Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-12-11

the plans which had been formed.
How bright the world had seemed but
few moments BEFORE and how keenly
had anticipated its pleasures And now 1t
was all over must think no moro of en-
tering again the bright region above and
sharing in the joys that awaited me there.
l was doomed to de-to die lonely, soli-
tary, horrible death, and to lie in a watery
grave AS 1 held on to my feeble support
and thought of all this, my brain reeled
within me and l feared that my reason
must give way.
! Death instead of marriage What con-
trastl Just when l ought to be leading
my bride to the altar and stepping across
the portal of married life to let go my hold
here and fall into the cold relentless arms
of death And what of Ada then? Surely
she would sorrow and grieve and be dis
! consulate.
But Horace Rishtonl What Of himP
| Might they not become man and-but, no,
the thought was torturng and drove me in
"A fit of frenzy to shout again with all my
might. But it was all in vain, for no one
! heard.
How the night passed 1 cannot tell
neither Go l know how the morning hours
dragged on, for 1 was numb with cold and
faint with hunger and fatigue. 1 only
know that after what seemed to me to be
ages footsteps drew near and a voice call
ed out from above:
Are you there, Fred?'
My heart leaped into my mouth, and for
a moment 1 was unable to utter sound
At last l murmured in faint voice:
I'm heavens name, get me outl I'm
dying"
"Can you hold on another minute?' the
voice asked. 1--WE got rope here. Keep
up till fasten 1t to this stake. Can you
slip loop round your body or shall
come down to youY''
"Send the rope down. I'll manage to
pass it round, " l shouted eagerly.
In another minute 1t was dangling be-
fore my eyes and was soon passed under
my arms, after which 1 gave the word to
draw up Slowly assembled and at last
emerged into the light and freedom of the
upper air.
AS lay upon the ground-for my legs
were useless to mel looked at my deliver
or and wept for very joy at my release.
1t was Horace Rishton who had saved
me, and if ever my heart went out 20 my
rival, it was then.
g cannot sufficiently thank you'll be.
gan.
"Give me no thanks" he INTERRUPTED
u.
and hell have been fighting over you, and
heaven has won But you little know
how near you have been to DEATH -
l looked up in wonderment at him, for
his words were uninteligible to me- He
took no notice of my look, but continued:
81 guessed where you were-call it in
stinct or whatever You like. No one else
did. They will seek everywhere but here
But | seemed to know, and-well, the |
devil tempted me, nay, he fought with
me. Don't you know why? You love Ada |
Miller, do you not? Then, so do l. Yes. |
with love that is all consuming-a love |
which gives me no rest night or day, q |
love which makes it impossible for me to |
live without her. You have won her hand.
but don't you think envy you? Don't |
you think | even hate you at times? And |
when l 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 happy. But for me happiness
in this life j. 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 dazed
I, |
could think or speak be reeled fell o;er
and topplcd hoadlong into the pit whence
he had drawn ME, carrying the rope with
him.
Good heaven, he's gcner' shrieked.
and sprnging to my fect-for the numb
ness left me for mument-I rushed to
the mouth of the shaft, crying frantically:
g Horace! Horace!'
Iut no answer Ca11a IN my Crioc
loud splash succeeded his fall; then all was
still and silent as the grave l looked
around for help and no help was near,
and overcome with weakness, fatigue and
horror fell senseless to the ground
When came TO, l 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 myself with great difficulty in
the direction of home
When had gone mile or so, | entered
upon a more frequented road and soon fell
in with those who rendered me all the as
sistance l required
My story caused great sensation, as you
may be sure, and for n time l was the one
object of interest in the place
Ada looked upon me as one given back
from the dead and rejOiced over me accord
Ihgly. Her Joy would have been complete
had 1t not been for the unfortunate death
Of Horace Rshton for that naturally cast
a gloom over us all
OF course his death was put down to ac-
cident and much regret expressed at the
painful occurrence, but l, who had seen
the whole thing, knew that it was no ac-
'ident, though, rightly or wrongly, l kept
the knowledge to myself
Why ShOuld | blazOn abroad tho foct
that Horace Rishton, after CALAMITY saw
ing my life had deliberately destroyed his
OWN?
1t would have been a poor return for the
service he had rendered me; it would have
done no good to those who knew him and
who revered his memory, and, above ALL
It would have been source of constant
pain and grief to my own little darling
wife