Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-08-05

~ yPA uhN fiOthAf1 y ASONtAtb ~ ~ "a
young Thorne's friend ask. NJ "
"Yes, within an hour. You must try and
pass the time till I return. You viii find
Miss Langley most charming companion
for a walk or drive, Forbes"
Wilfred's companion shrugged his shoul-
ders. ~ "a
al have no especial liking for dark
women, Wilfred. Besides, / half suspect
you have a claim on her affections.
ZIP" 49, #$ A%l
The listening weman's heart stood still
at the utter amaZemant betrayed in Wiifred
Thornes tone.
"Yes, mon ami You have certainly
been very attentive to the lady, and if
mistake not she is very much in love with
you."
Wilfred's face was maze of genuine
concern. rF Ft a'.f,
"You must be mistaken. [" he said "Hon-
estly, Forbes, although / have often felt
that her witchery was temporarily leading
me from my sworn allegiance, 4 never re-
garded her more warmly than very pleas
ing companion"
Beatrice grew cold and sick at heart.
"Your sworn allegiance?" repeated
Forbes.
Exactly"
"To whom2"
TO my affianced bride, Ethel Lansing.
l supposed you knew"
"His aflianced bridel Oh, heavenl this
blow will kill me-"
The two men had passed on. With a
low moan of anguish Beatrice Langley
sank 10 the dewy grass, pale ana lifeless.
In the one long hour OF agony that fol-
lowed, the siren feared naught of the retrib-
utive justice of fate.
She only knew that a fierce, passionate
love for Wilfred ThoIne, wild, bitter
hatred for the woman who stood between
herself and her happiness, filed her heart.
First had come despair, then resentment,
and, finally, the jealous, yengeful resolution
of an evil, dauntless nature.
"He shall not wed this girl; he shall be
mine; swear It'll" she Missed, determined
ly; and every resource of intrigue and
scheming she possessed came TO her aid as
she finally arose and returned to tho 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
Wilfred 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,
TO the effect that Miss Lansing had arrived
in New York, and would be at Sea Beach,
near the villa, on a coast steamer, the en-
suing evening.
Wilfred had gone to the city. forty miles
down the coast, to inform Ethel's aunt of
her expected arrival, and to have her come
to the villa the next day.
L. Il
ing, Beatrice was told.
But morning came and the afternoon
dawned, and there was no tidings OF young
l 1nolue y igreSsn0vs -11osssTTOo, sormenCcu WIN
jealousy and despair, haunted the beach all
.t;st "uaiu 3''{ {ai1I,e aDvuv -uaIA. wunurro,i
for the first time down the coast to Sea
Beach lighthouse. She learned of its
shifting light, heard of the storm that was
gathering on the waters, and then
That evening, just at dusk, inclosed in a
waterproof, raining as it was, Beatrice
Langley sole 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 as she passed group
of fishermen on the beach.
''It will be wild night on the waters"
one of them was saying. "The coasting
steamer will need to watch the lighthouse
beacon to make 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 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
breathless and trembling behind half
open door that led into the light-room of
the turTet.
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, breasting the rain and tenn
pest, and peering searchingly out at the
seething sen of waters. ow
"The steamer is in sight, she heard him
say. "The Hatteras will have 10 anchor at
the beach tonight"
"The steamer, the Hatteras, with that
woman, my rival, on boardi" Kissed the
siren darkly. 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 boat below,
and he descended the stairs without observ-
ing her.
A bottle, half filed with liquor, and
glass stood on the table. The scheming
siren darted into the room rs soon as it was
vacated
She had brought phial of some deadly
drup from tha sick-room at tha 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
rs he poured out a drink from the bottle.
For the first time, as he drained it, she
caught sight of his face. h
"Merciful heavensl The dead alivel My
husband, Ernest Waldronp
After two years she saw him again, older,
paler, q wreck, yet 1t was he; she knewthat
of certainty.
For moment the discovery seemed 10
battle her every plan. Then, as she OBJ
served his step grow unsteady, the delirium
of the drug mount to his brain, all the mur-
derous recklessness Of her evil nature re-
gained full sway.
She saw him traverse the room with
confused step, open a door, and wander
out on the balcony.
"Now or neverl" she mattered, intensely.
One glance through the windows showed
the light of the steamer dancing on the
waves a mile distant.
She sprang TO The beacon One touch Of
her hand plunged the place in darkness.
The beacon was extinguished. Woe to
hn oTnf6