Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-09-16


half as wide at the top a wooden bridge
had formerly been thrown; but age on
accident had broken it down until only
n single horizontal beam remained. span.
ning tss chasin from si,io to side. and
supported by three or four upright and /
Transverse braces. The beam itself was
scarcely nine inches in width, and the |
whole structure was dizzy thing TO |
look ut. my nerves were trained TO |
steadiness by a good deal OF gymnastic |
experience, but it would have needed |
strong inducement to get me across that
beam on foot.
Kate sat down on the stump as direct
ed, but her manner had become languid
and Indifferent; the brightness and spar |
lIle Of her late mood We're gone. AS she |
looked up at me her level eyebrows were
slightly contracted and the corners of |
her mouth dropped. Her hands were
folded listlessly in her lap She was
dressed in some soft white material
through which was visible the warm
CLEAN OF her arms and shoulders; the
skirt was caught up in such u why rs to
allow freedom in walking; she wore
broad brimmed white hat over her black
hair, yellow sash confined her waist
and her hands were bare. united the
ribbon OF her hat, she permitting mo TO
do so without resistance; and then
lsneeling before my | unbuttoued the
diamonds from her pocket and laid
them, ia their case, upon her lap
"Now, dear, shall put them on you,
or win you do it yourselfS'
She opened the case and the gems
flashed in the checkered sunshine that
filtered down between the leaves OF the
trees. The sight seemed TO rouse her
somewhat; a faint spot of color showed
in either cheek. and she drew in long
breath.
"Thoy are splendid;~ she said. Il
never saw anything like them No.
your mother would need 10 die before
giving up these"
"They won't look their best until you
have put them on. Gomez
"Oh. I'm afraid What if
"Afraid Of WHAT
what If some ono were to como and
500
Nonsense. my darlingl There's no
one within half a mile OF us. and II there
were they would only see a lovely girl
looking her loveliest."
"How nicely you talk TO mel Well.
then-you put them on me. won't
touch them myself
The paruro consisted Of o necklace
and pair of earrings. lifted them
flashing, from the case clasped the neck
lace around her throat. she sitting mo-
tionless. and hung the earrings in her
ears A light that matched their mar
Vicious CLEAN seemed TO enter into her
eyes rs did so.
you and these diamonds were made
for each otherr / said; and bending for
ward kissed her on the lips.
For more than a minute she sat there
quito still. knoeling in front Of her
we were looking straight into each
otber's Dyes Then all az once a trou
bled. anxious look came into her face
She rose with a startled gesture to her
feet.
'Hnsh hushl did you hcarY'
Whats the natter cried /, jumping
up in surprise
'Hushl some one cslling-canins
mels
Again Chat strange fancyl What did
it meang / could not repress a certain
thrill at the heart as / gazed at her il
was very weird and strange.
AS / gazed singular change crepi
over her. Her face was now quite color
less, and its pallor was intensified by the
blackness Of her mystical eyes Those
eyes slowly grew fixed-immoyahle as
II frozen The lids trembled for a mo
ment, then dropped, then lifted again Il
their widest extent and 30 remained
Her lips. slightly parted, showed th'
white teeth set edge TO edge behinC
them Tho rigidity descended through
her whole body; she WAS like marble
statue She breathed low and deeply
as one who is in profound slumber
"Kate! what has happened 10 your
cried in alarm, putting my hand on be-
shoulder Her arm was fixed like non
she seemed TO hear nothing. feel moth
ing She was as much beyond an
power OF mine 10 influence her as II sh
had been dead The diamonds that gilt
tered on her bOsom were not more in
sensible than she
must confess that / was sOmeWha
unnerved by the situation Kate wa
evidently IN some sort Of trance; bu
? what had put her into that state, ant
, how was she TO be got out Of III 70
, aught / knew it might be the prelude Z
a "a or other seizure Of that nature, In
, volving consequences dangerous II no
! fatal IN the bewilderment OF the mo
ment tho only remedy that could thinl
A., Of was cold water; 70 dish her witt
= water might be Of use, and scarcel.
make matters worse. About thirty pace
from where we were standing small
= Fill meandeyed among the roots Of tn
A trees and trickled ut last in tin
p cascade down the rocky side OF tn
= gorge Toward this ! ran, and. stoOpin
4 down attempted 10 scoop mp some c
the refreshing element ia the crown c
o nay straw hat
a Rising with the dripping hat IN m
hands iurnod 70 go back, bat the sigh
Il that then met my eyes caused me
drop everything and spring forward wit
" a gasp OF horror.
y Moving as il In obedience to som