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

7S7E stood on the brink of the preci-
IE pice and locked over. Three hun
. < dred feet below him the sea broke
on the somber rocks.
The mans muscles tensioned and he
drew a deep breath. What an easy
way to end It ALL Just one little step
those rocks below were 10 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. have to bear the
agony of hearing that she was married
to Everett.
Married to Everett-marr,e to Ever
EFT! The words changed in his ears
He groaned aloud and bent 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
relief to find himself still standing safe
and sound on firm earth.
He turned away with a 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 imag-
inings.
He picked up a magazine, but his
thoughts few off at 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 dem
on of unrest within him. and a crowded
ballroom was the last place for impas-
stoned avowals.
He thought how cool and beautiful
she would look in her white muslin,
with her fluffy golden hair framing her
sweet little flower-lke face. Perhaps
he would go, after all. Then a second
figure rose up to spoil the picture
handsome, happy-go-lucky Everett
with a merry word for everyone
dancing untiring attendance on the fas
/ cinating hostess and never leaving hel
side for a moment.
How dared he take possession of hel
in that way! And how could she pu
up with 1t, unless
His pipe-mankind's universal baby
bottle-for once failed utterly in 1t!
mission of soothing. He tossed it an
grily across the table and buried hi
face In his hands, lost in a whirl of mis-
cradle conjectures.
His thoughts flew back to that dance
one week ago-One week so crowded
with hopes and fears that 1t seemed
lifetime.
He remembered those two dances
the music, the scent Of flowers in tn
conservatory, and. more distinctly thai
all. the laughing face of Dolly.
Then those few overheard word
rushed through his brain. He clinche
his fists and his face flushed at the Tee
objection. He had drifted from the bal
room to the conservatory. Would sh
, consent? That was the question tina
throbbed in his brain. Should he sa
the words that would decide his futur
/. life and hers? He had pulled at c
) garette, and stared at the thin wisp
of blue smoke. Would his hopes fad
into nothlngness as that fragrar
) smoke faded and vanished into air
And then he heard people talking. Il
recognized the vOlee Of Everett, an
then Dolly's. They were seated on tn
opposite side of the conservatory, an
had not seen him as he sat almost col
cealed behind a tangle of palm leave
dolly" Everett was saying, "yo
must say Yes My whole life depend
upon it. We have heen chums so Ion
, Say you will and make me the happie
man in England not to speak of SEQ
land. Ireland and Wales. Say 'Yesv
know what you want to say-that v
: ought to be getting back in. Al
d there are all those loathsome peop
: who want dances. Confound 'em. "
E will? l knew you would"
Fraser had sat there, almost unab
{ TO move. He did not know how Ion
{ The music from the ballroom float
d out into the conservatory, minglii
with the laughter and chatter Of Il
= guests. All hope, all interest in Ii
was gone-snatched from him by tho
: few overheard words. People we
asking for him. What did it matte
nothing mattered now. A voice arous
J him. lie looked up, and saw Evere
; before him-Everett, who was
y friend; who was now his rival
70 eenmyl