The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-07-23

aside. for the lashlnS about tne Irec
now held him up.
She crept near the brink Of the dizzy
height and listened for sound from
the man below. A slight swaylng OF
the rope that rested on the rock told
her that he was swinging himself III
ward toward the flower, and she
watched his movements with the eye OF
the basilisk.
Gradually the movement ceased.
:.Ethelm came up from below.
What Frank"
Il have got the flower"
"Bravo!" she said, and then rose
pale rs ashes.
Il will do it now!" she said, under her
breath, glancing up at cloud rapidly
nearing the moon. "Georglna dren,
Vile, You have won him, but shall
never wear him! You have stolen him
from me; this evening / steal him from
You!'
Her eyes now flashed with anger, and
her bosom rose and fell tumultuously
with passion.
The renewed oscillation of the rope
told her that he was ascending, ano'
springing toward the tree. she drew a
knife. It was a beautiful, ivory-han-
died knife, and the shining blade there
of was strong.
She dropped, suddenly grown calm.
beside the rope. and looked up at tue
cloud again. The fragmented edges
were crossing the rim of the moon, and
while she looked she held her breath:
The shadow advanced; such cloud
never retrogrades; fate was behind II;
Gradually the moon was ecllpsed,,,
md when that eclipse was at its full
the headstrong girl turned to the rope
This is my revenge, Georgina Gren-
ville!" she Kissed, and the knife struck
the cord.
The next second there was voice at
the cliff.
Ethel, Eth-great heaven-my-"
The rope was severed, and the cry OF
the student, hurled headlong down in
10 the torrent of mad waters that
plunged through the bed of the chasm'
was stifled.
A moment later the moonbeams fell
upon Ethel Dane, standing alone be-
meath the tree, pale as death, but
triumphant. By and by she crept to
the edge of the cliff, and found-one
leaf of that beautiful flower, glued to
the rock bv the pressure of his hand!
She could not touch it, and while she
looked it fell of its own accord down.
down, after him.
How she listened for wall; but none
came up. How she strained her eyes
to catch a glimpse at him lying on the
drenched bank below-dead, but nc
such sight rewarded her. The silence
of death hung about the cliffs OF Elles-
mere-as we'll it might, for the noblest
youth in the land had sold his life for 8
flower!
And young girl stood over his un-
known grave with stain OF murder on
her soul! u
Ethel suddenly started from the cliff
and toiled at the end of the coiled rope
long time. Then she walked away
and entered her home alone. Ihe
house was deserted, for she had been
alone for several days. Her parents
were absent on visit, and as she had
answered the ring at the bell hersen
the servants did not know who had
called. Therefore Frank Hazers Visit
had not been known.
She would keep the dread secret o.
his doom in her own breast, and fol
four years she kept it well.
In the little churchyard Of Boyleston
may be seen an unpretentious marble
slab bearing this inscription: Frank
Hazel, act. 10. They whom the gods
love die young" Above the name
is carved a beautiful lily falling from
its stem.
Three days after the tragedy his
body was found, and in his hand was
crushed the fowor for whose posses
sion he had imperiled and lost his life.
Ethel could tell but little concerning
his death. He had discovered rare
flower somewhere among the rocks,
and be had told her that nothing was
easier than to let himself over the cliffs
by rope and secure the botanical
prize. This was all she told, and his
fellow-students said that his love fol
botany had cost a life.
With the secret shared by the grave
and Ethers heart, unknown to the
world, I say four years passed.
From lovely girl the ruluptuous
Ethel had grown into radiant woman
hood, accomplished and admired, the
reie.ning belle of Bath, many long
| miles from the cliffs of Ellesmere.
Her father was dead, and she pre-
sided over luxurious home, which she
| shared with a dignifed maiden aunt.
If many wooers came to her side, 1t
was no fault of hers, for she was beau
tiful, as beautiful as the lily OF the
cliffs.
She dismissed lovers with a mo"
that but intensified their alteration; but
at last she gave her heart away.
The fortunate man was Sir Robert
Mortimer. a weakly baronet. She
loved him. 1 say this knowingly; that
love intensified by years, which she had
bestowed on Frank Hazel, She gave to
him. He was grati6ed, and the day
was announced.
will you please direct me to the
residence of Miss Dane?"
The speaker was a woman clad in q
close-fttirg black dress and heavily
yelled. She addressed policeman,
who gave her the requisite directions.
She knocked gently at the front
door.
"Is Miss Dane in?"
She is in her chamber, still up, l
believe"
Can see ner?"
"I'll see. What name"
The woman in black hesitated, but
presently answered: Say one who
knew her long ago, and and that l
must see her to-nig ght."
The servant disappeared, and few
moments later the visitor was ushered
into Ethers boudoir.
The beautiful woman sat at q writing
table, partly en- dishabille. She looked