The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-05-19
RIVALS
A Story of the Vengeance Of the Sea-,
Written for This Paper.
BY MAXWELL GRAY.

fresh cheeks. now stiffening with mar
BILE immobility; no others came.
How was it2" she asked. in hard,
cold voice. What had he to do with
the lifeboat7"
Twas like this, replied one Of the
men, hoarsely and hurriedly; ADeane,
he took Attrill's oar"
Then" added another, "the Rescue d
a-bin out twice toward the vessel. But
nothin' couldn't live In that surf. She'd
a-bin capsized. The men was entirely
weared out. Then Adam Mann, he was
washed overheard. They seen en- strike
agin rock"
The man broke off abruptly.
"Then," said another, "Deane, he ups
and says: Don't give In lads; let's
have another try! Then comes heavy
sea and tears en- clean out Of her.
That's all.
Where was Geo. Attrill?" she asked.
"Attrill? He slipped down and hurt
hisself getten aboold ov 'er. And
Deane, he seen it, and he volunteered
in S place"
In Attrill's place and without cork
jacket?" said Rose, slowly, standing
erect by the still form, now once more
shrouded, her voice deepening and her
eyes blazing with unnatural fire. AS
she spoke she looked full in the face Of
George Attrill, who had just come up
from the shore, apparently unhurt
Then the tumultuous long-gathering
passion rushed up out Of the depths Of
her shake and shudder beneath it, as
L. hoI {ho hot
swept Robert away.
You cowara!- sne cried, pointing to
Attrill you put him In your place; you
wished to be in his. You called me a
light wench. You told him I should tire
of him same as I done Of you, that I
never cared for. I shall never tire Of
him, George Attrill; you have took
away my only chance of that"
Rose, Rose!" said familiar voice
near, as the clergyman, all wet, hag-
gard, and unshorn, after his long night
on the Shore, came up and motioned to
the bearers to 60 on. You, who were
to have been that brave lads wifef"
She bowed her head, turned, and fol-
lowed the solemn procession up the hill
and down the chasm. Not thus had she
thought to follow her lover to his home
that day.
George stood gazing after her with
dumb, helpless look in his large, dark
eyes. Then he turned, went down to
the bay, and flung himself down in the
shadow of some broken rocks.
God knows" he cried, I'D have
died for him only to save her thisl"
Roses words rang all over the viii
lage, and grew as words do with rep
etition. The men who first heard
them began to ask themselves why
Robert had no cork-jacket on, as
George had; why George so quickly re-
covered, after giving in at the critical
moment; why he had called Rose a
light wench," and other questions.
Covert sneers, cold looks and whispers
began to 60 around whenever Attrill
appeared. Then he was avoided;
finally he was asked to leave the boat
Rose forgot 10th her wild words and
Georges existence long before she
reached the cottage, no rose-cheeked,
red-lipped girl with swift bushes and
gentle glances, as she had gone forth;
but white faced. wild-eyed woman,
helpless and fearless.
The clergyman walked by her side,
Offering no futile consolation, but lead
ing her by the hand like strayed child;
the surf-music doomed gently on; the
redbreast's warble fioated on the sunny
air; the bearers feet fell with an even,
muffled tread; other sound there was
none.
So Rose followed her bridegroom to
the pretty home he had prepared for her,
where Mary Deane sat silent and
desolate by the cheerless hearth, where
the dog, who had run on, laid his chin on
his mistress knee, moaning humanity,
and looking up in her grief-stricken
face, with large tears rolling from his
great soft eyes, while the kitten sprang
at his wagless tail, and gamboled on the
floor, over which children Of Roberts
might never play now.
The mother did not look up when the
door was darkened by the sad burden
borne by the men, nor did she stir from
her stony calm when she heard them
struggling up the narrow. steep stairs
with it.
But when Rose approached her she