Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1867-04-18

are At present such an honored guest
He will, of course, be deeply interested
in anything that appertainS to you, your
early correspondence included
Rachel uttered a low, sobbing cry.
Give me the letters, MalColm-giVs
Them to me2 Have you NJ mercy? no
Ipompassion?'
.Don's know what the words mean
calmly retorted Mr.. Wayne. 4 know
what money means, and that is the extent
Of my knowledge, as far as you are con-
cerned, Rachel, my dear. You would
not marry me; you turned up your prst
ty nose at my manifold merits, and flung
ne away, broken plaything-a useless
toy. NO,o, ny royal Queer Of Hearts,
] have it in my power to settle up vAri-
GUS little accounts
'Of course / would not marry you
when 1 learned that you we're villain
rsturned Rachel, haughtily.
Complimentary, my DEAR nodded
Wayne. mo, you wouldn't marry me,
but had previously written me some very
pretty letters, which / have no doubt Mr..
Montpensier will fully appreciate
She fell on her knees, this proud,
naughty young thing, with imploring
eyes and clasped hands.
| 'Malcom, as you hope for mercy here
and hereafter, return thOse letters to me.
On my knees | ask it Of yOuI
He shook his head, with . SneeriDg,
eEultant laugh.
Graceful, Rachel, and dramatic, inef-
f'ctive. No,-those letters you do moi
haveP She rose again, cold and pale.
Then do yoar worst'
:Exactly; shall proceed to an inter
view with Mr.. Montpensier--'
He is not at home
'Not just now, but he will be. In the
meantime I shall 60 back to my inn,-I
believe there's a short cut through the
woods, across that very picturesque little
river,--and smoke quiet segar while
marshal my forces into full line Of bat
tie Bon soir Rachie; pleasant dreams
TO you +
He raised his hat jauntily from his
lighl curls, and disappeared iutU the
woods whore the fre.Aies were glowing
through the purple dusk, and the full
moon, round and beautiful as a shield Of
quiveriug FIRE, was rising behind the tree.
tops.
1t was nearly an hour afterwards, and
Rachel Piercy was still sitting on the
curved trunk Of the gnarled, weeping
birch-Eee, when tender hand fell on
hers.
Herbert 2
'Then it is yourself, Rachel, and no
wrath? Ny dearest, what are you doing
here p
y have been walking said Rachel,
with guilty tinge in her cheeks.
Walking ! and alone2 Butthat re-
minds me, Rachel, to ward you against
crossing the bridge over the river in your
various wanderings. Yesterdays violent
storm washed away the supports, the
boards are all displaced, and for day or
two it will be quite impossible. My love,
how pale you are 7
pale, am II Nay, Herbert, it is
nothing more than the effect ofthe moon
light
Then the moonlight is q very capri
cious artist, for you are rosy enough
now laughed Montpensier. Shall we
return to The house now2 my mother will
wonder what has become Of us. Are
you not surprised to see me here tonight,
instead Of tomorrow morning p
Hs had to repeat the question twice
before Rachel seemed to comprehend the
meaning, and even then her answer was
vague aud wide Of the pUint.
She has over-tired herself, my poor
little Rachel thought Herbert Mont
pensier. 4 must not let her take such
long walks in future
If he could have known the wild tria
umphant thrObbing Of her heart, the OK,
ultant hope that was springing up within
her! ts.esi t Hsra
He was to cross that bridge, she
thought; he was to cross it, in. the dusk
and shadowl i see the end Of my long,
long trials near at hsnd!' bes
All that evening Rachel's laugh was
sweetest and most musicsl--her eye
bright and her cheeks flushed with fever
ish bloom. And when, towards midS
night, she retired to her room, Mrs.
Montpensier turned to her son and exS
claimed, admiringly: /.
'How beautiful she isl
Miss Piercy's maid was sitting, half
asleep, by the shaded lamp as her mis-
entered; she started up at the click Of
the latch. 'lhi ...' t
you need not sit up any longer, Ma
SON. said the young lady, pleasantly. i
have letters to write, and when they are
finished / will brush over my own hair
THANK you Miss, said the sleepy
hand maiden, very heartily, and Rachel
Pisrey was left alone,