Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-09-13
CHAPTER II.

fession. she was the happiest woman in the
world.
CHAPTER II.
A summers day slowly dying-a tender
gloom stealing down the long aisl6s of
forest trees and the low murmur Of softly
FLASHING riplets; mass of jagged black
rocks with the last rays Of sunlight CLINT
ing upon their bald tops, and gnaFled
branches -overreaching low. fern-tufted
banks, to dip in the peaceful water.
Imagine this, and you have the picture Of
the little lake at The Crag," Then imagine
a tiny, prettily painted canoe, with a young
woman at either end, and a gentleman
fairly dividing his attention between his
companions and the skillfuI management
of the slender oars.
Now you have Miss IllertOn, her cousin
and Arthur Cover.
They had been floating lazily on, with
barely word now and then to break
stiffness almost painful, until they neared
the dangerous Black Rocks; then the little
wherry became entangled in the stealthy
current and veered with treacherOus
lurch-a Iurch sharp enough to fling one
Of the women backward, aud dangerous
enough to startle Arthur into singuIarIy
awkward betrayal Of emotion.
The little form had barely sWayed when
the gentleman, with hOarse cry, sprang
"Ciaral My God. Clara!"
That was all he said; yet, when he re-
membered himself, he was holding Clara
Yolney in his arms.
is she hurt?"
-
Arthur Cover remembered. too, that the
woman whom he should marry was beside
him.
Are you hurt. Christine ?" he asked,
flushing hOtly as his arms fell from Clara.
IN Ot at all, thank you"
Nor am I. protested her cousin, laugh
ing nervously. only frightened. 1t was
so sudden, you see.
yes, it was sudden, certainly" acquiesced
Miss IllertOn; sudden and pleasant.
This extraordinary assertion remained
q y TC4fn q W. Tvs
spoken until the boat was being made fast
to the low, quantity cOntrived landing of
roughly heWn logs; then. as Miss llertOn
stepped upon this rustic platform, Arthur
Cover touched her hand, detainingly.
What is the matter Christine?" he VEN
tured.
why, what should be the matter?" And
now, affecting to notice for the first time
his awkward hesitation, she continued.
smilingly, My dear boy, just put that oar
in its proper place. will you? Then follow
US up to the house as quickly as possible.
Those people will be there"
Those people" were city friends who en-
jOyed amazingly frequent visits to The
Crag, and to welcome them now fastened
the hOspitable mistress of the old manor
house, leaving Mr.. Cover in a most painful
state of anxious doubt and sef-cOnvicted
treachery.
Christine IllertOn was not a woman of
half measures. That night she entered her
cousins chamber, and without ado put
this straightforward question:
How long, has this been going On?"
Going On?"
Tell me. I wish the truth; I wish you
Why what do you mean?" asked Clara.
yet never looking up.
You understand me. How long has this
been going on between you aDd-and-the
the man whom intend to marry?"
At this Clara lifted her head and looked
at her cousin with innocent, fearless eyes.
You do not mean to accuse us of any
thing like Irritation, 1 hope" she said.
proudly.
"Oh, no." was Miss IuertOn's cool re-
spOnse; L acqUit you OF that. There has
| been no filtration; but there has been
great deal Of intensely earnest lOve-mak-
| ing. That knowledge was forced upon me
this afternoon, remember.
All. Christine!"
And here this young woman displayed
WOeful ignorance Of the first PRINCIPLES of
feminine strategy; for, instead of adrOitly
maneuvering, carefully marshaIing her re-
plies. and skillfully defending all weak
points of her false position from the I'M
sparing vigilance of that keen-eyed sharp
shooter. Miss Christine IIlertOn the silly
creature only hid her face in her hands,
and, 'tWiXt piteOus sObbings, proclaimed
her ignOminiOus overthrow.
"Ah, cOuSin-ah, ChriStin6!"
Instead Of calling my name in that utter
lyi ncOmprehensibIe manner, you would do
better to answer my question" suggested
MISS IlIerton. How long has Arthur Cover
loved yOu?"
"Inever knew that he loved me. protest
ed the offender.
yet ne told it very plainly this after
noon, and 1 was present, if you recOlleet
Christine. dear Christine!" Clara was
standing now, not weeping, but speaking
with low. impressive eagerness. AS I live,
never before has he said as much as that;
never before has he uttered one word that
you might not have heard-never. Chris
tine, cousin!"
DO you tell me this upon your hOnor?"
Upon my honor.
But you love him. of course. There, you
need not turn away. Keep your secret,
child. Only remember this, that you are
Willfully walking to d moral destruction, for
1 shall certainly marry the man you love.
Goodnight, dear.
What does it matter to me? Why should
care if she breaks her heart for him?
Do care? Not L" protested Miss IllertOn,
as she saUntered slowly to her own room,
an hour later, after an awkward leave-tak-
ing with Mr.. Cover. They make their own
misery. That which is not worth asking
is not worth having. surely, She s a fool,
but he is a coward; so. after all. save her
from wretched fate"
CHAPTER III.
Life. likenature. has its INN atUr a-g1TIuos-