Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1906-09-28

and flung it toward him. Fate per
mitted him to catch it, and she drew
him to the rocki
1t was yet light enough to see, and
on that narrow shelf of rock, growing
narrower every moment, for the first
time in eleven years Thane Rich
mond and Geraldine Vale stood face
to face!
Both were pale-both were deadly
calm. He held out his right hand
and she touched it lightly with hers
Geraldine" he said, as if they
had been parted only day, I'VE shall
perish here. Let us have no pride
between us. You thought me false
and so married another MANI"
Yes"
You were deceived. l know you
will believe what I say. An English
lady. of rank did me the honor tc
prefer me; and she it was who, learn.
ing of my love for you, intercepted
our letters, wrote the cruel note OF
remuneration which -or received, and
riage. Seven weeks ago she died,
confessing all her duplicity, and that
day left China to seek you and tell
you the truth.
II am married."
Yes, 1 know it; but now it mat
ters little. Another moment, and
we shall be washed from the rocks
1t cannot be wrong nowi Surely not!
Look in my eyes Geraldine, and tell
me that in all these years your heart
yours!"
She looked in his eyes, and bowed
her head slowly, her face crimsoning
even there, with death so near her.
A sharp voice at her side brought
her back to rerself. She saw her
husband by the side of the rock. bal
ancing himself in a fraii boat. which
il seemed every dash of the waves
would break in twain.
One glance at his pale, set face
showed Geraldine that he recognized
her old love. But Richmond gave no
word of salutation. His injured arm
was bleeding fast, his strength was
ebbing; his head fell on his breast,
and but for the frenNed hand of Ger
aldine, he would have been swept
away by the tide, which now beat
over the rock.
Archibald Vane's voice was cool,
calm, and distinct.
81 saw you from the shore, Ger
aldine," he said, and came to the
rescue My boat will hold but two.
You have never loved me, but / have
lived in loving you. / will prove it! .
He reached over and lifted the
limp body into the boat. Then he
put Geraldine beside him, and gave
her the oars.
you can steer" he said You
will be saved-you and he, l will
save our little Annie if it lies in man S
power. If not, Heavens will be
done!"
He leaned over and kissed the
white hand his wife stretched out to
toward him in wild entreaty.
The boat shot away on the tide;
the words she uttered were all un-
heard by Archibald Vane. as, clasp
ing his child to his breast, he dSred
the fury of the waves,
They found him mile further
down the coast, in the early morning,
a smile on his white face, and little
Annie lying against his heart. Tley
had died together.
GeraldiI els boat reached the shore,
and both she and Thane Richmond
were saved
1t was weeks before she knew of
aught passing around her, for the
shock of Armies death had been too
much for her.
When she remembered it all, per-
haps she was nearer to loving Archi-
bald Vane than she had ever been be-
fore.
Richmond went away. and was
gone two years. He owed that much
to the memory of the man who had
saved his life in preference to his
own.
And when he came back, could the
world blame. Thane and Geraldine IL
they made each others life happy?-
New York Weekly. ~
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