Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-12-05

provoking calmness; As he did 90, she
saw he wore the Moorish ring Upon hi.
little finger. He had never done So
before their brief engagement, though
it was an heirloom. The sight gave
her an odd, choking sensation she
could not have spoken to have saved
her lite. He spoke quickly:
"Trix," the ring is safe; will you
have it back? Beatrice, why keep up
this misei able pretence? Why pre-.
tend you do not careP love you, I
told you SO. Say what you will, you
love me still; saw 1t in your face to.
night. tits only pique that parts US.
Pride can go too far! Had not been
idiotically proud should have said
all this before. Trix, you are such q
child, do try to he reasonable" nj
1t was too much. :. Pitied before,
scolded now, treated as child all
through. .'a-e
81 quite recognize your goodness
in Offering TO renew our engagement"
she said with pitiful smile, "but I
must decline, with thanks"
Bitter words and looks, and the
/ breach was widened, not mended.
On the following day Mr.. Ferrand
stood moodily on the head land look.
ing into the sea. He was quitting st.
Michaers in the evening; he meant
to go abroad. He was soft fool, he
told himself; he had let himself care
for a pretty little fiirt. After all. was
it not we'll that her shrewishness had
cured him of bis folly? Women were
all alike, tickle, shallow, not worth a
mans throught or trouble. But his
philosophy was of no avail-hs did
care, and there was the rub.
He looked down the eighty feet OF
cliff and rock, down at the beach, down
at the incoming tide; and he drew his
breath with "a sudden gasp. That blue.
clad girls figure setting below. Was
she demented? The sea was high over
both points, and round those points
was the only egress, In an early hour
he had tested the perilous nature OF
the beach; the fishermen had warned
him Of it. The rock, smooth a. an an.
wills face. and overhanging, offered no
| foothold for ascent; assistance could
come by sea alone-and no boats
passed that lonely cove. There was q
bare chance of getting rescne for her.
A vagrant was berry gathering near
by ; for gold he would carry message
for help to st. Naturalization miles to
go, but no help was nearer. Before
help could come, twelve feet OF water
would be washing the cliff below. Still,
it was a chance. The vagrant flew with
thu penciled message.
"No help will be in time" he had
said SAY, sir, by the roman tree you
can climb down; it be an awkward
thing but have done it; there be no
coming up? 1t be but a.throwing a
good life after bad"
Mr.. Farrand had been IN alpine
climber of no bad repute. Yet it was
u dangerous descent, but at last he
stood on the sands behind the still un.
conscious figure OF Beatrice Lennox.
He tried not to alarm her, to make
her believe assistance was on its way.
But once she saw that the points were
impossible, she grasped her peril she
stood staring out at the beating waves
WItu wtdUsy Of>vss~s1, o-~&a~-1-
How young and childish she looked,
and, good heavens. she must die. The
man clenched his hands in impotent
helplessness It was idle trying 10
reassure her. Facing them was the
cruel tide, coming over closer and
closer behind them the frowning cliffs,
and the nearest aid ten miles off. She
sat down on ledge, making no fuss.
waiting for what was to come. It was
kindest to respect her evident wish
for silence. He stood quietly beside
her, watching with her, waiting with
her.
"Ob. why did you come down" she
said at last, wrin9ing her hands to-
gether. "You must have known it
was but to die, too."
He hesitated. Tne waves drew near.
er and nearer the end was not so very
tar distant. Thinking so, he spoke the
truth.
"If need be- yes-to die with you,
Trix. Do you think I would have let
you meet it quite alone?" Her face
was in her hands, and the unrepressed
sobs shook her frame. He put his
hand on her shoulder. ERIK" he
said softly, "Trix, may We be friends
at last? We have wasted months OF
happiness; now, if we may only have
hours, let US take what is left to us.
At this eleventh hour will you have
the ring backr Will you believe that
I care for you--ay, even unto death?"
It was strange renewal OF their be.
trothal, solemn enough to them both,
with their last leave taking staring
them in the face. Resting on him,
supported by him, sure at last that his
love for her was real. Trix found
peace waiting for the death SO close
at hand, she was happier than she had
been for many long day. The waves
were washing up to the hem OF the
girls dress, and hope had died to them
both, when at last help came. Provi.
dence was good to them; round the
point puffed little pleasure steam.
ship; its captain, a st. Michael man,
realizing the peril of those two soil.
tary figures, sent off q boat to their
aid. While they waited for their de-
livery and the boat was still but mere
speck in the distance, Mr.. Ferrand
looked at Trix, smiling under his
| moustache.
ERIK, shall you cast me off now
you are safe?" The smile was in his
eyes, too. as he stopped and kissed the
| fooo .ha roiso1 IN his Get foo1 an fo
now, Trix, You are compromised 1r-
revocably. Do you realize, child,
those steamship folk are all ogling us
through their glasses. We have just
delighted them hugely"
my goodness calculated the
scarlet. faced, disheveled Beatrice, as
she attampted to readjmst her hat at
q propriety angle; and MIR. Fer.
rand laughed long and low.
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