Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1893-11-09

asked Vane, after they had gazed q
few moments in silence.
1t is truely,' she replied. But
it is getting late, Mr.. vane, and we
must return to the house.
Yes said he, 'it is getting late,
but we won't return just yet
There was a sound in his voice
that startled her, and she looked
quickly at him. lie was still gazing
earnestly over the water, ani ap-
parently not noticing her movement
he continued,-
How pretty those rays of light
ate falling across those shadows!
You know where they come from?'
Certainly she replied, rather
eurtly. for his persistence was now
annoying her. They come from
that railroad lantern. Rather an
unpoetic source for such an artistic
effect
True, said he, 'and yet it is not
altogether destitute of dramatic pos
sibilities, for that light could be
the keystone of terrible tragedy.
1t hangs at the end of switch that
runs to the edge of the ravine. This
switch is used for freight cars, / be-
lieye, and it is the switchman's duty
every night to see that it is proper
ly locked, and then to hang out
that white light to tell the coming
train that all is right. If the switch
should be misplaced, after the light
is hung there, the train would dash
right over into the ravine. That
would be horrible, would MT it?'
Very indeed. But come; we
must go now She turned as she
spoke, but at that instant a pair of
strong arms closed around her, and
she was half crushed against Philip
Vane's heart, while he Kissed in
her car
Yes, very indeed it would, and
very indeed it will be. Listen,
Anna Greyson! / have forged a
key to that switch, and have set
it SO that the coming train will rush
blindly over into the ravine to death
and destruction, and bear with it
Donald Dare, the man you lovel
Ha, ha, ha! You want to go back
to the hall! Presently! But first
listen little longer! You remem-
ber another night fair as this, when
we two stood together. Yes, j
know you do, for women never for
get such things! l gave you my
heart then; yon flung it from you,
and blackened earth and heaven for
me ever more. That was your hour
Of triumph, but l swore that mine
would come, and it has! 1t is here,
Now. Ha, ha, hav Far over the
water this unearthly laugh ran, and
Miss Greyson read IN it the horrible
fact that she was in the grasp of a
madman!
For an instant her knees bent be-
meath her, and mist gathered be-
fore her eyes, but by a powerful
effort she sustained herself, and then
one of those inspirations that
Heaven sometimes sends at vital
moments broke over her. She
echoed his laugh with one soft and
low, and explained
You great stupid darling, what
world of trouble You could have
saved if you had only used your
eyes! You think l care for Donald
Dare! You goose! / have been
using him to make you jealous, and
bring You back to ME; for, Philip,
dearest, l have regretted the words
l spoke that night every minute
since!'
She ceased speaking, and waited
with bated breath the result of her
words. They were successful. He
looked eagerly into her face, and
cried,-
20 Anna, Anna. Can this be
true!'
'Of course it is. Release my
arms, and will prove it to you.'
He did so, and, throwing them
around his neck, she covered his
face with kisses.
You believe me now:'
Il do! Omy darling. my darl-
ingi how blind | have beenv
'Of course you have, and narrow
ly escaped a useless crime, too, for
of course now you will not send
those poor people to destruction.
You have the key; let us turn the
switch right
sAs you say, dearest. obey your