Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1903-02-14


write there letter. which wouId
reach him soon after his arrival home
explaining as best she might her pre.
vious commitment to another. IT WAS
an easy and capital solution of the diff.
ficulty.
DTecrly she was up next morning
flossle went out and posted her let
ter A clustering gale was raging and
the wind dashed fiercely in her face. but
her mission was far too important to
ADMIT of delay. On returning to the
Inn she ran In the passage into the
arms of Bell, the barman.
"Oh, miss, l was looking for you
everywhere! There's some one in the
parlor as wants to see you most par
tic'larr'
who, Bell?"
"A sailor man. I should reckon, by
his rig-out. He seems most excited"
wondering who her visitor could be
at this early hour, Flossie turned the
handle of the parlor door. A man
whom she recognized as one Of the local
coastguards rose and touched his fore
head
BEG pardon for disturbing you so
early miss, but I've some very bad
news. There's been, I'm afraid, an
other case of suicide from the Seabor-
ough cliff"
who" queried Flossie, turning pale.
"A gent as I've had one or two chats
with of late. l don't know his name,
but he was stopping here, he told me.
One of those painter chaps"
Mr.. Filby? You can't mean it. You
must be mistaken" A wild look 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 and
waistcoat, of rather pronounced
check. Startled recognition stood In
Flossle's face.
"Ah, l 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 1 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 l think it's addressed to
you. miss"
Dearest Flossie," it ran. Forgive
me the step l have taken-believe me,
1t was the only one We loved one
another too passionately to be happy
apart for a single moment, and there
was life between that would always
have divided us. l cannot explain,
but, dearest, | could never have lived
without you, SO l have chosen what
they say is the pleasantest method Of
departing from existence. Treasure
the lovely time we had together. Your
broken-hearted DICK"
81 should like you to keep the one
painting l did at Scarborough as a
souvenir"
Flossie read it through twice, and at
last the sense began to beat in upon her
brain. She had driven the man who
loved her into a watery grave.
"a
That same afternoon Richard Filby
in the flesh arrived at his lodgings in
West Kensington. He did not look
like a man who had lately undergone
a 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
his improved appearance.
A knock at the door. The maid
entered with a letter. He looked at
the envelope and started. 1t bore the
Scarborough postmark. 1t was from
Flossie Barnett. He was thoroughly
reused now. Had his trick been dis
covered?
Three minutes later Filby was
pacing the room, waving the letter IT.
ritably in the air. His scheme had
gone for nothing; all his trouble had
been wasted. This chit of girl had
been simply playing with his affections
all the time, and here was her confess
sion.
He seized pen and paper. That night
the following communication was
dropped into the post:
"Mr. Richard Filby begs to inform
Miss Flossie Barnett that he is still
alive and 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 opinion. Mr.. Filby
hopes that Miss Barnett will attain hap
L.. Lo.I Len, nd hot