The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-01-05

side hotel there, where he had been so
happy one summer.
Fate willed it that, in a fortnight,
Muriel Day came there with a train of
her new admirers. she must have
been a little shocked at the sight of
Stabrooks pale face, for he had greatly
changed. She showed a marked un-
easiness in his presence. l think that
even then she was far from indiffer-
ent regarding him.
But Macclesfeld held her with the
power Of man possessed of various
destinations. He had chosen her, he
meant to have her-and she believed
that she loved him, as he meant her TO
do. The others looked on longingly.
Would he win? SO great had become
her popularity that twenty would have
thrown up fame and fortune for her
hand.
Stabrook's physician had prescribed
horseback exercise. BY the request
of his hostess he was teaching her
little daughter Helen to ride.
The tractability and sweetness Of the
child was a solace to him, and as he
guided her pony through the fragrant
birch woods, some Of the dull pain of
his heart passed away.
One morning an addition was pro-
posed. Macclesfield and Muriel Day
proposed to accompany them, and Sta
brook quietly consented. Why should
he refuse or avoid her company? All
the world knew that she was engaged
to Macelesfeld 1t was not thought
that he should have any feeling in
the matter.
The four horses pranced lightly
along The child laughed merrily with
excitement. but Muriel Day was rather
quiet. Perhaps in all her life she had
never looked more fair and lovable.
MacclesfeId rode beside her, and his
proud eyes seemed to say so.
A mile from the hotel they came sud
denly upon a steep bank Of the river,
pink with May anemones.
"They are your favorlte flowers, are
they not. Muriel" asked Macclesfeld,
dismounting, with smile at her cry of
delight. She watched him go down the
bank and dropped her rein.
"Oh, let me come, too!' she cried.
II meant to pick them myself"
Stabrook sprang to the ground. For
one little instant he held her in his
arms as lie lifted her from the saddle.
Then she was away down the green
bank. But that instant was enough to
arouse once more, at its sharpest, all
the mad regret.
He stood watching her as she cuIled
the blossoms, herself a brighter flower
than they Suddenly her little foot
tangled in the long habit, she lost her
balance, dropped her flowers, flung up
her hands, and plunged headlong into
the deep, placid stream.
Great heavensw cried Macclesfeld;
"and I cannot swimr'
He turned to Stabrook and clutched
his arm.
"Save herr'
Stabrook stood like a statue watch
ing the spot where the bright head
had disappeared.
"Save her for you?" he said, slowly.
But he pulled off his coat, hurried
down the bank, and plunged into the
water.
He disappeared, came up with her,
white and senseless, on his shoulder,
With a great effort he managed to get
her within Macclesfelds reach. AL
most with a sob the strong man
clutched her to his breast
Laying her upon the bank, he
stretched to Stabrook a helping hand
But Stabrook did not take it. Whether
the cold strong tide was too much for
his strength, or whether he voluntarily
embraced death, l do not know; but,
to the horror of his rival, he sank for
ever below the CLASSY tide.
Love was but another name for death
to him, Whose the fault was l cannot
say, but his escape from life's pangs
was surely his gain.--New York Week
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