The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1901-02-08
%. THE OTHER : MAN. ..


ceived that there was mans figure
before him, STOPPING perilously over the
dangerous edge, evidently gathering
some plant from the cliff below.
1t was a foolhardy thing to do, and
evidently bespoke a strong brain.
A little nearer, and he stopped short
abruptly. The STOPPING figure was
Everett
All his love and hate surged up with.
n him. Everett, the man who had
stolen his love from him-the man who
had made his life blank and barren
waste A thousand devils seemed let
loose within him. How very near that
STOPPING figure was to death-so near
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 1t had happened accidental
ly? Even as he thought he knew he
was a coward. Even then he was
thinking of his own skin Suppose
sudden noise made the man start? Al
most unconsclously he opened his lips,
and harsh "Hallow broke from him
Everetts nerves were steel. He
turned his sunny face and smiled over
his shoulder.
"Hallo, old mani" 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 It 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 a murmuring thunder
of anger at their failure.
A little further. Fraser caught his
breath.
you'll be over in a minute" he said
grufily.
Everett laughed easily.
mot II" he said confidently. but. /
say, old chap, you might just hang on
to my legs for minute, will youy /
want to reach that great bit just there.
and it's just beyond me-"
The waving pink bloom nodded Inn
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, gasping
for breath.
Everett leaned still farther. He half
glanced back.
They're for Dolly, you know" he
said, Ito wear this evening"
The fingers opened as if by some sud
denly pressed spring. There was a sud
den cry, and then-then something
went rolling, rolling, striking and
bounding sickenlngly down that steep
side.
For an instant the white face was up.
turned.
"All right, old chap-I knOw-acci-
dentw 6oated up brOkenly, and then
there was a last hldeous thud, and the
waves clutched greedily at their unrec-
ognizable prey and drew 1t under And
the swooping seagulls shrieked wildly
and circled upward.
Fraser stood as If turned to stone
gazing with dlstended eyeballs at the
gurglng eddies where that-that thing
had disappeared.
Murderer! Murderer! Murderer
The waves lashed 1t at him, the sea
inanimate world flung the awful word
at him.
He stood paralyzed. Had he done II
he? What had he done? He held his
} hands vaguely and piteously out before
him, asking them mutely. Murderer
, Murderer Murderer! Yes, 1t was true
! true! His hands told hm-hls hand.
that he had opened. God! They were
, blood-red-stained with blood! The
grass was red-the sky-the very ses
was blood!
: He flung up his hands with an awfu
. cry and sprang blIndly over that fata
EDGE
. II say, old fellow, do wake up anC
! stop having the horrors! You don
know how beastly awful you lookP
Fraser opened his eyes slowly ant
stared in blank terror at the handsom,
J tanned face looking down at him, IL
5 wondered vaguely whether he wa
dreaming now or had just awoke from
a red nightmare The voice went on
! 81 only looked In to say ta-ta. Nv
had telegram calling me back to Ire
land Immediately. Old Chris Murdocl
has relented and consented to our be
ing publicly engaged. And all throug
!. Dolly, too-bless her little heart! She
:. Meg's dearest friend, you know, an
she's been moving heaven and cart
to soften the old chaps heart" II
waived an airy good-by. "Ta-ta!" h
q said merrily.
! Fraser gazed Speechlessly at him, tn
: tears still standing thick on his whit
|. face.
Everett turned back, half-laughing.
/. Il wish you wouldn't look at me a
i though | were ghostw he protested
b 80 longw
Archbishop's Apt RetOrt.
o The archbishop of Dublin recentl
e nerformed a marriage In the family {