The Carlisle independent., 1906-12-13

comes to many an hour, a day or week when the dead weight of black despair crushes the last hope and the thought of earthly existence fills them with weariness unutterable. Then 1t is that certain natures walk to the Brink. and half-fascinated by it's aw ful mystery. stand staring into the silent depths, while the icy sweat gathers on their brows and their limbs shake like wind-thrummed reeds.
 So it came about that Kent stood looking from the black doorway of the warehouse into the early night.
 It was a long time since Kent had been happy, so long. in fact. that he sometimes doubted that he ever had been. Still, his experience was but the story of a man-bitterer than most mems, possibly-yet comlon- place enough to make the details un- necessary telling. Suffice to say, he had looked from sunset until dawn into the muzzle of his own gun, and now was telling himself that he had seen enough of this thing called Life, and that he would have no more of it. It was not worth it's suffering
 He turned up his collar and looked trom the doorway again. Coming down the empty street that led to the wharyes he saw a woman who leaned far forward as she forced her slender form against the buriy strength of the wind
 You are going to a boat?" he in- quIred.
 She looked at his face for the first time and answered him rapidly: Yes, the Senator. It sails at nine and l must hurry" She stepped to the pavement and Kent stood watching her fighting against the wind. A wild impulse surged within him.
 What better way to end it all than plunge from the deck? brief struggle with the waves, a dream of fields and music, and then the last great unconsciousness No one would ever know what had become of him. Gossiping tongues could say no more than that he had disappeared.
 "I am going to the Senator also" he shouted, hurrying to her side. Take my arm and hang on hard"
 She stopped short, shot him quick upward glance and then he felt her fingers close upon his sleeve. Flushed and breathing heavily they crossed the gangway and stood before the office of the purser.
 "Yes, the ship is going to sail to- night" said that official in matter of fact tone. 'The cargo has got to go. gale or no gale. But all our pas Sengers have canceled their berths and you two will have the salon to yourselves. Of course, you under stand it is going to be pretty rough outside
 She nodded and both made their way to the salon.
 From out of the great northeast there swept that night gale that whipped itself into hurricane. Huger and more huge rose the steep hills before the laboring Senator, black. solid. battering her front with herculean blows. twisting her steel frame like a giant wrestler.
 From the depths of his big chair in the salon Kent watched the girl as she sat nearly opposite him. She had tistiessly thrown aside her hat and under the lights of the cabin. the dark masses of her hair shone with the luster of polished ebony.
 Then suddenly she arose and glanc- ing neither to right or left went with in a staterocm, while the man. sinking lower in the chair, let his eyelids fall
 ho laundering over the wallowing Sen ator. burying her beneath their black weight, crushing her down into the depths, but each time she arose like some half drowned thing and shudderingly shook herself free.
 For an hour Rents eyes swept the length of the dim cabin hstlessly- then suddenly he leaned forward From her stateroom the girl came creeping and, with one hand against the wall to steady her, she slowly made her way towards where he sat. The man caught his breath and drew further into the shadow as she passed him in the half darkness. A moment later her fingers closed upon the knob of the door leading to the deck as she twisted and tugged at it vainly.
 "Oh. oh" she cried, as she turned away and covered her face with her hands. sudden lurch of the ship threw her towards him and springing to his feet, Kent caught her by the arm.
 Kent knew that one motive only could have actuated her to seek that surge-swept deck; and her motive had haen his motive of the hour hefore-