Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1867-04-18
Select Gtorn.
THE RECOVERED LET.
TERSs
BY AMY RANDOLPH,

THREE days before the wedding and
Rachel Piercy was kueeling in her bou-
dOir, where blood-red banner Of lurid
sunsetAlight famed snd trembled among
the scattered flowers and jewels, and tiny
cut-glass perfume stands that ornamented
her drOasing-bureau +; kneeling-but not
in the quiet, peaceful attitude of prayer.
No; the beautiful scarlet lip, compressed
by cruel white teeth--the hands pressed
tightly across the forehead-the checks
white as the pailid marble of some fair
monumental statue--all told far differ
ent tale than that Of a maidcn's innocent
prayer.
She was very beautiful, and dark, with
the rich crimson of Jewish blood glow
ing in her veins, although that Hebrew
ancestry had long since been merged in
the past. Dark, with vevet-red Ncheeks
and glorious liquid eyes floating beneath
heavy-friDged lashes, while the luxuri-
ant bIask hair, brushed away from her
pure cream tinted forehead, fell in soft
massy curls, shot with purplsh shadows,
Rachel was as beautiful as Queen Esther
might have been but how willingly
would she have exchanged all that beau
ty for little peace
'What shall l do p shs murmured,
looking vaguely out across the sylvan
beauty of the quiet park, all flooded in
evening splendols. %, merciful heav-
ems what is there left for me to o.
To think that this blow should fall on
me, at this moment Of all others, just
when the cup of fortune and happiness
was SO close to my lips It's too hard
too hard I
She uttered low bitter groan, as her
eyes fell on crumpled, dirty half sheet
of paper that lay on the floor beside her;
evidently note.
"My darling Rachie," it read, "don't
| let your surprise and pleasure at again
hearing from me--Snd 80 unexpectedly,
too-qaite overpower you, Meet me
tO.niget, at seven, at tho weeping birch
tree, on the edge Of the Lake Woods, -
If l do not see you, punCtual to the
moment, I shall take prompt measures
to cultivate the acquaintance of the gen.
tlemsn whom you are about to make
HAPPY. Adisu, ma petite.
| Yours, devotedly, while the cash lasts,
9 MALCOLM"
There is no help for it, she moaned
to herself. 'While he retains possession
iOf those letters, I am as completely his
slave as if my golden bracelets were
linked fetters of iron. If Herbert knew
all, be would be the last one to judge
me harshly for the mad, schoolgirl inA
fatuation that has placed me so cruelty in
MAioOm Wsyne's power. Buth he cannot
know all--and the letters | wrote when
hardly more than y child bear cruel evi-
dence against me. No; there is no help
for it. I must try what last appeal
will do T ea
And Rachel Piercy shrouded her rich
dress of glimmering purple silk, shot
with golden CLEANS, in asombre black
mantle, and stole down through the over
hanging shadows Oftwilight, to the weep-
ing birch-tree, on the outermOst verge Of
the woods, to meet the hard and meroi-
less man who held her fate in his hands
He was there before her, pacing up
and down the smooth greensward, and
gIancing ever and anon shrewdly at his
watch !; q tall, stylish-looking man, with
blue eyes, fair WaVy3 hair, and aquiline
lustures, while AhSro, Woo . Oomethin6
worn and bl0se in his whole appearance
that can scarcely be described. Henod.
dsd his head, with an intensely dissagrees-
BILE smile, as Rachel swept down the mar.
row path, her liquid black eyes FULL OF
troubled light and angry roaes burning
on her cheeks. aai 5fi
'You haven't grown at all ugly, my
dear Rachie,' he said, in light, mocking
tone, as he bowed ceremonious greet.
ing. Upon my word, you do the greatr
Get credit to- Mr.. Herbert MOntpensier's
choioel'm si9 Go.au 5.0lGl "a
& did not come here to listen to this
strain Of idle compliment said Rachel,
coldly. IWhy did you send for me p
TO get money, Rachel, of course,
since yoa will insist on coming directly
to business + ai5gi 54assgg
asHow much 2 she demanded, briefly.
l'Wells-just atpresent--say two thous
sand dollars 'saI 5di di1 Il laio1r q
a shave not got tito give you,' she
answered, with desperate calmness. Il
have already given you more, far more
thanl could spare. How many humid
reds have you taken from me before
this P'd sii 5useD a5iB g6, ao'
BE drew d couple Of. faded, time.worn
letters from his pocket, and deliberately
unfolded. them. 9is stsai 700 4
.Very well-let il be just as you please,