The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-11-18

fYgZMI/Il0%SsSN The atte mpt
EV OOV W. would be hazard
GUS. No one should endanger his life
in such way"
Tho afternoon sun shone warmly on
Bridgewater Cliffs. The soft murmur
of the sea fell fnintly on the ear. There
was peace in the air and upon the
sea.
Mark Hilton's usual clear-headed
Judgment was somewhat distur bed this
afternoon for was not Kitty Nc
Laughlin with him? 1t was not every
day that ho had her ali to himself three
miles from human habitatIon. How
ever he might strive to conceal 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 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 a man with an object in life,
and that object was not mere per-
sonal popularity. Mark Hilton was,
in the highest sense, a 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 a marked
individuality. The young men who
sought her society were we'll treated,
but, with the ex xception of Hilton,
made small progress in their efforts to
acquire 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
could not unite gold and lead without
debasing the former.
The subject which Mark Hilton and
Kitty Mclaughlin we're discussing SO
earnestly was the possibility of safely
reaching a certain tiny blue flower
which grew far out on the rugged face
Of the cliff. Kitty had discovered it
in its isolated position a few moments
before, and. remarking that il was
unlike any they had seen that day,
wondered what it could be. The dis
tance was SO great sho could not de-
eide, although she was good botan.
ist. Mark, with more enthusiasm than
iudiciousness, volunteered to get it
for her-a proposal she would not
listen to.
''Nonsense |" returned Mark. "There
is no danger worth mentioning. Don't
you see there is line of shelving rock
jutting 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 a 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
ways a steady one. ="
''But you shall not imperil your life
in such a foolhardy attempt" said
Kitty, decidedly.
"Oh, yes, l will. You don't know
what determined fellow 1 am when 1
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 IT.
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 on it it har der,
when a sudden roar, followed by a
terrible crash, reverberates from cliff
to cliff.
A deep Oilenee follows. What has
happened. Has Mark Hilton passed
forever from human eyes? 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 cliR
nearly as smooth as 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
Mark Hilton realizes his situation.