he county, and Clara was one of those feeble brained persons, who
have minds suited to all purposes, save use and knowledge of that kind
which may be put on and off as a movable garment. Such creatures,
tossed about helplessly on the billows of circumstance, keep one
finger on the public pulse, and know you, or know you not, according
to its beat. For all this, Mell cared nothing in that supreme moment.
One swift glance at Clara, and after that every faculty of her mind
and body was centered on Jerome. He was evidently surprised at being
nearly run over by this blustering and blowsy young lady, but beyond
that--nothing. He looked her full in the face, the unknowing look of a
total stranger. The result of this look was to Mell calamitous. A
waving blankness came before her sight, her knees trembled, her
strength seemed poured out like water, and staggering to a tree, she
caught hold of it for support.

"Cut--cut, dead!"

This, after all that had passed between them, was simply brutal. But
the despised and slighted country girl was only momentarily stunned,
not crushed. Out of the throes of her wounded pride and injured
affection, there burst forth the devouring flames of a fiery and
passionate nature, incapable of any luke-warmness in emotion. Her eyes
dilated, her fingers twitched, her face set like a flint, her lip
curled in scorn, and she shook her clenched fist at Jerome's
retreating figure.

"Contemptible coward! Miserable trickster! What have I ever done, that
you should refuse to speak to me in the presence of Clara Rutland?"

Her bosom heaved; she sobbed aloud, and shook her fist again.

"I'll make you sorry for this! I'll get even with you, yet!" Words,
whose fierce earnestness embodied a prophesy, and were followed by a
prayer:

"Oh, God, only give me the power to make him feel it, and I ask no
more! I care not what then befalls me!"

This paroxysm of passion swept over her as a besom of destruction,
leaving her quenched as tow, white, unnerved, quite pitiful and hushed.
She sank to the ground and into a state of semi-unconsciousness.

Some one coming near, some one lifting her into a sitting posture,
some one pouring cold water upon her head, and holding something to
her nose aroused her.

"That's right," said the young fisherman, "open your eyes--open them
wide! It's nobody but me. I wouldn't tell another soul, for I know you
wouldn't want the mischief of a fuss made over it. But how did you
come