The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-05-01

along the side track to the staff
Upon it was the man who had be
rescued. 81
AS the quarrymen supported him
walking from the car into the statt
l caught the first glance of his fac
IL was John Hardy! 81
He was very weak, and did not spea
Il word during the whole homewar|
journey. He was seriously i'll for som(
weeks, and not even his promised wife
was permitted to see him. Their mar
riage was indefinitely postponed. +
The coroner's inquest over the WON.
ans remains revealed the fact that she
was daughter of the settler living in
the little cabin upon the table-land, and
was in the habit of conducting parties
of visitors about the mountain. She
was supposed to know its every point
and crevice.
Hardy was well-known to the jury
men and the coroner, and upon the ties.
timony of the two eye witnesses to the
tragedy verdict of accidental death
was rendered.
AS soon as Hardy was partially con.
valescent, my visit ended. Although
his physical condition furnished ample
occasion for the indefinite postpone
ment of their marriage, l was certain
that there We're elements other than
health connected with that awful trag.
edy, which were still affecting his rela-
tons with Laura Davis, his futur
bride.
Five years later l was again sum-
moned to Atlanta to attend the post
poned marriage.
sit down." said my friend, sadly;
''sit down and let me tell you all about
that awful Stone mountain affair. !
feel that must tell you"
1t was some moments before he OBJ
tanned sufficient mastery of himself to
continue.
"Well, you know | came here with
very fortunate connections, which gave
me welcome into the first families of
Atlanta. My engagement with Laura
Davis was speedy consequence. l
loved her and her only. She returned
my affection with true southern inten-
sity.
For two years after the beginning
of my engagement, ! was almost con-
stantly at the quarries How well
remember my first visit to the summit
of the mountain! 1t was made with a
party of friends under the guidance OF
the girl whom you saw die for me, five
years ago. She was bright, clever and
beautiful, but of very humble birth
and. of course, ignorant. But she was
quick and anxious to learn. She inter
ested me. We became friends. loan.
ed her books and we took frequent
rambles about the mountain together.
! never made love to her, even in sen.
timental way and prided myself on
maintaining very strict and exemplary
relations with her. But what non.
sense! | might have seen it all from
the beginning. But l didn't. Not un,
til | ceased to be so frequently at the
quarries and only saw the girl on rare
occasions, did see the mischief | haC
SC stupidity wrought. Then it looked
like crime to me.
THE day before I was to have beer
married | resolved to go there and have
a frank talk with her and return in the
afternoon with you.
''Iler JOY at my coming was too in
tense and ill-concealed to have but one
meaning. 1t confirmed my worst fears
She loved me desperately.
1--WE took the favoritc path to the
brow of the cliff. She believed that
had come to ask her to be my wife. !
am certain of that. How could en-.
dure to crush her heart with what
must tell her. could not! l delayed.
o. the agonies of remorse that | suf
fered, as we walked on scarcely
knew where. But at last | blurted out:
"'Dessie, I'm going to be married to-
morrow
"She walked on in silence immedi
ately in front of me. She must have
been utterly dazed and unconscious Of