Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1891-03-07
swim, and it was probable that Alice


old uncle upon the beach.
aSaye her, oh, for Gods sake Y
cried Maud, wringing her hands
But within few strokes of Fame
Kings outstretched arms Alice dis
appeared.
There was already death rpon her
closed eyes and pallid forehead. He
thought it was a corpse he clasped
as he dropped beneath the surface
and caught her sinking figure.
1t was with difficulty he arose to
the surface. Thrice the great bill
lows rolled over his head before be
appeared. He could only hold HIM
self and his burden off the cruel
rocks. Already his arm was lacera-
ted with their sharp teeth.
They had put out a boat, and it at
last came to his relief. As they lift
ed the senseless girl into the wherry
they saw that the black ribbon had
been torn from her face, and a large
dull red, discolored mark appeared.
1t showed more plainly in the other
| wise deadly palor of her sweet face,
for sweet it was, and pure as
| childs. They covered face and
| figure reyerently, thinking her quite
dead, and rowed back, while Fame
found his way up the rocks to have
his hand wrung speechlessly by the
agonized old man.
81 don't think she is dead, Mr..
Payson," said Fame, remembering
with thrill the sllken hair which
had washed against his lips. "She
cannot be deadl !"
She was not dead. In three days
she appeared among them again,
| fairer, gentler, sweeter than ever,
and frankly grateful for the interest
everybody betrayed in her. And
then it came out that there had been
a mistake. It was Alice who was
the heiress and Maud the poor
cousin, though as beautiful, as
radient and perfect as Hebe.
Miss Alice Payson, with the black
ribbon replaced, tried to thank Fame
King on the first day of her reap
pearance, but her brown eyes filed
and she only said
You are young; life is sweet to
you; it was noble in you to risk
yours for me, Mr.. King"
Fane's heart swelled so that lie
hardly knew what was the matter
with him. But, somehow, the friend
ly clasp of Alice Payson's light hand
and the gaze of her sweet eyesafect-
ed him as no hand or eyes had ever
affected him before.
The ice once broken, bevy of
gentlemen strove for the attention OF
the cousins. Paul Hanover was
foremost.
He was very handsome, fair, bril-
liant, graceful, He was not poor
either. Fame remembered that bitterly
as he saw him strolling with Alice
on the beach or driving for her the
little pony carriage. His own peace
and comfort seemed suddenly gone.
Miss Payson's gentle friendliness
only made him worse.
he was startled one day as if shot
by Hanover remarking:
off you're not altogether gone
with the blues, Fame, I'd like you
to congratulate a fellow"
"Have you won your bet on the
trotting mateh?"
@Pshaw ! hang trotting matches F.!
Don't be stupid, Fame. Haven't |
been riding with Miss payson?"
"Well?"
swell it is" pirouetting around
the room aud swapping his fingers
like castanets. "I'm the fond be-
trothed Of lovely girl, after the
latest novel. Now, what have you
to say, my respectable, moping
friend ?''
Fame tried hard to command him.
self and not betray his secret.
"Alice Payson is to good for you,
Paul." he answered, with an attempt
at being sage and composed, in
which he succeeded but tolerably.
81 dare say, but it isn't her Fane.'
"'Taint her?"-looking electrified.
Certainly not. The money is
very well, but that defect of hers
it's delicate subject, but / really
couldn't marry woman with dis
figurement like that"
"You mean that you are engaged
to Maud 2" asked Fame, hardly be
lieving his ears.
Exactly"
"Why, congratulate you with all
my heart !" jumping up excitedly.
"They are going away to morrow.
Don't you want to see them again?'
Fame went down upon the piazza
where the ladies sat, unreasonably
happy.
The ladies were standing upon
the piazza, in the early sunlight,
when he approached Alice Payson to
say good-by. Paul was talking to
Maud, saucy and beautiful in her
jockey hat as Fame found his way to
Alice's side.
"Good-by, Mr.. King. You viii
come and see US, with your friend ?"
she said.