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

estly, Forbes, although l have often telt
that her witchery was temporarily leading
me from my sworn allegiance, L never re-
garded her more warmly than very pleas
ing companion"
Beatrice grew cold and sick at heart.
"Your sworn allegiance? repeated
Forbes.
Exactly"
ITO whom"
"To my affianced bride, Ethel Lansing.
I supposed you knew"
Ills aflianced bridel Oh, heaven. this
blow will kill me-"
The two men had passed on. With a
low moan of anguish Beatrice Langley
sank to the dewy grass, pale ana lifeless.
In the one long hour of agony that fol-
lowed, the siren feared naught of the rctrib-
utive justice of fate.
She only knew that fierce, passionate
love for Wilfred Tholne, wild, bitter
hatred for the woman who stood between
herself and her happiness, filled her heart.
First had come despair, then resentment,
and, finally, the jealous, vengeful resolution
of an evil, dauntless nature.
"He shall not wed this girl; he shall be
mine: l swear it," she Missed, determined
ly; and every resource of intrigue and
schcmng she possessed came to her aid as
che finally arose and returned to the house.
Wilfred Thorne was gone, and the willy
siren at once set about learning all she
could concerning him, and the woman he
loved, Ethel Lansing.
She drew the story from Mrs. Thornes
lips. Ethel was the daughter of an old
family friend, and had been engaged to
Wilfied for nearly two years.
Her father had died abroad, and she was
returning to America, and would be at the
villa the ensuing evening.
They had received telegram that day,
20 the effect that Miss Lansing had arrived
in New York, and would be at Sea Beach,
near the villa, on q coast steamer, the en-
suing evening.
Wilfrcd had gone to the city, forty miles
down the coast, to inform Ethels aunt Of
her expected arrival, and to have her come
to the villa the next day.
He would probably return in the morn
ing, Beatrice was told.
But morning came and the afternoon
dawned, and there was no tidings of young
Thorne.
The wretched Beatrice, tormented with
jealousy and despair, haunted the beach all
that day.
She learned that the steamer Hatteras
would arrive about dark. She wandered
for the first time down the coast to Sea
shifting light, heard of the storm that was
gathering on the waters, and then
That evening" Just at dusk, inclosed i'll %
waterproof, raining as it was, Beatrice
Langley $ ole from the villa.
The thought of Ethel Lansing at the
villa, the bride of the man she loved, was
uncomfortable.
A wicked awful plan had come to the
SIRENS mind.
The wind was hurricane, the waves
were mountains high rs she passed a group
Of fishermen on the beach,
1T will be wild night on the waters"
one of them was saying. The coasting
steamer will need to watch the lighthouse
beacon TO make a safe landing tonight"
Even as he spoke the brilliant glare of
the revolving light in the lighthouse flashed
out over the stormy ocean.
Beatrice Langley fastened down the
beach like a phantom of the night.
Ten minutes later she reached the steps
of the lighthouse tower. She clambered
over their slippery surface, crept up the
long winding staircase, and crouched
brcathless and trembling behind half
open door that led into the H. ht-room of
the tulret.
Within the apartment was the lighthouse
keeper, whom she had never seen before.
His back was to her, for he stood at an
open window, broasting the rain and tenn
pest. and peering searchingly out at the
soothing sea OF waters.
1.-The steamer is in sight" she heard him
saw "The Hatteras will have TO anchor at
the beach TO- night."
"Tho steamer, the Hatteras, with that
woman, my rival on board!' Kissed tho
siren darby. ut shall never reach shore.
She shall not come between my love and
me-"
She shrank back as the lighthouse keeper
closed the window. She heard him NUT
Ter something about securing q boat below,
and he descended the stairs without Observ-
ing her.
A bottle, half filled with liquor, and
glass stood on the table. The schemine
siren darted into the room as soon as it wal
vacated.
She had brought phial of some deadly
drug from the sick-room at the villa, and
this she uncorked, and poured its con-
tents into the bottle on the table.
Then she resumed her place of espiOn-
age, and awaited developments.
They came swiftly, tragically.
The keeper returned. She watched him
as he poured out drink from the bottle.
For the first time, as he drained it, She
caught sight of his face
"Merciful heavens! The dead alive! My
husband Ernest Waldronw
After two years she saw him again, older
pnl,r r, wreck, yet it was he; she knewthat
ii q certainty.
For moment the discovery seemed TO
oaiile her every plan. Then, as she OBJ
'cryed his step grow unsteady, the delirium
of the drug mount to his brain, all the muir
I, rous lccklessness of her evil nature re-
gained full sway.
She saw him traverse the room with q
confused step, open door, and wander
put on the balcony.
Now or never" she mattercd, intensely.
One glance through the windows showed
The light of the steamer dancing OH the
waves mile distant.
She sprang to the beacon. One touch of
her hand plunged the lace in darkness.
The beacon was extinguishcd. Woe to
the guideless mariner tossed amid these
| awful waters beyond the harbor bar!
About to retreat, terrific scream broke
from her lips.
She saw the keeper reel on the balcony,
overpowered by the subtle drug her evil
hands had administered, and then, STUN
bling forward, fall over the low iron railing
through the appalling darkness of the
night to the rock strewn waters fully fifty
feet below.
Then, Mortified, afrightcd, Beatrice
Langley fed, like being haunted, down
The steep staircase.
She never paused until she had reached
the rocky beach some distance from the
house.