Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-08-21

not Mr.. Thorne's fiancee on that s. hip?'
"Yes, and Mr.. Thorne himself"
"Whntl"
Beatrice Langley reeled where she stood.
"Yes, we received word an hon since
that he boarded the steamer at tn, : city,
and would accompany Miss Lansing o Sea
Beach"
An awful moan of anguish rent his
listeners lips.
Like one in dream she stood roote Il to
the spot.
| She heard confused babel of sou nd
a out her, and distinguished Forbes vo ce
imploring the fisherman to put off DO ut
to the rescue of the steamer.
"No boat would live in such sea as
that, was the discouraging reply.
moment later they were terribly
startled
They saw Beatrice Langley arouse from
her stupor.
Sho flung aside her cloak, dashed to the
beach, and, before they could deter her..
with a wild cry, had sprung into n boat
lying on the beach, and seized the oars.
| For one moment they saw it tossed on
the waves, and then the darkness en-.
quilted it.
"She is mad-shc has gone 10 her DEATH"
groancd an old fisherman.
If mad, however, that delirium gave al
most superhuman strength to Beatrice
Langley.
The frail boat was tossed like leaf to
md fro, yet she resolutely handled the
oars, and drove the boat seward.
Half an hour later the anxious group on
the beach witnessed strange sight.
They FASTENED to the waves as they bole
singular burden to the shore.
A woman with cleaning eyes and pallid
face, Beatrice Langley, was struggling in
the waves.
Her arm cncircled the inanimate form of
! Wilfred Ihornc, TO whom in turn chung %
fair young girl, nearly dead from exhaus-
ton. 1t was Ethel Lansing.
Ready hands lifted the three to the beach.
They saw the wild, insane hight in Beatrice
Ian sley's eyes, and then they saw her SIM i
Illuminate to the beach, the blood flown ig
from q CHASTITY wound in her head me- de
| by the rocks.
One hour later at Glen Villa, tho SIREN
lay in her room. a physician lowering over
her with serious face.
At his mothers side sat Wilfred T,horne
and Ethel Lansing, both recovered from
| the terrible experience OF Tie I'ght.
In graphic language Wilfred had tod Q f
the steamer dashing on a rock. Himse)r
and Ethel had escaped to a small boat an d
| cut il loose.
The onrlcss boat bore them shorcward
with fearful velocity.
With an awful crash it had at last struck
q rock, and they were prccipitatesl into the
water.
| Wilfred was no swimmer. With his ter
rifed fancee clinging to his side 10 gave
up all for lost.
At that moment boat passed them. 1t
contained Beatrice Langley. She could
not direct it to them. With q wild cry she
sprang toward them.
She seemed not to notice Ethel. La tones
of delirious delight She spoke W Tired
name; she clasped his form as he was about
to sink
With fierce strength she swan shoreward
"Iieaven bless her, brave soul! she so we'd
us" concluded Wilfred, with tears in his
| eyes.
| At that moment the doctor entered tho
| room.
Your patient, Miss Langley" asked
| Wilfrcd, anxiously.
The physician looked grave.
| "Shc is dying"
"Ah, it can not be-"
81 fear she has been MORALLY injured"
| "She is consciouo?"
Eyes, and wishes to see you"
"Tell her how we thank her; tell b r our
lives shall tie devoted to her for her noble
heroism, spoke Ethel. impulsively, as Will
fred left the room.
"Beatrce'
He spoke the name tenderly, tearf'ully,
as, minute later, he stood by the bedside
of Beatrice Langley.
| Her eyes looked into his own.
Bend nearer" she whispered. family.
He did SO.
"Wilfred Thorne," she murmured, 81
love you. I am dying, they tell me. ]
know you are ai1ianced to another; know
You can never love me. One dying favor.
Will you make my last moments happy:
Will you pity the heart that knows only love
for your"
In dire Amusement Wilfred Thorne hesi-
tated for a moment.
I'VE owe you our lives. Tell me; my
favor we can bestow shall be yours, he
finally replied.
"TIcn here-dying-m me your wife.
is it too much TO ask? shall never live te
come between you and Ethel Lar sing
Oh! have loved you so fondly, SO hope.
lessly!"
Her voice was q wail of anguish.
He believed her dying; he pitied, he al
m ost loved her for her heroic devotion.
1t was the wish of dying woman. He
conld not refuse those eager, love. delugeC
eyes.
1t was strange night One hour later
clergyman spoke I'll Q wolds that made them
man and wife.
| And before midnight had passed, to the
CONSERVATION of Wilfred Thorne, to the de.
light of Beatrice Langley, the physician
stated that his patient had suddenly recov.
er d, and would live.
| Through C nsummate acting, aided by
real serious lin S., the willy siren had per-
fected her scheme.
She thought not of the noble ma n who
TO render happy her dying moments, haG
welded her.
She thought not of Ethel lansing. anG
the suffering the discovery would ertail.
She slumbered calmly after it was al
over; the nurse at her bedside doZec
lightly.
At daybreak the latter awoke with
scream of horror.
Wilfred Thorne was released from the
ban the siren had sought TO place upor
him.
For, lying dead upon the bed. a dagger
driven to its hilt in her heart, was the
beautiful Beatrice Langley.
Later they knew what the tragedy signi-
fed; later they shrunk in terror from the
woman they had loved.
A letter was found by the bed. 1t was
signed by Ernest Waldren.
In it he stated all that had occurred at
the lighthouse.
He had caught sight of Beatrice Lang
leys face rs she extinguished the beacon.