Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-10-31

H%S2GIgEAN&N 81 think not.
s~.T#ayW The The, s {. s, m p
Gus. No one should endsnger his life
in such way
The afternoon sun shone warmly on
Bridgewater Cliffs. The soft mnrmnr
OF tho sea fell thy on the ear. There
was peace in the air and upon the
Sea.
Mark Hilton's usual clear.headed
Judgment was some what disturbed this
afternoon; for was not Kitty Nc
Lnughlin with him? 1t was not every
day that he had her all to himself three
miles from human habitatlon. How
ever he might strive to conc cal it, his
elation would show itself in face and
speech Nature was in opposition
with his mood.
This was no ordinary pair. Mark
Hilton was twenty-four, handsome
not u pretty man. He was tall and
straight, possessing face OF peculiarly
intellectual cast. His manner, and at
times his speech, exhibited the slight
awkwardness often seen in those who
are given TO habits of seclusion. He
did not much affect general society /;
he was man with an object in life,
and that object was not mere per.
sonal popularity. Mark Hilton was,
in the highest sense, gentleman.
Miss Kate Mclaughlin was nine
teen years OF age; tall and we'll
formed. She had pleasant and In
telligent face. People did not con.
slider her beautiful, Mark Hilton to
the contrary, notwithstanding. What
most distinguished her was her re-
markable gracefulness of speech and
manner. She was finely educated,
and, like Hilton, possessed OF n marked
individuality. The young men who
sought her society we're we'll treated,
but, with the exception of Hilton,
made small progress in their efforts to
acqu re her confidence and to become
more intimate. There was line they
could not cross. They could never
see tho reason why. She did. She
knew that even the alchemy of love
conld not unite gold and lead without
debasing the former.
The subject which Mark Hilton and
Kitty Mclaughlin we're discussing 20
earnestly was the possibility of safely
reaching certain tiny blue flower
which grew far out Oh the rugged face
Of the cliff. Kitty had discovered it
in its isolated position few moments
before, and, remarking that ii was
unlike any they had seen that day,
wondered what it could be. The dis
tance was go great she could not de.
eide, although she was a good botan.
list. Mark, with more enthusiasm than
righteousness, volunteered to get it
for her-a proposal she would not
listen to.
81. Soassnse "EEe ct. MaS1k Ehars
you see there is line OF shelving rock
juttipg out from behind the cliff which
leads directly to it,.
''But you might slip or become
dizzy. 1t must be hundred feet to
the bottom" she said, with shudder.
".Slipping is impossible with these
on" said Mark, calling attention to
the rubber-soled lawn tennis shoes
which he wore; "and my head was al
wsys steady one"
"But you shall not imperil your life
in such foolhardy attempt." said
Kitty, decidedly.
ooh, yes, will. You don't know
what determined fellow am when /
get started" answered Mark with q
laugh; and in a second he was several
feet out on the face of the crag.
The shelving rock along which he
undertook to make his way was barely
four inches in Width. A difficult path.
way. There was nothing to cling to
except occasional sharp points which
jutted out from the mass of rock.
Slowly and carefully he advances.
Kitty watches him intently, pale
and breathless with suspense.
A few steps more and he will reach 1t.
Ali he has it, and holds it up tri.
umphantly to her view.
She waves her handkerchief, not
daring to speak for fear of startling
him.
Now for the return. He starts back
along the precarious pathway. He
suddenly stops and hesitates. Why
SO long; is it to rest? No; he is test.
ing portion of the rock with his
foot. Has he become suspicious OF
his highway? Yes; and with good
reason. A large portion Of the rock
is loose! He bears OH it it har der,
when sudden roar, followed by u
terrible crash, Invertebrates from cliff
to cliff.
A deep silence follows. What has
happened. Has Mark Hilton passed
forever from human eyes2 Nc; there
he is on his narrow pathway clinging
closely to the ledge. A huge piece of
rock constituting part Of his perilous
road has scaled off, leaving the cliff
nearly as smooth rs glass for six or
eight feet IN his front.
His return is cut off.
The sun has become obscured by
heavy, dark clouds. A wind has
arisen. The sea no longer murmurs
softly, but sends forth sullen, omni-
Gus roar. How suddenly everything
has changed! r,a. !.
Mark Hilton realizes his situation.
He cannot go forward; he caauot 60
back, except n few feet. Above him
the perpendicular rock rises to the
height Of ten feet before the top of the
cliff is gained. 1t is smooth except
few slight projections here and there.
No mortal could climb it. Mark
knows thir, and yet he feels he must
try. He cannot long remain in his
present position.
Was this beautiful day and his life
to end together? Had he brought
this girl-whom he intended soon to
ask to be his wife-to this lonely,
isolated spot only to witness his exit
from The world?-the world in which
he had hoped to accomplish SO much.
The thought of death, when. in close
to it, is dreadful thing, es-
pecislly to Q young person.
Kitty Mel an ohlin whom ahe reol