl
tempest, I stole beside him ane
looked into his face. He tremblcd
A touch, and l could have hurled hin
into the black and seething whirlpool
and no one the wiser But l felt NJ
temptation to play trcacherou
part. That l left to baser natures
He should have fair play to the small
lest chance.
When we reached the harbor o
Havana, we were detained day b.
the health officers. Manwaring, t,
pass the time, insisted on taking
swim. The captain tried to proven
him. "Sailors." he said, "were for
hidden to 90 into the water for fear Q
sharks" But Manwarlng had grow
still more nervous. Hewas now neve
at rest, and the captains reason
failed to dissuade him. At lenght
yawl was manned; we stepped o.
board, and Manwaring undreseed an
dove into the water He swan but
few yards from the boat, an
had been in the water bu
five minutes, when one c
the sailors shout ed, "Shark!
Manwaring, though an expert swim,
mer, seemed paralyzed by the WORD
Already half his short minute OF sa
walton was gone. "Quick, or you ar
lostW shouted the boatswain. Hewa
sinkingfrom terror.
"Ha!'' l thought, grimly, "this en-
plot has been planned to impress m
with your courage; it has miscal
RED"
Then an inspiration ofrevenge seize
me. Icaught a rope in one hand an
leaped into the water. In a few sec
onds l had clasped Manwaring aroun'
the waist the sailors pulled bravely
Twas just in time, for, as 1 was lifte'
last from the water, q huge man-eate
snapped Indignantly at my legs. l d.
not think am a coward; but 1faintet
away.
"You owe your life to your friend,
/ heard the boatswain say to Man
waring as / WAS returning to conscious
ness.
1 looked at the latter's face.
strange revulsion had taken place il
my feelings. Ino longer wished to xii
him; ! would prolong his life for cen
turtles. had risked my life and savet
bis; it was the ecstasy, of revenge.
knew that whatever agony l had sui
fered was now transferred to the hear
Of my enemy.
My mission was over. The mex
morning l babe Manwarninggood-bye
His face already showed tho confiic
OF emotions that had begun to racl
his soul. He offered ME his hand il
parting; but did not see it, and bow
! ed and left him.
took thenext steamer to New York
Preached the city on the third day 9