Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-08

fcONM W the deaths Oh OtneT
eTS9J%y people. But she
SS@ ~ made her injury
W an excuse for keep
Ing her room.
About a week after the affair with
the dog, Ralph was lying one night
awake in his chamber, the door OF
which he had left little ajar for air.
For some reason he could not sleep.
At last he heard slight rustling sounu
In the passage, and directly he thought
he heard the bolt of the hall door with
drawn. He sprang up instantly, and
putting on his boots-for he had not
undressed-went noiselessly down
stairs, and out of the door. which, as
he had expected, he found unfastened.
The night was obscure, the faint new
moon hidden in clouds. But the low
murmur of voices drew him on, and
Just at the foot of the garden he saw
distinctly two figures, standing close
together. He crept up near them, and
had no difficulty in recognizing MS
wife-and he was nearly sure that the
other was the mysterious stranger with
whom he had once before discovered
her.
The man turned his face toward the
moon, and there was light enough to
show Ralph that his complexion was
dark, his features irregular, and his
chin heavily bearded. And as he lifted
up his right hand to enforce something
he was saying, the keen observer also
saw that the third and fourth fingers
were missing.
1T is of no use to beat about the
bush, Mrs. Trenholme," the man was
saying; mo use, whatever. l have told
you my requirements"
"Hush!" she said, fearfully, looking
around her. 81 am watched continu-
ally. We cannot talk here"
"Well, then we will row out to the
Rover's Reef. 1t will be pleasanter on
the water and have great deal to say
to you. But you must kiss me before we
STAR"
Imogene drew back with gesture of
contempt, but the man put strong arm
around her and held her to his side.
She looked at him moment, then
lightly touched his cheek with her lips
and said hoarsely:
"Let us go. l am in the mood to be
on the water. 1t is just dark and gloomy
enough"
He led her down the rocky path to a
little cove where strange boat, prob
ably the one in which he had reached
the Rock, lay moored. She stepped in
without hesitation, and he pushed of.
Some terrible purpose had flashed in
to life in the brain of Ralph Trenholme.
He dashed down the rocks after them,
unloosened his own boat and, by cir
cuitous route, made off to the Rover's
Reef. The low line Of rocks which bore
this name formed at ebb tide barren
island, about two miles from the shore,
but at high water the waves swept it
completely.
Ralph bent every energy to the work
before him, and reached the reef some
fifteen minutes before those for whom
he waited. They came on shore, and the
man made fast the boat. They sat down
just a little in the shadow of some rag
ged rocks lying between them and the
little indenture In the rock where they
had moored their boat, and began to
converse together in low, earnest tenes.
But Ralph did not care to listen. He had
not come to pry into secrets. He had
come for revenge. This woman whom
he had married had dishonored him
that was enough. All mercy for ner died
out in his heart. He Embossed his own
boat and took the other in tow, and al
lowed himself to drift with the tide,
which was just beginning to set land
ward. The moment he was out of hear
Ing Of those on the Reef he bent to the
oars and in little while the boats were
beached and he was climbing the steep
path to the house.
And in an hour the Rover's Reef
would be ten feet under water.
He threw off his hat and sat down on
the piazza. The air blew in from the
sea, fresh and cold. He heard the rush
Of the incoming tide. Something in the
sound made him shiver. He put his
hand to his heart as II the motion might
still its wild throbbings. And in doing
so, he felt the little tress Of hair,-the
blood-stained, golden tress that he had
cut from the head of Marina, the night
they had buried her. The simple touch
thrilled him with new sensation. 1t
brought before him the sweet, pitiful
blue eyes that were closed under the
summer daisies and the winter SHOWS.
Good heavens! what was he better than
a murderer? He sprang up in wild
haste, and dashed down the cliffs to the
boats. With a skillful hand he launched
the Sea Foam, and though the tide beat
him back almost - fast a. his strength |
pusAed forward, he did not hesitate. 1t