Democratic messenger., 1903-01-31

whom she recognized as one OF the
local coastguards rose and touched his
forehead.
"Bcg pardon for disturbing you so
early. miss. but I've scme very bad
news. There's been. I'm afraid an.
other case of suicide from the Sea,
borough cliff"
Who qneried Flossie, turning
pale.
a gent as I've had one or two chats
with of late. | don't know his name,
but he was stopping here he told me
One of those painter chaps"
MIR. filthy? You can't mean it. You
must be mistaken" A wild lcok came
into the girls eyes.
Don't think am. Perhaps you rec.
ognize these articles"
Going To the back of the chair upon
which he had been sitting. the man
picked up some objects from the
ground. They were a mans coat AMI
waistcoat Of rather pronounced
check. Startled recognition stood in
Flossie's face.
All. | see you know them, miss.
They're the very clothes-a little
stained with paint, you see-that that
artist fellow was wearing yesterday.
But that's not all. When found those
on the cliff, | turned them over, and
there. pinned to the inside pocket was
this envelope. I'm not much of a
scholar. but | think it's addressed to
you. miss
Dearest Flossie," it ran. Forgive
the the step / have taken-believe me.
i was the only one. We loved one an
other too passionateiy to be happy
apart for single moment and there
was life between that would always
nave divided us. / cannot explain but,
dearest. | could never have lived with.
out yon. so | have chosen what they
say is the pleasantest method OF de.
parting from existence Treasure tine
lovely time we had together. Your
brokcI-hearted. DICK"
Il should like you to keep the one
painting I did at Scarborough as a
souvenir"
Flossie read 1t through twice. and
at last the sense began to beat in
upon ncr brain. She had driven the
man who loved her into a watery
grave.
That same afternoon Richard Filby
in the flesh arrived at his lodgings
IN West kensington. He did not look
like man who had lately undergone
fatal experience. His cheeks were
bronzed and his step was brisk--in.
deed the first remark which his land.
lady made was to compliment him on
mis- improved appearance.
A knock at the door. The maid en-.
tere,l with a letter. He locked at the
envelope and started. it bore the Sea.
borough pcstmark. II was from Flos.
sic barnett He was thoroughly
reused now. Had his trick been dis.
covered?
Three minutes later Filby was pac.
ing the room. waving the letter irri.
tably in the air. His scheme had gone
for nothing: and his trouble had been
wasted. This chit of girl had been
simply playing with his affections all
the time, and here was her confes-
sion.
He seized pen and paper That night
the following communication was
dropped into the post:
MIR. Richard Filby begs to inform
Miss Flossie Barnett that he is still
alive AMI well, and has returned to
town. On second consideration. he
did not think Miss Barnett worth
drowning for. and her letter to hand
this evening confirms him in this opin.
ion. Mr. filthy hopes that Miss Bar
nett will attain happiness in her pro-
jected union and that his little picture
may find a niche on her walls"
But by return of post without line
or comment. Filby to his great indig.
nation. got his picture back disfgured
almost beyond recogIition.-New
York News.