The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-07-11

Listen! in my pocket you will find two
letters. Take them-there! You will know
the handwriting. But promise you will not
read them until you are in place Of safety.
Promise me!'
Jack did not speak, but held the letters be-
tween his fingers as if they had been living
Goals.
Promise me-" said Hamilton, family.
"WhyP' asked Oakhurst, dropping his
friends hand coldly.
Because" said the dying man with Bit
ter smile, 'because-when you have read
them-you-will-go back-to capture-and
deathp'
They were his last words. He pressed
Jacks hand family. Then his grasp relaxed,
and he tell back a corpse.
1t was nearly ten O'Clock at night, and Mrs.
Decker reclined languidIy upon the sofa with
a novel in her hand. while her husband dis
cussed the politics of the country in the bar
room of the hotel. 1t was warm night,
and the French window looking out upon
little balcony was partly open. Suddenly she
heard foot upon the balcony, and she raised
her eyes from the book with a slight start.
he next moment the window was hurriedly
thrust wide and man entered.
Mrs. Decker rose TO her feet with a little
cry of alarm.
'For heavens sake, Jack, are you mad !?
He has only gene for a little while-he may
return ut any moment. Come an hour later
-to-monow-any time when can get rid of
him-but go, now, dear, at once"
Mr.. Oakhurst walked toward the door, bolt
ed it, and then faced her without a word.
His face was haggard, his coat-sleeve hung
loosely over an arm that was bandaged and
bloody.
Nevertheless her voice did rot falter as
she turned again toward him. ''What has
happened, Jack. Why are you here?'
He opened his coat, and threw two letters
in her lap.
TO return your lovers letters-to kill you
and then myselt,' he said in voice so low
as to be almost inaudible.
Among the many virtues of this admirable
woman was invlncible courage. She did not
faint, she did not cry out. She sat quietly
down again, folded her hands in her lap, and
said calmly:
"And why should you not?'
Had she recoied, had she shown any fear
or contrition, had she essayed an explana-
ton or apology, Mr.. Oakhurst would have
locked upon it as an evideHce of guilt. But
there is no quality that courage recognizes so
quickly as courage; there is no condition
that desperation bows before but desperation
and Mr.. Oakhursts power of analysis was
not so keen as to prevent him from con-
founding her courage with moral quality.
Even in his fury he could not help admiring
this dauntless invalid.
"Why should you not" she repeated with
smile. "You gave me life, health, and
happiness, Jack. You gave me your love.
Why should you net take what you have
given. Go on. | am ready"
She held out her hands with that same in
finite grace of yielding with which she had
taken his own on the first day Of their meet
a. hot al loo I, hoo
looked at her for one wild moment, dropped
upon his knees beside her and raised the
folds of her dress to his fcversh lips. But
she was too clever not to see her victory
she was too much of a woman, with all her
cleverness, to refrain from pressing that vic.
tory home. At the same moment, as with
the impulse of an outraged and wounded
woman, she rose and, with an imperious
gesture, pointed to the window. Mr.. Oak
hurst rose in his turn, cast one glance upon
her, and without another word passed out of
her presence forever.
When he had gone, she closed the window
and bolted it, and going to the chimney
pierre placed the letters, one by one, in the
flame of the candle until they We're con-
sumed. | would not have the reader think
thai during this painful operation she was
unmoved. Her hand trembled and-not be-
ing brute-for some minutes, (perhaps
longer,) she felt very badly, and the corners
OF her sensitive mouth were depressed.
When her husband arrived it was with gem
uine joy that she ran to him and nestled
against his broad breast with feeling of Sc
curity that thrilled the honest fellow to the
core.
''But I've heard dreadful news tonight,
Elsie," said Mr.. Decker, after few endear-
ments were exchanged.
Don't tell me anything dreadful, dear,
I'm not well tonight" she pleaded sweetly.
but it's about Mr.. Oakhurst and Hamil.
ton.
'Pleasew Mr.. Decker could not resist
the petitlonary grace of those white hands
and that sensitive mouth, and took her to
his arms. Suddenly he said, whats that ?''
He was pointing to the bosom of her white
dress. Where Mr.. Oakhurst had touched
her there was spot Of blood
Itiwas nothing; she had slightly cut her
hand in closing the window; it shut so hard
1t Mr.. Decker had remembered to close and
bolt the shutter before he went out, he mss hit
have saved her this There was such gen
uine irritability and force in this remark, that
Mr.. Decker was quite overcome by remorse.
But Mrs. Decker forgave him with that gra-
ciousness which l have before pointed out in
these pages, and with the halo of that for,
| giyeness and marital confidence still linger-
ing above the pair, with the readers permits
| sion we will leave them and return to Mr..
| Oakhurst.
But not for two weeks. AT the end of that
| time he walked into his rooms in Sacrament
| to, and in his old manner took his seat at the
| faro table.
|. Flows your arm, Jack ?" asked an incau-
tious player.
There was a smile followed the question,
which, however, ceased as Jack looked up
quietly at the speaker.
sit bothers my dealing little, but can
shoot just as well with my et.''
The game was continued in that decorous
silence which usually distinguished the table
at which Mr.. John Oakhurst presided,