The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1901-01-31

that one touch-just one little motion
of the foot-and he would lose his bal
ance and so speeding. speeding down
those smiling cliffs and be hurled to
pieces on those cruel rocks beneath.
His breath came quickly.
Suppose il 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 a harsh "Hallor' broke from him.
Everett's nerves were steel. He
turned his sunny face and smiled over
his shoulder.
..HaIlo, old man." ne 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 n murmuring thunder
of anger at their failure.
A little further Fraser caught his
breath.
You'll be over in q minute" he said
gruffly.
Everett laughed easily.
Not L." he said confidently. But.
say, old chap, you might just hang on
to my legs for 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, moistening his
dry lips.
Everett looked around.
.D'you mind. old man?" 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 sud
den cry. and then-then something
went rolling. rolling. striking and
bounding sickeningly down that steep
side.
For an instant the white face was up
turned.
"Al right, old chapI know-acci-
dent!" foated up brOkenly, and then
there was a last hideous thud, and the
waves clutched greedily at their unrec-
ognizabIe prey and drew it under. And
the swooping seagulIs shrieked wildly
and circled upward.
Fraser stood as If turned to stone.
gazing with diSoended eyeballs at the
gurgling eddies where that-that thing
had disappeared.
Murderer! Murderer. Murderer,
The waves lashed it at him, the sea-
grlls shrieked it, the whole living and
inanimate world flung the awful word
at him.
He 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-his hands
that he had opened. God! They were
bloOd-red-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.
Il say, old fellow, do wake up and
stop having the horrors! You don't
know how beastly awful you look!"
Fraser opened his eyes slowly and
stared in blank terror at the handsome
tanned face looking down at him. He
wondered vaguely whether he was
dreaming now or had just awoke from
a red nightmare. The voice went on:
Il only looked in to say ta-ta. I've
had a telegram calling me back to Ire
land Immediately. Old Chris Murdoch
has relented and consented to our be-
ing 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
waived an airy good-by. 'Ta-ta" he
said merrily.
Fraser gazed speechlessly at him, the
tears still standing thick on his white
face.
Everett: turned back. half-langhing.
Il wish you wouldn't look at me as
though 1 were a ghost"' he protested.
$50 lOngv'