The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1901-02-22

Week-Lue most miserable III LIS llS.
And now he was trying to forget her.
What a fool he wasl
II.
The thought of that steep drop down |
to the sea kept recurring to his mind |
again and again with fatal faselna-
ton put it 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 It of.
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 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
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 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 breBh 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 unconsciously 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.
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 furtlvely 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 minuter' he said
grufIly.
! Everett laughed easily.
Not Il" he said confidently. But, /
! say, old chap, you might just hang OIL
to my legs for a minute, viii 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 hi.
dry lips.
? Everett looked around.
"D'you mind, old many' he said.
] And mechanically the other stretched
$ out his hand and obeyed.
. Now-nowi one movement Of his lin
I gers-just the opening of his hand
r He fought the thought back. gaspin;
l for breath.
e Everett leaned still farther He hal
q glanced back.
e They're for Dolly. you know" Ia
u said. ito wear this evening"
The fingers opened as if by some sud
e denly pressed spring. There was sud
:. den cry. and then-then something
d went rolling, rolling, striking am
g bounding sickeningly down that steel
e side.
e For an instant the white face was up
e turned
e "All right, old chap-I know-acci
:; dentr' hoated up brokenly, and the
d there was a last hideous thud, and tn
Il waves clutched greedily at their unreC
is ognlzable prey and drew it under An
Is the swooping seagulls shrieked Wild
and clrcled upward.