Fair play., 1889-07-20


low him was a thick shroud Of mist
cEvcloping the base OF the mountain
As far down as he could see. sharp
pieces of rock jlittcd out from the face
OF the cliff: and he knew that if he
stepped over the brink he would he
mau-lcd beyond all human resemblance
before he had fallen II hundred feet.
He was given but IA few seconds to
contemplate his impending fate, when
his captor again seized him. This
time not to lift him up and
bear him safely over the place of
danger AS heretofore. but to push him
slowly. rcicntlcsSly. nearer to the awful
death which awaited him ON the rocks
below. He tried to cry out. but no
sound escaped his lips. He struggled
lirrccly to free himself, bit his limbs
seemed TO be piuioncd as tightly as
if they had grown fast together.
After Il time he resigned him
self to the inevitable and sent
mp silent prayer to his Maker for
mercy. The next instant he was top
pling over the edge of the prccipice.
His captor had left him, but freedom
was of little use to him now, and after
one desperate. but unsuccessful effort
10 regain his balance, he closed his
eyes, expecting to open them in eter-
nifty. At that moment 4 hand, gently.
but firmly, grasped his arm and drew
him back to the rock upon which he
had been standing. Turning quickly
to see who had rescued him. h.. beheld
the beautiful form of his angel wife,
She was changed beyond expression,
yet every feature was as easily recog-
nizable as when she was in the
flesh. There was no sign OF trouble
or SORROW about her. no sign
of disease, bat to perfect physical
form and feature WAS added that
heavenly grace which ''passeth under
standing" The light of the old love
wa. in her eye, unmixed with regret
or rcproach. Her general appearance
and the expression of her features in
dicated Il condition superior to Dam
for,h's fondcst imagination of heavenly
life. As he saw her now. the embodi-
ment of happiness aud contentment, hc
felt 4 satisfaction greater than he had
ever before experienced i'll the efforts
happiness.
II will henccforth." he mentally re-
solved. consider those few years of
married life the best spent of all my
earthly existence"
With a graceful gesture his heavenly
visitant badc him follow her. Taking
another WY. which soon left the noun
tain far behind. they traversed quiet
lanes and green pastures W here the tink-
ling OF little sheep bells. mingled with
the music of running brooks. recalled
to Daufurth'S mind the rural scenes
of his early childhood and made him
wish that he could return again in fact,
as well as fancy. and be always Il boy.
But they were going with the speed of
soon faded and they found themselves
within the limits of the city. On and
on they went. over Danforth's home.
over the business streets till they came
to the Maybury mansion. Here at the
lighted window in the second story
they stopped.
Look. she whispered rs she caused
the curtain on the inside 10 move quiet
Iy upward.
He oheyed without question and saw
on the opposite side of the room a fig
urc reclining on a bed in an attitude OF
deep detection. Soon the figure rose.
and, with quickening pulse Danforth
recognized Gertrude Maybury. She
was pale and sad. and her inhamed
face and eyes showed that she had been
weeping bitterly. Advancing TO table
near the light she drew a photograph
from her bosom. regarded it wistfully
for moment and then. kissing it pas
sionately. she tore it into bits and
dropped them into the waste basket.
The curtain noiselcssly resumed It's
place and Danforth turned to his guide.
What does il mean?' he asked in
puZZied. anxious tone.
"Iou are blind" was the reply.
''She loves the man who. tomorrow is
to become her sisters husband
The revelation was 50 sudden. SO un-
expected and carried such an endless
food Of happiness into his hungry soul
that he awultc with start which nearly Y
cost him his life. He was not in
his own room, nor could he at first tell
where he was By degrees ne became
aware that he was in the open air and
that he was hanging from The limb Of 4
tree. The limb which he was grasping
desperately with both hands. was
>wayiug 10 and fro and creaking
thVva.euinCly. As he looked around
for some means of escape from his per-
iiou> position. he saw light streaming
from q window few feet above his
head. lie could see tina, the curtain
was raised several inches: but he waa
too far below the lighted space to look
into The room. The limb to which he
was clinEiug brushed against the hulId
ing making sharp grating noise which
evidently attracted The attention OF the
occupant OF tie room for the curtain
was Immediately drawn down. Sud
denly dog began barking furiously in
tie yard below. and for the first time