The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-05-11

declared one. The knife was sharp. The
mind, utterly absorbed, left its manage
ment entirely to the fingers. They, un-
used to freedom, lawlessly dashed it
into the palm of the little white hand.
The blood flowed a crimson flood.
Park Lloyd sprang to her side with a
cry of mingled agony and terror. She
turned deathly pale, and reeled at the
pain. He caught her in his arms, carry
ing her to an adjacent lounge. She
sank back in the cushions sick and faint.
He knelt at her side, and bound up the
wounded hand with his handkerchief,
his own strong hand trembling as he did
it, then hastily brought her a glass OF
wine. She did not offer to take it, thus
compelling him to place it to her lips.
His hand was unsteady; she raised hers,
and laid it on his to guide it. At the
light touch the man flushed TO his very
brow but with fierce setting of the lips,
he drove the color back. She drained
the glass then with one quick, bash
full look thanked him.
He left her instantly, going over to
the window were the flowers were, and
standing, his back to the room, his arms
folded. The touch, light, frightened,
lingering, of that little hand; the look
incomprehensible, which he had never
seen before in those dark eyes, baffled,
bewildered, maddened the man. He
could endure this agony no longer
Never before had he questioned the dis
like of his wife. Now said he to him.
self: 1.-THE girl either hates or loves
me-" And with white set lips he de.
tern,ined to know his doom at once, and
if the former proved true, to leave hel
then and forever.
He turned, she had left the lounge
and sat in an easy-chair drawn in front
of window, through which the wind
blew fresh and strong. A slight blush
dyed her pale cheeks when he stood be
side her.
MAY" She could not raise her eyes
Quiet through every excess OF suspense
he wheeled an ottoman to her feet and sa
down. Since their marriage he had no
even so much as touched her hand, nov
he rested his arms upon her lap, anC
leant forward, thus bringing his face di
rectly and closely before hers. She die
not shrink, only the blush deepened
MAY, neither of us can endure this.
love you so, that to be longer in you
presence without love will drive me mad
The relations we have sustained t.
each other has rendered indifference ut
terly impossible, you must either hate o
love in return. If the former, bid m
instantly leave you; if the latter, re
nounce that fearful marrying in fun
and show me that noao you are my wifi
in earnest"
He waited, she paling and flushing
before him. Her face dropped, seeking
in vain to hide itself from those search
ing blue eyes. She had not calculate
his close proximity he moved trifi
their lips met.
A little later, the servants looked i
wonder to see SO Indifferent couple g
the master and mistress come out to dir
ner arm in arm. Her face brilliant wit
happiness, his overspread with a prou
deep joy.
That evening notorious gossip called
with her husband. They found Par
Lloyd and his wife enjoying the moor
light on their vine-clad veranda. Sh
on low rustic settee, he reclining wit
sort of lazy grace at her feet, his hea
upon her lap. Her wounded hand wa
held in his gentle caressing clasp, whil'
the other toyed with the light closel
cut curls, which she had longed but
touch.
The gossip made but brief stay, &
ing away delighted with the happine'
these two were enjoying, though the
had married for fun"