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

huu noW, WneFe Is IL nly dose |!
A little crystal vase, half full of water
stood beside the lamp; he bent softly owe
lit; from a glass tube, so small as to b.
scarcely visible, he withdrew hair-lik,
stopper; something small and bright, lik'
an atom of spray, glanced into the waite
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 a hollow
among the red Goals, and dropped thu
|phial in. As he covered it again with
embers. transparent light flashed into
his face. s.-
"Now if he would but wake p he muir.
INJURED, taking his place where the light tina
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 crept
athwart the foor-and still Clifford wait
|edw
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 shudder of aversion. The next
moment, however, he replaced it, with a
faint smile.
us it you Arthur 2 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
RE85hsT sda S9k The asFza u r4
sort of lethargy seemed already descend
ing on the heavy eyelids of Vane Clifford.
He paused 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. aso,0, and, with
q 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
grateful smile, closed his weary eyes.
Slowly the limbs stifened and grew
chill, slowly a dead whiteness took the
place of the burning crimson on the cheek,
and the fire leaped up in dying brightness,
and the steady stream of perfumed light
glowed on and the black plumes above
dropped sadly over the pallid, beautiful
face of the heir to broad estates and
boundless wealth
The dark watcher placed his finger soft
|y on the slender wrist below, there was
neither stir nor pulse!
cit is done!" he murmured, with scarce
emotion. ''He no longer
stands between me and the sun OF my am
bition. 1 may steer on to fame and for
tune now he is dead !" 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 not
sleep, although it was long past midnight
and at the fall of Cliford's footsteps on
the tesselated pavement Of the hall, she
't- t1E...t ~ - '--''
sprang to the door.
arthur, is it you? Then do not wake
your mother; she has just fallen asleep.
How is he now p -. -.
2 Cliford's head dropped upon his breast.
''Rose-he is dead !"
dead % The girls voice rose up.
wild and high, like shrek. dead ~
and you have let him die. l. -
Rose! r. demonstrated Arthur, lido I
hold the keys of life and death in my
hands? Dearest Rose, be more reasona-
ble!'' nH
He would fain have taken her hand,
but she shrunk away from him with wild,
fixed eyes.
s'He is dead !; and what have I left to
live for now 2"
Arthur sprang forward, just in time to
catch her, as she fell fainting to the floor.
1t was late the next evening, when two