Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1868-09-25

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A little crystal vase, half full of water
stood beside the lamp; he bent softly ovel
lit; from glass tube, so small as to b,
scarcely visible, he withdrew a hair-lik'
stopper; something small and bright. lik,
an atom of spray, glanced into the wate
below. There was no perfume, no colo
apparently the contents Of the glass o
water were unadulterated. Clifford walk
ed deliberately to the fire, raked hollow
among the red Goals, and dropped the
phial in. As he covered it again with
embers. transparent light flashed into
"Now if he would but wake! p he mur.
INJURED, taking his place where the light tha
shone full on the sleeper's face should be
unable to illume his own dark features.
Five minutes passed away. Slowly
the hands moved on the face of the gilded
clock; slowly the moonlight shadows crep'
athwart the foor-and still Clifford wait
ed!" ~ si ..-aee II ~ 4
At length the spell seemed broken
Vane Clifford moved restlessly. and awoke
with sudden start In an instant Arthur
was by his side, and had caressingly taken
his hand; cold sweat broke out on the
sick mans brow; he drew back his hand
with a shudder Of aversion. The nex'
moment. however, he replaced it, with a
faint smile.
us it you Arthur Pardon mel am
very weak and capricious. Are you not
tired of watching me? I shall not soon
forget your kindness %
cit is pleasure, said Arthur, COM
posedly. "But your draught, Vane-will
you take it now ?''
Eyes"
He sank back YEARLY on the pillow,
still holding Arthur's hand. The younger
ES2th EsESthsg sd8 t84k ths aEFAta
sort of lethargy seemed already descend
ing on the heavy eyelids of Vane Clifford.
He paused a moment; was not the mes
senger of Fate about to accomplish the
deed he had taken into his own base
hand? What mattered it? He could
not afford to trust to Fate. mo,o, and, with
a sudden motion, he placed the cup to
Vane's lips"
Drink, vane. and then you may
sleep!"
The docile patient drank the liquid to
the very last drop, and then, smiling a
grateful smile, closed his weary eyes.
Slowly the limbs stifened and grew
chill, slowly dead whiteness took the
place of the burning crimson on the cheek.
and the fire leaped upin dying brightness,
and the steady stream of perfumed light
glowed on and the black plumes above
dropped sadly over. the lpallid, beautiful
face of the heir to broad estates and
wealth!
; The dark watcher placed his finger soft
ly on the slender wrist below, there was
neither stir nor pulse! -
t.It is done!" he murmured. with scarce
suppressed emotion. "He no longer
stands between me and the sun Of my am
bition, Il may steer on to fame and for,
tune now he is dead p and he crept noise.
lessly from the room with face duly con.
formed to the widest expression of woe
and terror, to announce the dreadful It'd
ings throughout the bereaved household
Rose Melton sat in her little dressing
room, listening with sick sense Of sus'
-pense for every sound. She could mo-
sleep, although it was long past midnigh
and at the fall of Cliford's footsteps or
the tesselated pavement OF the nall, sht
sprang to the door. ...-
Arthur, is it you ? Then do not wake
your mother; she has just fallen asleep
How is. be now 2" ~. s3z .s.
Cliford's head dropped upon his breast
'Rose-he is dead !" -
"Dead!' The girls voice rose up
wild and high, like a shrek. ht'Dead !
and you have let him die. .s.,..a
Rose ]" remonstrated Arthur, "do
hold the keys Of life and death in m.
hands? Dearest Rose. be more reasona
blew a1ssfa
He would fain have taken her hand
but she shrunk away from him with wild
fixed eyes.
He is dead and what have I left t
live for now p
Arthur sprang forward, just in time t
catch her, as she fell fainting to the floor
| It was late the next evening, when tw