The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1872-08-22

81 never gave EierY Leland an
ring,r she cried.
''Sileuee viperi I have seen tn
ring fresh from his POSSESSION, S
without any more excuses go to th
arms OF him who makes his boast
about town Of already having you
heart"
He did not see her fall; he Ia
turned again to the street, TO tn
shining lights and Illuminated door
ways, and only the siekly dawnin
light struggling over her pTOstrat
form restored her to consciousness.
/ Charles White never went near hi
home that day, though another man
footsteps were on his threshold, an
by nightfall the sOrely tried Miriam
had determined on her own course o
action, one result of which was tina
quite late in the evening poor Eler.
received the following note.
EleTy Leland AT last you hav
succeeded in your wicked design o
depriving me of the love of nobl
husband, and driving me, a wretehe,
outcast into the pitiless world
Does this satisfy you, most cruel o
all men, or would you see me dead
disgraced 1 will never be-befOre tn
measure of your malignity is full ?
''TO-night I bid farewell to ny
home and husband, beloved as he hai
become to me, and under the pTOtec.
tiOn of a steadfast friend, go forth 4
meet my bitter fate, more utterly
wretched than the most lOatLsom'
creature in this town.
MAY God forgive you, rs try tC
! do, for the nobility that once thought
was yours; and closing, 1 ask of you
my last reqnest-tO clear me to my
husband. MIRIAM WHITE"
Elery was bewildered, and read the
letter over several times, before it Oc.
Cured to him that Miriam had fallen
victim to some foul plot. With
this conviction, he saw that he was
losing his best weapon-time-and
Immediately called to see his brother.
But George was not at home, and he
went out alone to hunt up Charles
White.
The night was somewhat advanced,
when at length he stood fact to face
with Miriam's husband, who met
him Indignantly.
"DO not meet me thus" said Elery,
and the pure young Saxon face held a
wonGrOus power in its white cOncen-
tration. "Your wife is in danger,
and / have reason to suppose that she
has become the victim of some hOrrid
plot. Read this letter."
Charles read it, and his hand began
to tremble as he asked. ado you de-
ny having wrOnged me in my Wife's
affections ?'
"On my manhOOd's honor, / do. /
have never seen or spoken to her
since her marriage"
"Then how do you account for being
i'm possessing of her wedding ring ?"
al in possession of Miriam's we'd
ding ring ~
Elery's eyes lighted up with a
strange. discerning light,and he forth
with gave his companion a simple
account of his acquaintance with Mi
riam, his love for her, and passionate
flinging away of her ring, only with
holding her confession of love for him
self.
Charles was.nOw thoroughly alarm
ed for his wife's safety, and although
he could not bring himself to look
very kindly upon his handsome rival,
the two men shook hanks and prom
ised to see the sad affair to the end,
little dreaming what tragedy it was
to be.
tTn case of violence we will take an
officer with u.s." said Charles.
''By all means, if you think it nee
essary," the other returned.
Again a strip of country road, a
meadow beyond, and, cleaning ghost
ly pale beneath cloud-veiled moon,
some distant church spires, and you
have the first picture over again, but
ah like the lives of those who stood
there, how sadly changed
Three figures stood by the fence this
time-the figures of men. One of
them whispers as carriage wheels
break. the stiffness of the night.
"Hist! now. Get behind those trees
and don't stir till give the word"
The carriage approaches, and wo-
mans voice is heard to cry eXeitedly:
''fswiH not go another step! Stop
this instant, / command you"
There is barely time for some smOth-
cred reply when a female figure leaps
wildly from the vehiele-the horses
are ierked to standstill, and a man
follows, catching her in a viciuOs grasp
as she essays to flee.
She struggles with him, and he says
between his parting breath:
ayes, keep on, my pretty tiger l
came prepared for this. knew you
would never submit to me tamely
when once / had thrown off the mask.
I haven't EieTy's wOmanly face, but L
have what is better-cunning. Look
around and see if you can recall one
night when that puppy, in his boys
fury, threw away your wedding ring.
You little dreamed that keen eyes
were watching you then, and have
watched you ever since, or who it was
that first poisoned the mind of your
Jealous ass of q husband. You little
dreamed that every act of preference
YOU bestowed on my hated brother
was registered by me with a vow OF
vengeance. 1t tore your heart with
anguish to know Elery's unhappy
love, though you could pass mine by
with your bitterest indifference but
nv day has come at last, and home
and happiness you'll never know
again ~
He seized her in his slight, sinewy
arms, and tried to force her back TO
the carriage, but her cries rang out
wildly on the night arir:
"Help help! Oh, my husband ! Oh!
poor, wronged Elery ~
u ii uunHnFs u -
breath, and like a flash of light the
three men burst from their hiding
place. But the abductOr was too
quick for them. He released his hold
of Miriam and salutcd her deliverers
with six rapid shots, and then turned
to flee. "NOtsO fast, my jewel! !" cried
the officer, pinioning his arms.
'YOur're too big prize for our town
to lose, you are :"
The pale moon, breaking through
her impending clouds, shows the
wretched man that he has mOrtally
wounded his own brother; Elery IS
living in Charley Whites arms, with a
red plash on bosom and throat. Such
a little pIash yet it is the ebbing away
of noble and talented life.
Miriam is kneeling beside HIM. and
amid her choking sobs beseecl Is his
forgiveness
"Forgive ~ he repeats, speaking
family and in a far away voice. You
know will. 1 told you | loved you
we'll enough to misjudge me-and
we'll meet, all three-where mIsJudg-
ment never comes. Don't grieve too
deeply for me, for you know 1 have
always believed that it is better to
have Ioved-and lOst-than never to
have loved"
Once before on this very road, the pit
iIess setting sun cleaned tlauntingly
into young face paled with anguish,
but now the more pitiful moon wells
herself from the dead face Of Elery
Leland.
California PTOdGetITeness.
The San Francisco Commercial
Herald, July 10, has the following,
showing the great prOductiveness and
material prosperity of that State the