Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1901-02-22

| And now he was trying to forget her.
What fool he was!
The thought of that steep drop down
! to the sea kept recurring to his mind
again and again with fatal fascna-
tion put 1t away from his as he would.
Through all his brood!ngs its somber
! invitation stood out clear and distinct.
He could see even now the jagged
rocks lurking below, dripping with
spray, looking for their prey.
At last he got up. 1t was no good
staying in. Inaction was torture to
him in his present frame of mind. He
would try>and walk 1t off.
He started off rapidly, without any
definite aim or intention, but uncon-
sciously his steps turned toward the
coast, and presently he found himself
once more ascending the steep little
path he had traversed that morning.
AS he neared the summit he, per-
ceived that there was a mans figure
before him, STOPPING perilously over the
dangerous edge, evidently gathering
some plant from the cliff below.
1t was foolhardy thing to do, and
evidently bespoke strong brain.
A little nearer, and he stopped short
abruptly. The STOPPING figure was
Everett.
All his love and hate surged up with
in him. Everett, the man who had
stolen his love from him-the man who
mad made his life a blank and barren
waste. A thousand devils seemed let
loose within him. How very near that
STOPPING figure was to death-so neal
that one touch-just one little motion
Of the foot-and he would lose his bal.
ance and go speeding, speeding down
those smiling cliffs and be hurled to
pieces on those cruel rocks beneath
His breath came quickly.
Suppose it had happened accidental
ly? Even as he thought he knew he
was a coward. Even then he was
thinking of his own skin. Suppose a
sudden noise made the man start? AL
most uncorsciously he opened his lips,
and harsh "Hallov' broke from him.
Everett's nerves were steel. He
turned his sunny face and smiled over
his shoulder
Halo, old man." he responded amia-
bly,.
Fraser came and stood dumbly beside
him, holding his hands tightly together
behind him to hide their shaking. He
had forgotten Everett was a sailor.
He watched him furtively leaning
down further and further, till 1t seemed
impossible he could retain his balance:
and the waves below reached up hun.
CRY white arms to catch him, and fell
back again with murmuring thunder
Of anger at their failure.
A little further. Fraser caught his
breath.
you'll be over in a minutel" he said
grufly.
Everett laughed easily.
mot Iv' he said confidently. but,
say, old chap, you might just hang Oh
to my legs for a minute, will you?
want to reach that great bit just there
and it's just beyond me-"
The waving pink bloom nodded i'm
pudently up at them just out of reach
Fraser stood motionless, moistenlng his
dry lips.
Everett looked around.
"D'you mind, old MANI" he said
And mechanically the other stretched
out his hand and obeyed
Now-now! one movement of his fin
gers-just the opening of his hand
He fought the thought back, gaspinl
for breath.
Everett leaned still farther. He hall
glanced back.
They're for Dolly. you know" ts
said, ito wear this evening"
The fingers opened as IL by some sud
denly pressed spring. There was sud
den cry. and then-then somethin,
went rolling, rolling, striking anC
bounding sickeningly down that steel
side.
For an instant the white face was up
turned.
"All right, old chap-I know-acci
dent" hoated up brokenly, and ther
there was last hdeous thud, and thu
waves clutched greedlly at their unrec
ognfzable prey and drew 1t under. Ant
the swooplng seagulls shrieked wildly
| and circIad inward