Daily Republican., 1889-12-12
THE LOVERS LEAF.
BY ANNABEL DWIGHT.

There is q beautiful stream winding
among the green banks and rocky cliff.
OF one oil our New England States; II
empties into the broader river, which In
turn hurrles on to the sea.
There is spot on the shore of this
stream-a high, rocky elf which is called
1.-THE Lovers Leap"
took this fearful leap to a watery grave
with her lover, because she was denied
the husband of her choice.
Laura Cheney knows the story we'll.
She has passed all her Life on the shore
OF this beautiful stream.
Her father is a lunberman. and Laura
Keeps ouse for him tn the little brown
cabin which they call home.
Laura Is q pretty girl in spite of the
fact that abe is brown with the sun d
kisses, and that her dresses are OF coarse
material, aud her shoes rounh and
heavy.
Al the young lumbermen know this,
and one, Ben Herder, has paid incessaut
court to her for two years,
But Laura has never loved any one be
sides her father and the big mastift
Bruno-her young mother died at her
birth.
Benis a brawny giant, with moody
black eyes and long black beard, and
Laura is afraid of him.
An excursion party from a distant city
has been spending some days In the
vicinity.
There lie one young gentleman of whom
Laura sees agood deal
He Is not 50 large man as Herder, Blu
is tall, erect and graceful, with ke' II gray
eyes. fair hair closely curling about fine
head, and long, fair mustacbe.
His hands are whittier and daintier than
Laura's, but they have muscles like steel
and he ID anything but the "milk-sop"
that Ben Herder calls him.
This Godfrey Duston is so well pleased
with the country, thst he allows the ex-
cursion party TO depart without him,
while he invests IN tent and gun, and
settles down to camp life near Abel
Cheney's little brown cabin, and declares
his intention Of staying through the very
last Of the golden autumn days.
Ben Herder scowls ominously when he
hears this.
He hates this new conner, who treats
Laura with such gentle courtesy AS she
has never known before.
As Duston becomes better acquainted
with her his gun is neglected, aud they
take long walks or calls together.
He tells Laura wonderful stories of the
great world from whence he came; and
she, in return, reveals to him the secrets
of the woods, aud relates among ether
things the legend OF Lovers Leap.
Godfrey, weary of the restraints of so
ciety, weary OF the frivolous women of
this world, sore at heart because of one
who has cruelty deceived him, draws
new and deli Ihtful magnetism from this
purs and healthy child OF the forest.
She has just enough knowledg, of
books to make her eager for more, and he
becomes her teacher.
As the days 20 by he begins 10 ask
himself If this lie not a better life than the
other-would Lee not be happier 10 win
this ehild-woman fer q wife, ami make q
home here, close to the great heart of
nature?
think that this oompanonship with
Laura Is like tonic to his listless,
world-weary splrit-all the nobility OF bis
nature comes to the surface in Ills inter
course with her.
He has not thought of the possible
effect upon Laura, but she loves him,
although she does not know II.
She lives in happy dream.
She las only one iear-tle fear OF Ben
Herdcr, who makes fierce love to her at
every opportunity.
"Do you think that Duston will marry
youl" lie queries one day, when he has
surprised her as she waved her hand
from the cllu to the young man who is
padding along the stream. "He has a
wife or sweetheart ct home-he is only
amusing himself with YOU.
Laura gazes at him in shame aud dis.
NAV.
~ don't know what you mean" she
stammers at last.
Ben grasps hei roughly by the arm.
Don't know that hos bewitched ye
like snake charms bird before he
kills iti III he SEXES he loves yer It's a
lie; 10 couldn't love ye as L do, Laurie. 4"
ale never said such thing" save
Laura, with flashing eyes and crimson
checks. 'Let me go, Ben Herder, you
hurt my arm"
"Ye've nurt my heart, Laurie. Yc
was kind Ter me lore that swell came.
lei yell be my wife, Pll never bo rough
ter yer again, gal. It's because I'm
skeered OF losing you maaes me SO.
Laurie, can't yer like Ne ittlei love
ye so"
They are frightfully near the edge Of
the clfi-so near, int Laura ehri,k ks
back aud tiles to pull her arm from Ben's
grasp.
"l4et me TO- Ban | do not care for
you. never. lever will DO your wlel"
All the brutal passion in tho mans
hear flames up.
He draEs ter acaIn 10 the edge of the
cli1 tho Lovers Leap aud presses .
fierce kiss upon her lips.
j II .E - 4
"Oh, Ben, have morcy--''
"Gued-bye, my lae',' he sAys Loarse'y.
~ EN- die together"
aud, pressing her face against li,
breast, lie springs over the Gill, CONN
down to the stream b ll&.
Godfrey Dus'on hear That fearful cry,
and, locking W, sees the aArA ugVtes 10
they plunge downward.
WITH two strokes OF the paddle, his
canoe is near to whsle they went dowu,
lic knows nov thai he lo,es this 4 RI
&. 1Tr Vr.t Ia