Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-11-18

by thas time 1t would pc quite dark.
But he had sat 40 loRg on the cold
damp rock that his limbs we're stiff,
and at frst ne could hardly walk. With
the need for exertinE himself, he re-
turned 10 the idea OF some mistaken
self-sacrlfce on Hattie's part in defer
encs 70 her fathers wishes, the idea
offered the most hope.
IL was . glorious night, with just
enough wind of the land TO ripple the
surface OF the water, aud the stars
creeping one by one into cloudless
sky. AS George approached the town,
the full moon rose ABOVE the sea, aud
the broad bay which had been gasdual-
" fading away came clearly lnto view
again. Jusy before reaching the bridge,
he changed his mind about going
straight home. He turned down a mar
row passage in the middle Of a row Of
cottages, and so emerged upon the quay
opposite Mr.. Dukes house, but with the
breadth OF the hsrbor between him
and 10. A. least, be could stay there
for little while and look across at
Hattis's window. Whether she was en-
gagged 10 another or not, there would be
no harm, be felt ia that.
After be had been there for some
time, the door OF the house across the
harbor opened, and, with thrill
which he SCARCELY knew was pleasure or
pain, be saw Hattie herself. BE could
see her quite distinctly, standing In the
midst of the yellow gaslight, which
poured ia q food around her, but abe
could not see him, for he was hidden
by the square stern OF brig. Her face
vas turned toward the bay, and she APP
peared TO be looking at the beautiful
moon as it rose above the sea. 1t may
have been something In her attltCds, or
IL may have been some gesture she
made, but for some reason or other
George fahcied she was crying. And at
the thought he could no more control
himself, and be cried aloud to her:
"Hattle-Hstte!"
But his voice got lost in the sound OF
the waters between. For the ebb-tide
was running strongly, and the stream
which came down from the mountains
and emptied itself into the harbor was a
muddy torrent from the heavy rains
of the previous night, so there was an
incessant splasbing against the sides OF
the vessels along the quay.
Having made that one effort, George
waited, but when Hattie turned to go
into the house again be called a second
time. only ia louder and more despair
ing volco than before. She heard him
then. She started aud caught hold OF
the Intel Of the door TO steady herself,
while her gazs wandered up and down
the quay.
stop, Hattie, stop" cried George,
throwing his arms about in the air. II
must must speak TO you"
He sprAng on board the brig, picked
up 80 oar, and dropped into big HAT
bottomed punt along side. Having cast
loose the rope that held it, he pushed
Off
Almost at the same moment tall
dark figure, previously motionless at
the corner Of the lane up which Rachel
had ones gone in search of convey
ance for her mother, dashed across the
quay, and ran down a flight Of steps
nearly opposite the door where Hattie
stood. Another punt was moored 10
Tue UOELUl VI VAC ulNB9s W AhAOAN WSAe
Ing TO look for oars he leaped in and,
with one tremendous push, sent the
heavy craft surging across tide and
stream.
George, who was using his single oar
screw-fashlon in the Storn-stsnding up
with his back towards the bow-had no
intimation of the approach OF the other
punt until he crashed into it, the shock
throwing him off his balance. When
he stood up again he saw, almost over
him, the dark face and short black beard
of the man who had come between him
and Hattie. So unexpected was that
sights and in many respects so startling,
that he recoiled before IL. For there
was a savage glare in Willmott's eyes,
and the veins stood out like cords upon
his forehead, and his voice was hoarse
with passion.
AT last!" be shouted, shaking his
clenched fist. "At last we meet-face
to face-with no one between. II you
are a man, fight as man. Fight for
her, II you dare"
"Gladly will, ;" cried George, with his
head tiuug back dsiantly.
Aud then with sudden rush he put
his foot on the gunwaie OF the other
punt and caught WillmOtt round the
waist. WilmotJ steadied himself In the
same manner, and, leaning over the
lads back, gripped him under the arms.
he was far the mora powerful, but
George, IN that sudden output Of his
strength, was quite a match for him,
and so they swayed backwards and for
wards In the moonlight, the two bodies
moving as one, while the boats, locked
together 10 such a manner as TO support
one another, turned slowly round and
round as they driited with tide and
stream.
Hattie was the only spectator Of the
scene. One moment she hesitated. She
had already told Willmott that by his
promise to her he was bound 10 offer no
hurt to George; should she now demand
from him the fulflment Of that prom
Use, or should she let him break 1t and
so leave herself free to marry George?
But the risk was far too terrible. At
any moment George might be killed or
drowned before her eyes. She ran
along the quay by the side OF tha boats,
holding up the ring which Willmott had
given her and calling to him to redeem
his pledge.
For time she was not heard by
either OF the two who were struggling
so madly with one another 10 the boats.
But Just IS she was beginning to dis
pair. being nearly at the little light
house as the pierhead, the very spot
where she had promised Wilmott to be
his wife, her voice reached them both at
the same moment. Although neither
loosed his grip of the other, two faces
white with passion were turned up sim
ultaneously toward her.
Your pledgs-your pledge" cried
Hattie, holding up the ring.