The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1856-02-07
Her departure recalled Cbristine !,

/
could hardly support herself. But Phil
ip might come that way and discover her
SO, controlling herself, by strong effort
she managed to gain her home. and enter
lit without being observed.
She flung herself upon her bed, and
gave herself up to her agony.
What a change had the last few hour.
made in her fate. As she contrasted the
bright visions that had filled her with hap
plness with epresent, she groaned aloud
A few hours before, and the thought
of his death would have seemed to hei
the most terrible blow that could have
fallen upon her, and now how much rath-
er she would have stood by his open grave
and would have heard the heavy sounds
of the clods falling on his coffin, than to
see bim as she had. with the flush OF youth
ard heahh on his cheek, spurning from
him his suffering victim.
Could it be. that he whom she had i'm
agined SO noble. true and generous. was
SO treacherous, false and vile? Was il
not a dream? Alasiit was too true.
Her eyes burned painfully; the light
seemed to scorch them; her temples throb.
bed, she could not weep: she only laid
still on her couch, with an aching heart
a dull heavy pain that she could not es-
cape. II seemed to her that her senses
were unusually acute; every light step
through the hall seemed to jar her aching
head. and she could hardly bear the flut-
ter OF the white curtain which the breeze
that blew n at the open window caused.
just then she heard ring at the door
bell; a step--Philip's step! his voice. and
her aunt's in reply, and then his clear
ringing laugh.
How discordantly that sound fell on her
ear. lie could laugh, and she--could she
ever smile again?
She new that Philip had come to see
why she had not met him at the lake, and
she heard the step of the serya Mt who was
coming to her room.
She rose, and with trembling fingers
penciled these words on card
"Philip, | was at the lake, and saw
and heard all. Farewell"
She gave this to the girl. who gazed al
her pale race c0rupassronatefy, and shut
the door gently. plying her evident suf.
fering.
"MissChristine is SICK" said the SER
want. entering the parlor, and giving Phil
ip the card.
lie glanced at it, and turned deatbly
pale.
Mrs. rockingham noticed his sudden
change of color, and with light laugh
began to assure him that there was no
occasion for alarm; that it was, probably,
only one of her niece's usual severe at
tacks of headache.
sBut l will go to her." she concluded,
''and bring you an exact account of her
health, and tell her what model lover
she has, who grows pale at the thoughts
of her illness.
go, Mrs. rockingham" exclaimed
Philip, eagerly, tank beg her to come
down, ifbut for moment. Tell her
must see her.
II will tell her." replied Julia, smi-
lingly, as she left the room, and Philip
paced up and down the apartment in a
fever Of suspense.
Mrs. rockingham meanwhile entered
her niece's apartment.
.'You are f.verish, my DEAR" she said
putting her soft hand on Christine's burn
ing forehead; "but you should see Philip
-he is half crazy about your and she
delivered his message.
"Oh, Aunt Julia!" exclaimed Chris
tine. as she ceased speaking, 'tell him |
cannot-I cannotp' and with quick sob
she fell back on her pillow. insensibIe.
Mrs. Frothinghsm rang for servant,
AM applied cold water profusely TO the
sufferer, and ere long she recovered her
consciousness When all was done that
could insure her comfort, Mrs. Frothing-
ham returned TO the parlor. aq
.'She would not comei was Phi lips
exclamation as be saw her enter alone.
s''She is very ILL.," was the reply. 'It
is sudden attack for she was quite well
this morning; but she viii qe better soon.
| shall sebe 70 Dr. Hubbard immediate
~ Excuse NE now; I must return to
her, a7f
II have killed heri" muttered Philip,
bitterly, rising as Mrs. rockingham left
the room, and walking out of the house,
With bis bet drawn moodiIy over his
eyes, he s.rode ON towards the cottage ol
Grace Minor
Il was growing dark, and he keeded
no one he met. suddenly. he felt light
touch on his arm, and joyful voice ex-
claimed.
"oh, Philip. ] knew you would come
| have been watching for you, and came
out to meet YOU"