The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-08-25

seward, saw MS Well-knoWn iorih
coming swiftly up the steps. She was In
clinedf to think at first that it was a vision,
for the stage had discontinued its daily trips
and the railroad station was six miles away.
But. second glance showed her horse fas-
tened before the hotel, whose rider had evi-
IDENTIFY Just alighted for he was still heated
and painting. An urgent Grand it must have
been that had brought the colonel at such
speed, thought Miss Lemont, with sudden
thrill she could hardly tell whether of JOY or
dread. But she had little time for thought,
for in another moment Colonel Gilbert was
ather side. 81 ''-' % :.
she made an effort to give him cool and
careless greeting, but something in his eager,
glowing face checked the words on her lips
and made her flush and tremble. 71ad asda9
"You here, Colonel Gilbert?" she faltered
at last. -ll E-ala 7aao1 o. Of zsrsf 80
eyes, I am here-here to tell you that I
am free from all that could ever keep me
from you Anne, you will not refuse to tell
me with your lips what Tread in your eyes
that night n -,,..a -.-.......-...- .... -
If he could only have been a more hum
BILE wooer! If he had not "taken it for grant
cd" in that lordly wayl s''''az 73aai q"
Miss Lemont rose to her feet, her eyes meet
ing his steadily, little scornful look on her
face. 12oE al g.at 20! a0t5ilf 19f 90 ass-
II don't think understand you. If you
are trying to make love to me l must tell you
that l have promised to marry Mr.. Earls-
ton" ......s-......, ..--,,.. .
A crimson, flush rose to Colonel Gilbert's
forehead. He looked startled, bewildered
g., =, -, i4~-Tbap.
at have been fool" he said, slowly.
lThey told me you were a eoquette and
heartless, and had good reason to believe
1t before saw you. But your arts gbewil-
dered and made me forget. Well,"-aud
the colonel turned towards the door,-"you
have the satisfaction-I suppose it is a salts
faction to you-of having added another
victim to your list. but not of having broken
another heart. Mine is.made of sterncr stuff
than poor Charley Armstrong;. / shall
never kill myself for any woman" And the
colonel was gone, oblivious in his wrath of
all forms of politeness, and waiting for no
response to his rough words. s .s-.-t
If be mad waited he would have got none
from Anne Lemont. She stood there, with
her face cold, and white and naughty, and
heard him through. but when the door had
closed behind him shesank into her chair,
faint and trembling, and hid her lace IN
her hands. Only o few moments she sat
thus, when noise outside OF voices ana
hurrylnS footsteps aroused her. Two men
were bringing into the mouse q heipiess,
PROSTATE form. Inc CROWD that collected
around 1t prevented her from seeing the
lace, put quick tnrlii OF lear SHOOK her
heart. Ihey drought II IN anu lald IL on
the sofa beside her. One glance at the still
face, with its closed eyes and pallid lips,
and Miss .Lemont sank down on her knees
beside it with low, shuddering cry.
As they laid him down little note book
dropped from the pocket OF his coat, and
out OF it, down to Miss Lemont's feet, tiut-
tered, one after another, three or four dry,
withered autumn leaves, now dyed crimson
with real blood. , :.
Gne of the men who had brought him in
was telling her how 1t happened.
"He seemed to be in an awful hurry, was
going like mad, and out at the turn of the
road his horse got frightened at something,
and SHE'D and threw him over his head
against rock. l don't think he's dead, but
the sharp edge of the rock must have struck
him in the chest there"
Miss Lemont motioned the man silently
away Her tears were raining down upon
the still, cold face, and tender pleading
words were falling upon the deaf ears Miss
'Lemont's pride had taken to itself wings
| and flown away forever. Suddenly the
Colonel's eyes Enclosed, family and feebly.
Il am mad, wicked" whispered Miss Lee
mont, with sobs between the words. "What
| you said was true, / did, do love you! And
it is I that have killed you;" and she hid her
head on his breast, her form shaken with
sobs
Such q CLEAN Of triumph as lighted up
| the Colonies eyes, but it softened into ten
derness as he saw her dropping head. He
saised his hand and lifted the PROSTATE head
tenderly, looking into her eyes. The effort
was too much for his strength. His eyes
closed again, and deathly pallor settled
upon his face. .r.. ... ..--,.- ..- -
Miss Lemont sprang up and called fol
help. Turning, she met MIR. Earlston's gaze
liked steadily upon her. How much OF the
scene he had witnessed, she could guess by
the scorn and anger OF his face. 49,.
But she stood by Col. Gllberts side until
he had revived a ittlesand they had car
ned HIM up stairs, before she spoke to Mr..
Eariston. Then she began a faltering eH
PLANTATION, trying to tell him all. But he
stopped her aDrupuy
you need not trouble yourself to explain
L have seen enough to know the truth"
Miss Lemont, silent, like chidden child
yet meeting his angry gaze with clear, reso-
| pldCtu Ill Ills a..