The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-04-29

along under the cliff picturing with savage
rapture the moment when, utterly unsus-
pecting of our contiguity, Eustace Grant
would find himself confronted by me, and
called upon to reckon up the cost OF his
foul treachery.
But that day, and other days, passed with
out my seeing sign of him. Ispent nearly
all tine hours of daylight on the coast
Again and again went through the scene
which 1 had pictured stood few PAGES
from him on stretch OF sand. J. re-
preached him and exulted in the vengeance
which 7 was about to take. could see my
self raise my right hand and fire could
see the man fall ifelesS. Over and over
again during those weary hours Of waiting
acted my part in this drama
Igloriei in the thought that he was now
famous; that life hold great prizes which his
hands could grasp. He had cut short my
dream of JOY. could do even more to
him. could kill him when the ball Of sue
cess and ambition was at his feet. In the
first flush of his triumph lie would fird me
waiting for him. Oh, it was well I had
been tardy in my acts! could now take
far more than life from my foe!
So day after day sat or lay on the coast,
full OF such thoughts as these. Except when
looking for my foe, I spent all my time in
my own room. Day after day went by,
but we met not. I supposed him to be
away from home No matter. / could
wait month, year, ten years Had I
not sweet thoughts wherewith to while
away the time! I made no more inquiries
about him. was afraid he might hear of
them, and guess who wautel him. WAITED
calmly and patiently.
One morning I staid later than usual in
my room. As T glanced through my win
dow, which looked upon the broales5 part
Of the dusty road running through the
village I saw that St. Seurin was in such
festival guise as it could assume Men,
women and children were Standing about,
dressed in holiday clothes. Then l remem.
bered that the girl who waited upon me had
said something about to-day Icing O. great
festival Of the church. l had given little
heed to her words. l watched the crowd
for few minutes, and presently saw
sight which, had my mood been happier,
would have delighted me Girls and boys
came, bearing tall wicker baskets full of
leaves, pulled from various flowers and
green shrubs. The sandy space in front Of
me was cleared. A young man ran nilnbly
from point to point, tracing as he went
lines in the dust Then, seizing the baskets
one after another, he distributed their glow
ing contents in such q way that in less
than twenty minutes what looked like
carpet of varisgated pattern, formed of
flowers, covered the dusty space.
As he hastily threw tho last splash of
crimson rose leaves into its place the pro
cession of priests, acolytes and choristers
appeared. 1t paused on the fair carpet, and
some ceremony, such as blessing, WIS gono
through Every hat was doffed, every knee
was bent-all save one. There, on the out
skirts of the crowd, with head uncovered,
in Difference to others, but standing erect,
saw the tall form Of Eustace Grante
He had returnedl A thrill Of delight raa
through me as gazed on tla hated featured
of the man who had robbed me of all cared
for. drew back into the room, and watched
him through my window My time had
come!
Ths procession resumed fts march Ihe
people followed it-mostlike to the church.
The space was all but deserted The various
hues of the flower carpet were now blended
together without order or pattern. Grant
replaced his hat, crossed the road, and struck
down path which could only leac to the
sea. Laughed as saw him disappear:
With grim deliberetion I threw open the
barrels of my pistols and loaded them,
afresh. No lack of precaution On my part
should aid the escape of my enemy. Then
I sat down aud waited. wanted him to
have fair start, so that our meeting might
take place as far up that deserted coast as
possible. '
When I thought had given him sufficient
grace, sailed forth in pursuit. turned
down to the sea as he had turned Irounded
the foot of the hill which sheltered st. Seu-
rim from the nor west winds, and then stood
Nth the uubroken cliff on my right hand
and the sanI stretching away in front OF
me for miles and miles In the distance l
could sec him-a white spot on the yellow
sand. The heat was great, so he had clothed
himself in dazzling white garments. He
was, perhaps, half mile in front of me,
walking near to the edge OF the sea. l
auickened my steps, and rapidly dlmin-
isbed the distance between us
did not want to get so near that, if he
turned, he might recognize me. I did not
mean to overtakc him meant to follow
him until he turned to retrace his steps;
then, as soon as he liked, he might dis
cover Inc. My only fear was that some
path up the cliff might, unknown to me, ex-
ist-a path which he might take, and so so
home across the table land.
Grant walke1 leisurely; so l was soon
within 300 yards of him. Inoticed that his
head wa, bent forward, Us is natural to
those who think as they walk. His hands
were behind him, and lie paced the coast
with a slow but length stride. Little he
guessed who WAS upon his traces!
Suddenly be turned aside and struck up
the beach toward the cliff. Istood still and
watched him. I saw him reach the top Of
the beach; then, as it were, disappear into
the face Of the cliff. l doubled my pace
and hurried on, laughing in vengeful glee.
I had him now! For by this time knew
every foot Of that coast line. knew that
at the spot where Grant had vanished some
CONFUSION of nature had torn the rocks
apart; that, entering through what looked
like a narrow fissur. you came upon a
straight, smooth spac., boundel By ur-
scalable crass, and carpeted by soft white
sand Not cave. because it was open to