The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-11-18


the perpendicular rock rises to the
height of ten feet before the top of the
cliff is gained. 1t is smooth except q
few slight projections here and there.
No mortal could climb it. Mark
knows this, and yet he feels he must
try. He cannot long remain in his
present position.
Was this beautiful day and his life
to end together? Had he brought
this girl-whom he intended soon to
ask to be his wife-to this lonely,
isolated spot only to witness his exit
from the world?-the world in which
he had hoped to accomplish 80 much.
The thought of death, when in close
proximity to it, is dreadful thing, es-
pecially to young person.
Kitty Mclaughlin, when she real
lied the catastrophe which had over
taken her lover, was so appalled, that
she could neither speak nor move. She
stood like one paralyzed until the
voice of Mark, calling to her not to be
alarmed, brought her back to the
world of reason.
Kitty was not one to remain long in.
active if there was anything she could
do, Coming to the top of the cliff,
above his head, she cried:
30, Mark |" (There was no "Mr.
Hilton" now. On the verge of death
as he was, Mark noted this with thrill
of pleasure.l "Can you hold on till l
can get assistance?"
Mark made rapid calculation.
Three miles to the nearest house, and
the roughest 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 dizzv. 1t required q great
effort to keep from falling.
"No," said Mark, mournfully. "We
must shout for help. and if no one
comes 1 must attempt to scale the
-cliffw
The clear, -agonized voice of the girl
rose on the air, but was nearly
drowned by the ever.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 a score OF voices
calling. A score cnlling-but not one
replying
After a few minutes spent in this
way it became evident to both that il
was useless. Mark was growing weak
er. He felt the necessity of making
his perilous effort before losing more
strength.
Without word he lays hold of some
sharp points of rock above him and at
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 q tissure in
the rock and he finds himself, faint
and breathless, in his original posi-.
tion. Nothing but miracle saved
him from going over the precipice.
Kitty, hearing the noise, cried out
in an agony of apprehension.
at is no use" called poor Mark; Ga
cat could not climb it-much less q
man. 1. must remainhere until fall
from exhaustion, unless somebody
comes. And what could they do il
they did?"
Kitty was in despair. Must she re-
main there doing nothing and see hel
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 milkweedl
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.
"Phen for heavens sake, cling"
Rushing back, she pulled up a score
of the largest stocks of milkweed. Sc
Letting one, she rolled the fiber into 6
cord or string How often she haG
seen her teacher do tins when botanic
ing She knew the cord thus formed
to be very strong, capable of support
ing at least twenty-five pounds. Foul
of these twisted together made a sub
stantial rope, but they were so very
short not more than two feet il
length.
Milkweed after milkweed succumbet
to her deft fingers, until at length, by
frequent splicing, she had a rope ter
feet long and four strands strong. II
would easily bear one hundred
pounds. This was enough-his own
efforts, aided by the projecting rocks
aud assures, would accomplish the
rest.
Kitty, in spite of her celebrity, was
nearly twenty minutes mauufactur ing
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, I"
SO Mark Hold on! Hold on O
minute longer!" and she flung him
the rope.
He summoned up all his strength.
Seeing the rope he took it in his hands
and said with surprise;
"Will it holds"
Eyes; your whole weight, probably.
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