The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-03-01
Misrriidnn.
THREE PICTURES.
CHAPTER /.

CHAPTER l.
4 beauiitul September sunlight, with the pur-
plc shadows Just closing over that last faint
flush of the departing day, and one or two TIM
i'll stars hanging TREMENDOUSLY against the per-
feet sky. The eastern hills rise dimly where
the great golden-taced moon will soon appear,
and the gray road wanders away beneath the
archinr trees whose leaves are just tinged with
yellow.
\ long low house sets back from the road,
and the smooth-shaven lawn in front sweeps
down 10 its bordering fence OF brown.
Between the great, clumsy looking gate-posts
there is a slight, graceful girl, with soft, dusky
hair and shadowy, dreamy eyes. face, that
once seen, would haunt one forever. "A brave,
true face, with It's clear, pure outlines and
crim>on-curing mouth. y shawl OF VIVID
cleaning red trails from one arm over the dead
black of her dress
A sad little air with quaint, old-iashloned
words comes floating down through The scented
air in a boys clear tenor:
summer is breathing soft DER the hill,
Roses are blooming sweet in the vale;
Yet must leave thee weeping alone:
All, who'll protect thee when am gone"
It's brother Clare" she says to him smil-
misunderstanding suddenly down to her
I'm going away tomorrow to California. |
came tonight to say goodbye
Going away?' she returns, with all the elo-
qucnt light beaming from her face, and sur
prise and pain quivering in her voice, For
how long?' ---
Probably for years-possibly forever" And
the beautiful clear eyes smile heartlcssly i'll her
whitc-s,ricken face.
The truth comes to her slowly. 1t is so hard
so very hard to believe him false. And all
HE bright glad SUMMERTIME twilight walks
and rides made blissful by his prcsence-oh,
must it all be forgotten:
And still through the soft cool air thrills the
boyish tenor;
"Subcams were CHANGING DER the blue sea-
Bright were the ganccs that eyes gave me-
Something in the yellow glarlng moonlight
seems hateful to her now, and her brothers
voice arouses new SENSE of pain. But pride
comes to her aid, and with Il mighty effort she
brushes back the rising tears, and forcing Il
smile on the paid lips says, as she gives him
her hand:
4 am sorry to have you 20, but [ bid you
goodbye"
''Go0d-bye, little Barb" and Il pair of beard,
cd lips are pressed to her own before she can
resist him, and his light laugh floats back to
her almost mockingly rs he walks swiftly up
the road.
The last notes Of her brothers song come to
her as She stands there all alone in the moon
light:
Long ere the morrow shall be,
Fricndless, torsaken, far from thee"
There is one low, dry sob, and the dainty lit
tie head is bowed on the rough wood while
over her the moon throws It's pale, shadowy
light.
CHAPTER H.
Thrcc years have elapsed since the proceed
ing scene and would now take my readers to
a back chamber on the third floor Of the F.
Hotel The time is midnight. There is the
figure of Il man at the window, a man who is
evidently in deep slumbcr, for the head is
pillowed upon both arms, which rest on the
sill His breath comes heavily, his face j.
flushed, his hair disheveled, and his whole ap
pearance speaks plainly enoush-intoxicaton
In the street below there is confusion OF
shouts and hoarse cries; there is Il clangor OF
bells on the night air, and sutlocating smell
OF smoke is in the room.
Suddenly the door opens, Il slender figure r
dark wrapper hasens to the man at the win
dow and woman's voice cries
Clare, the house is burning-come hurry
Quickly.'
But 1t is not Clare, and she hcsitatcs little
then
Sir, arouse yourself instantly; the house il
IN t1amcsr
Bending over to shake his arm, a sickenin.
smell Of liquor grccts her, and the man nut
tcrs and moves in his sleep.
His face is turned towards hcr-that fair
blond face, how natural.
II is her lover.
Louis North: Oh,my God, Louis how cam
YOU herey'
For Il moment she reels lhintly, then rally
ing, >eiZcs pitcher from the stand and dashc
the contents over him lie uwakcs with a gas
and II SILVER and rising unsteudily to his fee
cyc!aims in maudlin anger:
Come, now! Tha's Observation-Disclosures
>ho'd be gcntlenstcady'
She looks at him II moment Is this the ma
She has loved so madly. Oh, what are the bi
Ter years OF waiting and weeping to the teri
bic suiferings of this one moment.
Louis. do you know me:' scadying him wit
ncr little hands.
why's lill,Barb Gla,sec,ycr, Barb Civ
,hc) kiss"
He reels towards her but She pushes lin
back and looks him full in the face.
Louis if nothing else will bring YOU
your senses let me tell you that this house
burning to the ground, and unless you cXcrci,
some willpower and follow me, there will |
nothing but pile o, ashes left of us by NOR
ing
little sobcrcd now by her earnest tones. |
~'raigh.cnS himself up, and puts her one sid
Win drunken lccr rs he crosses over to Il
~ilpr.
SO much .hc bette, my dear. We will pc
isl ia the flames together; So romantic, yt
know. You are not aware that l am som
thing of trc.worShippcr:' and lie swings d
key before her startled cyc,-,hc key has loc
cd them in for life.
"Luuis-I.oui>, YOU surely will lot keep