The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1893-10-28
Madge was weeping unwilling, strang


the parlor door was abruptly opened
by an evidently excited lad who step
ped hnrredly toward young Clavering.
eyer wanted, sir-over ter stony Gin
right off," the boy announced breath
lessly. " - ~ s
STONY Cliff"' Madge and her compan-
ion echoed simultaneously, with startled
voices ~ -. .'...' y:
Stony Cliff was wild and dangerous
elevation Of the nverbank, on a lonely
road between the Fayne .nansi IN and
the village. Il
The descent from the summit to- the
water measured some two hundred feet;
it was nearly perpendicular, and it was
marked by ragged lodges, which were
overgrown with brambles and rank
vines. A number Of tragedies had
been enacted there, and many people
regarded the place with superstitious
disfavor. -. }
"Who wants me?'' Clavering present
ly inquired.
ut wuz Mr.. Severne~ sent me, sir.
And he wants somethin' that's 'portant,
fer he promersed me er dollar when I
gifts back wild yer. Be yer comm, mis-
ter?' the boy painted.
''Yes, my boy. Say to Mr.. Severne
will be there at once" the young man
answered.
The lad bounded away like deer.
For a moment the unhappy lovers
stood looking earnestly into each 9TH
er's eyes, their young faces white with
misery.
''Gl1y knows; he will kill you,' the
girl suddenly cried, as an awful, new
fear rent her heart
He has right to kill me-" was the
despairing answer. II will not defend
myself. 1t is better so; my life. is wo TIL
less without you. Farewell, my dar-
ling"
For one brief. delirious moment he
held her in his embrace, kissing her
on lips and cheeks and brow.
Then he released her, and the next
instant she was alone. -
She stood as he left ner, until the
sound of his receding footsteps had
ceased altogether.
lhen she seemed to ar)use as if from
a dream.
Il am mad to stand here idle" she
suddenly said to herself. Il must pre-
vent this dreadful thing. Dear heaven,
4cI Liz uOC U0 lOO 1dlto.
Pausing only to snatch a wrap from
the hall rack, she darted out Of the
house and sped UP the path to the cliff.
She was only few PAGES behind Sid
ney Claycring.
But he was concealed by the Iow-
branched trees which, bordered the up
per portion Of the path: and fringed
the summit itself.
- Rrs, oF
trees and bushes at the top, she was
stopped by her bewildering surprise at
the scene before her.
On the ground, so near she might
have touched him, lay Guy Sevellle.
his handsome features ghastly and
stained with blood from a gaping cut
on his forehead.
Beside him knelt pretty Dora Mon
ferth, holding his wounded head to her
bosom.
She was crying softly, and her charm
ing face was pale as his own.
II sent for you because Dora needed
help" he was saying to Sidney Claver-
ing "Only for her heroism I should
be dead at the bottom of the cliff.
And the life she has saved belongs to
her, since she is kind enough to value
it''
Was he raving?
That was the thought which occurred
to Sidney, and which mis- countenance
expressed very plainly.
"Oh, have all my wits about 1ne,''
said Guy, answered the others question
ing glance. "Madge doesn't care for
me, and she loves you. I've known
that all along. And so, my dear fellow,
none of us need be unhappy, please
heaven"
Madge uttered an irrepressible little
cry, and her lover turned to beh., I'D her,
trembling and unneryed, as she looked
toward him from her frame of emerald
foliage. In an instant his arms were
about her.
':Affyr44dear love!-oh, my own forcver:'
he exclaimed, and then speech failed
him.
This ending of their misery was too
marvellous; neither could just yet dare
believe that heaven had given them to
each other.
What actually happened to Guy Sew
erne only himself and Dora ever knew.
She had certainly Glanced to be on
the spot when he went over the cliffs
brink. She had seized him, and in the
struggle he fell upon IL narrow ledge a
few feet below, and from that Lerilous
and crumbling bit Of turf and clay
she had dragged him up to safe, solid
ground at the risk Of her own life.
1t was claimed that this fall was acci-
dental, and that he had long loved
charming Dora, to whom {he proved a
devoted husband.
Madge tried> to- believe it was the
truth. ----.:.
But even after she was the happy
and worshipped bride of the man she
idolized, she could never Dscall the
catastrophe without a feeling of re-
morse. i,-'-: - =, s3-:s. :.s. r. .s,a.=G-
She feared that the certainty Of her
love for another had momantarily
crazed the unhappy Guy, and that he
mad sought to endshis life for her, false
sake. <T5>S E. .
I am q afraid that is only your vanity,
my dearest" Sidney always says to
comfort her. s@1 ~. ,.sz.s,, -
.T They aCOuldn,f stand vt4s.E# ~ II "