The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-03-13

sfrsirscl3 look on her face Hay any-
thing happened 2 be asked, cautiously.
The look Of agpny Increased. kAte.s
Inward struggle was terrible. Which
wouid be nosf rnercifuI1 To tell him
Of what had happened. ard fhzs PR
Pare him for the inevlsAfske separation.
Of 10 raueeAl II. As his kindly lace
bent oTer her. and his fond eyez
looked lnto hers. al her strength LETT
her.
John. she said wildly, Il heard Il
as came shreugh the pass.
Heard Whist be answered SONG
what rNnghly-
And nsen there pezied frofn her lips
the sanearfhly cry that had rung n
her fathers ear three nights before
his ieash that cry whose every note
had been beating on her brain until
she fhoaght she must lose her reason.
Asst ceased Mrs. Loysts dropped
the cup she held ii her hand and
sbrunk covering in = corner, while
John tottered against the wall gaspfng
for breath ike dying man. How
happy they had been. and nou--it was
all over. She was as surely lost 70
hEns as il she already lay wrapped in
her silrosad III il as Only some other
danger that menaced, something that
the strong man could 60 out into the
night and grapple with. he might yet
save her. egen py the sacrifice OF his
own life.
But there was no such alternative: :
that vas beyond human power, one
sacrifice, aud that only. would propi-
tiase II.
Oh. God If be could only die in her
stead: and then. half mad with grief.
de crept along 70 where his mother
crouchesi and asked her 10 give some
explanation for this horrible thing.
Explanation--what 3 mockery IL
sounded. There was no explanation.
John, said his mother, solemnly.
That never cries IN vain. -
lis there no escape he cried !.
sshas it never missed its victim 2"
Never" she replied, unless TO
take away another.
"Ah. another. . he said eagerly. but
his mother, reading. his thoughts,
killed his last hope.
Another of the same blood, she
said. You are no nearer Kate than
/ am to the queen.
And so these three cornferted them
selves as best they could, with the con-
yiction within them that the shadow
OF the dark angel lowered about their
dwelling. and that the dread stroke
might fall at any moment.
Kate, exhausted with terror and
fatigue, had sunk into q fitful SUM
Der. John took her teaderly ia his
arms and laid her upon the bed in the
next room, and then he advised his
mother to retire. Somehow or other,
after the first overwhelming fear he
had gathered hope, and kneeling. he
prayed long and feryently. Then
throwing himself across the threshold
of the chamber door, as il 10 shield
with his life the dear one within. he
gradually dropped off to sleep.
And then Con Regain, who had lain
unnoticed through all the past excite
ment, slowly rose and went to the
chair before the fire; the chair that
she had occupied. Leaning his elbows
on his knees, and dropping his face in
his hands he sat motionless like one
in q dream. Only his God knew the
thoughts and mad regrets that sIrged
through his brain. When he rose his
haggard face was set in stern resolve
Going to where John lay he silently
pressed his hand and then started to
the door. Here he hesitated mo-
ment, and stepping swiftly back he
entered the room where Kate was
sleepinev For one moment he stood
beside the bed. and then hastily stoop-
ing. kissed her. Closing the outer
door behind him he turned his face,
upon which the rain beat piteourly, to
the sky and breathed, Thank God,
a M f.f the anna blood -
Next morning when the villagers
came out upon the sea wall to watch
the heaving swell they found Con Re-
gan In the Dath--dead