Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-11-25

of the preparations which had been
made, and the plans which had been
formed.
How bright the world had seemed
but moments before, and how keen
ly I had anticipated its pleasures
Aud now it was all over. must think
no more of entering again the bright
region above snd sharing in the joys
that awaited me there. I was doomed
to die-to die a lonely, solitary, hor-
rible death, and to lie In watery
grave. AS held on to my feeble
support and thought of all this, my
brain reeled within me. and | feared
that my reason must give way.
Death instead OF marriage! What
contrast! Just when 1 ought to be
leading my bride to the altar and
stepping across the portal of married
life, to let so my hold here and fall
into the cold, relentless arms of
Death And what of Ada then? Surely
she would sorrow, and gricve, and be
disconsolate.
But Horace Rishton! What of him ?
Might they not become man and
But, no, the thought was torturing,
and drove me in ft Of frenzy to
shout again with all my might.
But it was oil i'll vain, for no one
heard.
How the night passed cannot toll,
neither do / know how the morning
hours dragged on, for was numb
with cold, and faint with hunger and
fatigue. onfy know that after what
seemed to me to be ages, footsteps
drew near, and voice called out from
above:
''Are you there, Fred?"
My heart leaped into my mouth,
and for a moment l was unable to
utter sound. At last murmured,
in faint voice:
'In heaven'e name, get me out !!
Pm dying"
Scan you hold on another minute ?"
the voice asked. GIVE got a rope
here. Keep up till 1 fasten it to this
stake. Can you slip a loop round
your body, or shall come down to
you"
"Send the rope down. I'll manage
to pass it round" I shouted eagerly.
In another minute it was dangling
before my eyes, aud was soon passed
under my arms. after which gave the
word to draw up. Slowly I assembled,
and at last emerged into the light and
freedom Of the upper air.
AS 10y upon the ground-for my
legs were useless to mel looked at
my deliverer, and wept for very JOY
at my release.
Itwas Horace Rishton who he'd saved
me, and if ever my heart went out to
my rival, it was then.
"I cannot sufficiently thank you, !"
I began.
s''Give me no thanks" he interrupt
ed harshly. "Thank heaven instead.
Heaven and hell have been fighting
over you, and heaven has won. But
you little know how near you have
been to death. +"
I looked up in wonderment at him,
for his words were unintelligible to
me. He took no notice of my look,
but continued:
81 guessed where you were, call it
instinct or whatever you like. No one
else did. They will seek everywhere
but here. But / seemed to know, aud
well, the devil tempted me, nay, he
fought with me. Don't you know why ?
You love Ada Miller, do you notf
Then, 80 do I. Yes, with love that
is all.consuming-a love which gives
me no rest night or day, love which
makes it impossible for me to live
without her. You nave won her hand,
but don't you think envy you? Don's
you think 1 even hate you at times
And when I guessed you were here,
don't you see that the devil tempted
me to leave you here and to say nothing
whatever about it But Ada has chosen
You, she loves you, Your wedding day
draws near. Go-take her and be hap
py. But for me happiness in this life
is over"
He turned away to unloosen the
rope which he had made fast to one OF
the stakes of the fence.
watched him wonderingly with a
dazed mind, when all In moment,
before l could think or speak, be
reeled, fell over, and toppled head.
long into the pit from whence he had
drawn me, carrying the rope with
him.
"Good heaven, he's gonel" ]
shrieked, and spriuging to my feet
for the numbness left me for mo-
ment / rushed to the mouth of the
shaft crying frantically. "Horace
HoraceT"
But no answer came to my cries. A
loud splash succeeded his fall, then all
was still and silent as the grave. ]
looked around for help. but no help
was near, and overcome with weak
ness, fatigue, and horror, I fell sense.
less to the ground.
When I came to I found myself in
the same position, and knowing that
it was extremely improbable that any
one would pass that way, put forth
all my strength, and dragged myselt
with great difficu'y = in the direction
of home.
When / had gone mile or SO en-.
tered upon more frequented road,
and soon fell in with those who rem
dered me all the assistance l required.
My story caused great sensation,
as you may be sure, and for time
was the one object of interest in the
place.
Ada looked upon me as one given
back from the dead, and rejoiced over
me accordingly, Her JOY would have
been complete had it not been for the
unfortunate death of Horace Rishton,
for that naturally cast gloom over
us all.
Of course, his death was put dow1
to accident, and muchregret expressed
at the painful occurrence, but I. who
hsd seen the whole thing, knew thai
L L