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

Marh maze Ihplu culCuidtion.
Three miles to the nearest house, and
the toughest possible path. 1t would
take at least an hour for help to reach
him. Too we'll he knew that he could
not retain his hold for half that time.
He was already much exhausted and
becoming dizzy. 1t required great
effort to keep from falling.
"No," said Mark, mournfully. "We
must shout for help. and if no one
comes I must attempt to- scsle-the
-clitf!'
The clear, agonized voice of the girl
rose on the air, but was nearly
drowned by the increasing roar
of the sea. Marks deep voice pene.
trated but little farther. Neither
could be heard half mile. Their cries
re-echoed from crag to crag until
there seemed to be score OF voices
calling. A score calling-but not one
replyingl
After few minutes spent in this
way it became evident to both that it
was useless. Mark was growing weak.
, er. He felt the necessity of making
his perlous effort before losing more
| strength.
Without word he lays hold OF some
sharp points of rock above him andat-
tempts to ascend. When up about
three feet his foot suddenly slips, and,
half unconscious, he feels himself
roughly sliding down the face OF the
cliff. Throwing out his hands by in
stinct, one of them reaches tissure in
the rock and he finds himself, faint
and breathless, in his original posi-
ton. Nothing but miracle saved
him from going over the precipice.
Kitty, hearing the noise, cried out
in au agony of apprehension.
ut is no use," calletpoor Mark; "a
cat could not climb it-much less
man. I must remsinhere until fall
from exhaustion, unless somebody
comes. And what could they do if
they didP"
Kitty was in despair. Must she re-
main there doing nothing and see her
lover perish? She never realized be-
fore how she loved him, or, indeed,
that she loved him at all. Now it was
all revealed to her. And she the cause
of his peril A pang of anguish passed
through her when she thought OF this.
What should she do? She looked
about wildly.
All the milkweed
The hill was covered with it. Her
knowledge OF botany was not useless.
Running to the verge of the cliff
she cried out:
"What is the longest possible time
you can hold on?"
"Twenty or twenty-five minutes"
said Mark, feebly.
'Then for heavens sake, cling!"
Rushing back, she pulled up score
of the largest stocks of milkweed. Sc
Letting one, she rolled the fiber into
cord or string. How often she had
seen her teacher do this when botanic.
ing! She knew the cord thus formed
to be very strong, capable OF support.
ing at least twenty-five pounds. Four
OF these twisted together made sub
stantial rope, but they were so very
short not more than two feet in
length.
Milk weed a'ter milkweed succumbed
to her deft fingers, until at length, by
frequent splicing, she had rope ten
feet long and four strands strong. 1t
would easily bear one hundred
pounds. This was enough-his own
efforts, aided by the projecting rocks
and assures, would accomplish the
rest.
u=Msitl yjg Ia9ita, Gf,sb fIGffalfisittiar Xas
the rope. She knew that Marks
strength must be most gone.
Hearing her approach the brink
alone the poor fellow lost all courage,
supposing her unknown mission had
failed.
"Good-bye, Kitty, T."
so Mark! Hold on! Hold on a
minute longerl" and she flung him
the rope.
BE summoned up all his strength.
Seeing the rope he took it in his hands
and said with surprise:
evil it hold?"
eyes; your whole weight, probably.
Bnt that will not be necessary. Let
me know when you are ready"
"Brace yourself! If am too much
of burden let 60 instantly; for
heavens sake don't let me pull you
over the precipice. Readyl"
Up, up, he goes, his hope lending
him superhuman strength. He makes
every projection and depression of the
rock contribute to his support. His
feet often slip, but the rope, with the
strong. brave girl at the farther ena,
upholds him. A moment more, and
he falls fainting at the top of the
cliff.
Kitty is about to faint, but seeing
his condition, RECEIVERS herself, and
hastens to a neighboring spring fol-
water. Mark soon revives, but his
mind is clouded. Looking around. he
says:
"The flower! Where is the Aower?"
"Never mind that, dear"-he
thought she said 'dear," but WAS 80
nearly unconscious as never to be
sure--"it is safe. Don't talk now,
until you are feeling better"
A few minutes and he is himself
again. Holding up the flower, bruised
and broken, which he has chung to
with lovers care through all his
peril, he says;
"Not much of gift, but I got it
for you"
"Why. it is q forget-me.not," cries
Kitty.
eyes, forget.me.not; and its
language is true love- o Kitty,
let it be an emblem of the love I bear
you," presenting it to her.
"As such I accept It," she replies,
softly.
The Chinese w Ork Backward.
The Chinese do everything back.
I,1s. - l.