The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-02-01

AilhA' LNelett' lue uudH VINO lau stolen
his love from him, the man who had
made his life blank and barren waste!
thousand devils seemed let loose with
In him. How very near that stopping Zig
ure was to death, so near that one touch
just one little motion of the foot-and
he would lose his balance and 90 speed
ing down those smiling cliffs and he
hurled to pieces on those cruel rocks be-
Meath,
His breath came quickly.
Suppose it had happened accidentally?
Even as he thought he knew he was a
coward. Even then he was thinking of
his own skin. Suppose a sudden sound
made the man start? Almost uncon-
sciously he opened his lips, and "A harsh
Hello" broke from him.
Everetts nerves were steel He turn
ed his sunny face and smiled over his
shoulder
Hello, old mani" he responded anna
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 farther and farther till it seemed
impossible he could retain his balance,
and then the waves below reached up
hungry white arms to catch him and fell
back again with a murmuring thunder
of anger at their failure.
y little farther. Fraser caught his
breath.
You'll be over in a minuter he said
grufly.
Everett laughed easily.
mot l. he said confidently. "But
say, old chap. You might just hang on 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 impu-
IDENTIFY up at them just out of reach.
Fraser stood motionless, moistening his
dry lips.
Everett looked around.
do you mind, old man?' he said.
And mechanically the other stretched
out his hand and obcycd.
Now-now. One movement of his fin
gelS-juSt the opening of his hand
He fought the thought back. gasping
for breath.
Everett leaned still farther He half
glanced back.
"Thcy're for Dolly, you know" he
said, Ito wear this evening"
The fingers opened as if by some sud
denly pressed spring. There was sui
den cry, and then-thcn something went
rolling, rolling, striking and bounding
sickcningly down that steep side.
For an instant the white face was up
turned.
"All right, old chap. know-acci-
dent" lloated mp brokenly, and then
there was Il last hdcous thud. aud the
waves clutchcd grcedly mt their unrc, or
nizable prey and drew it under And the
swoopng sea gulls shrcked wildly and
circlcd upward.
Fraser stood as if turned 80 stone. gaz-
ing with disteudcd cycballs at the CUR
Cling eddies where that-that thing had
disappeared.
Murderer. Murderer, Murderer! The
waves dashed it at him, the sea gulls
shricked it, the whole living and mani
mate world flung the awful word at
him.
lie stood paralyzed Had he done it
he? What had he done? He held his
hands vaguely and piteously out before
him, asking them mutely. Murderer.
Murderer! Murderer! Yes, it was true
true! His hands told him-hs hands
that he had opened. God! They were
blood rcd-stained with blood, The grass
was red-the sky-the very sea was
blood
He flung up his hands with an awful
cry and sprang blindly over that fatal
edge
81 say, old fellow, do wake up and
stop having the horrors! You don't know
how bcastly awful you look."
Fraser opened his eyes slowly and star
ed in blank terror mt the handsome tan
ned face looking down at him He won
dered vaguely whether he was dreaming
now or had just awokc from u red night
mare. The voice went on:
II only just looked in to say ia ia.
I've had telegram calling me back to
Ireland Immediately. Old Chris Muir
doch has relented and consented to our
being publicly engaged. And all through
Dolly, too, bless her little heart She's
Meg's dearest friend, you know. and
she's been moving heaven and earth to
soften the old chaps heart" He waved
an airy goodby. "Ta-ta~ he said mer-
rily
Fraser gazed speechlessly at him, the
tears still standing thick on his white
face.
Everett turned back, half laughing.
81 wish you wouldn't look at me as
though | were a ghost" he protested.
so long Exchange