Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-05-14

HD IN maze ncT INJURY
~ an excuse for keep
J her room,
About week after the affair with
~ dog, Ralph was lying one night
ifako in his chamber, the door OF
Alch he had left little ajar for air.
~ some reason he could not sleep
Il last he heard u slight rustling sound
e. the passage, and directly he thought
r. heard the bolt OF the hall door with
GAVIN. He sprdng up instantly, and,
lifting on his boOts-for he had not
Yt4dressed-went noiselessly down
&alrs, and out Of the door, which, as
30 had expected, he found unfastened'
The night was obscure the faint new
rOon hidden in clouds. But the low
urmur OF voices drew him on, and
ist 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 his
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.
ut 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. Il am watched continu-
llly. We cannot talk here"
well, then we will row out to the
EOver's Reef. 1t will be pleasanter on
Ae water and have great deal to say
% you. But you must kiss ne before we
TART"
Imogene drew back with gesture of
}Ontempt, but the man put a strong arm
Tound her and held her to his side.
8he looked at him moment, then
lightly touched his cheek with her lips
lid said hoarsely:
Let us co. | am in the mood to be
IN the water. 1t is just dark and gloomy
,nough."
He led her down the rocky path to
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 off.
Some terrible purpose had flashed in
10 life in the brain of Ralph Trenholme.
He dashed down the rocks after them,
unloosened his own boat and, by cir
Guitous 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
Ne waited. They came on shore, and the
han made fast the boat. They sat down
lust 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 tones.
But Ralph Odd not care to listen. He had
not come to pry into secrets. He had
come for revenge. This woman whom
ne had married had dlshonored him
that was enough. All mercy for her died
sut 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
gard. The moment he was out Of hear
lag Of those on the Reef he bent to the
lEars and in little while the boats were
Coached and he was climbing the steep
IpOth to the house.
| And in an hour the Rover's Reef
Tould be ten feet under water.
He threw off his hat and sat down on
be piazza. The air blew in from the
"a, flesh and cold. He heard the rush
f. the incoming tide. Something in the
~Vna made him SILVER. He put his
ID TO his heart as II the motion might
n It's Wild throbbings. And in doing
Re felt the little tress Of hair-thc
RpUcd-st&ined, golden tress that he had
Ut from the head of Marina, the night
Ihev had buried her. The simple touch
ihsilled him with new sensation. 1t
1rSught before him the sweet, pitiful
blae eyes that were closed under the
SKINNER daisies and the winter SHOWS.
Good heavens! what was hc better than
O. murderer? He Sprang up in wild
ts0ste, and dashed Gown the cliffs to the
toats. With skillful hand he launched
SAe Sea Foam, and though the tide beat
aim back almost az fast as his strength
eeshed forward, he did not hesitate. 1t