The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-12

Chicago Times-Herald.

Chicago Times Herald.
l.
He stood on the brink of the prec,pice
and looked over Three hundred feet
below him the sea broke on the somber
rocks.
The mans muscles tensioned and he
drew deep breath. What an easy way
to end it ALL Just one little step-those
rocks below were no bunglers; they
would make no mistake over their work,
and the sea would tell no tales-and
then-then he would be away from it all,
and would never again have to bear the
agony of hearing that she was married
TO Everett.
Married to Everett-married to Ever
EFT! The words changed in his ears.
He groaned aloud and beat hastily over
the edge.
A mist came before his eyes and his
breath rose in a choking heaye to his
throat; the ground rocked sickeningly
beneath him, and for one dizzy second
he thought he was falling-falling down
that interminable space.
Then the mist passed, the ground
stopped rocking and he gasped with re-
lief to find himself still standing safe
and sound on firm earth.
He turned away with scornful laugh
at his own weakness.
Home again, he flung himself into an
easy-chair. and lit his pipe. resolved to
give way no longer to morbid imagin-
ings.
He picked up a magazine, but his
thoughts few off at a tangent to the
dance which was to take place that very
evening, to which he had been invited
He had vowed not to see her again till
he could settle once for all the demon
of unrest within him, and a crowded
ball room was the last place for i'm
passiened avowals.
He thought how cool and beautiful she
would look in her white muslin with
her fluffy golden hair framing her sweet
little fiower-like face. Perhaps he would
go, after all. Then a second figure rose
up to spoil the picture-handsome hap
py-go-lucky Everett. with a merry word
for everyone, dancing untiring attend
ance on the fascinating hostess and
never leaving her side for moment
How dared he take possession of her
with it. unless
His pipe-mankind's universal baby
bottle-for once failed utterly in it's mis-
sion of soothing. He tossed it angri v
across the table and buried his face in
his hands, lost in Whirl of misera bic
conjectures.
His thoughts flew back to that dance
one week ago-one week so crowded with
hopes and fears that it seemed a life
time.
He remembered that those dances, the
music, the scent of flowers in the con-
servatory, and, more distinctly than all,
the laughing face of Dolly.
Then those few overheard words rushed
through his brain. He clinched his fists
and his face flushed at the recollection.
He had drifted from the ballroom to the
conservatory. Would she consent? That
was the question that throbbed in lis
brain. Should he say the words that
would decide his future life and hers
He had pulled at a cigarette, and stared
at the thin wisps of blue smoke. Would
his hopes fade into nothingness as that
fragrant smoke faded and vanished into
air? And then he heard people talking.
He recognized the voice of Everett, and
then Dolly's. They We're seated on the
opposite side of the conservatory, con-
cealed behind a tangle of palm leaves
Dolly" Everett was saying, you
must say Yes Ny whole life depends
upon it. We have been chums so Icng.
Say you will, and make me the happiest
man in England, not to speak of Scotland,
Ireland and Wales. Say 'Yesr 1 know
what you want to say-that we ought to
be getting back again. And there are all
those loathsome people who want dances.
y
would"
Fraser sat there, almost unable to
move. lie Gid not know how long The
music from the ballroom f1oatGd out into
the conservatory, mingling with the
laughter and chatter of the guests. All
hope, all interest in life was gone
snatehed from him by those few over
heard words. People were asking Tor him.
What did it matter; nothing mattered
A him 10
up and saw Everett before him-Everett,
who vas his friend; who was now his
rival-his enemy!
Hello, Fraser. old man, you seem to
be ten fathoms deep in the blue dumps!
what's the matter now? Come and have
a smoke with me. I've been looking for
you half the evening"
And that all happened week ago! A
week-the most miserable in mis- life.
And Row he was trying to forget her
What fool he was!