Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-05-14

| you out promise me nrst TO keep away
from Mr.. Dent; give me your word not to
seek him-to avoid him If he seeks you.
Do you promise? 1t is we'll"
lie would have taken her hand. but she
waved him away. In another moment he
heard the swift rustic of her dress in the
hall, the sound of her feet upon the stair,
the sharp closing of her bedroom door and
all was quiet.
And even thus quietly the day wore
away, and the night rose slowly from the
valley and overshadowed the mountains
with purple wings that famed the still air
into breeze, until the moon followed it
and lulled everything to rest as with the
laying on of white and benedictory hands
1t was a lovely night, but Henry Rance.
waiting impatiently beneath sycamore
at the foot of the garden, saw no beauty
10 earth or air or sky. A thousand sus-
pcions common TO jealous nature,
vague superstition of the spot, filed his
mind with dstrust and doubt. IF this
should be trick to keep my hands off that
insolent pup" he muttercd. but even as
the thought passed his tongue, q white fig
ure slid from the shrubbery near the
house. glided along the ltne OF picket fence,
and then stopped, midway, motionless in
the moonlight.
! 1t was she. But he scarcely recogniz-
ed her In the white drapery that covered
her head. and shoulders, and breast He
| ari,. bar -I,I
! LET us withdraw from the moonlight.
Everybody can see us here"
ave have nothing to say that cannot be
! said IN the moonlight, Henry Rance" she
replied, coldly receding from his profcred
hand. She trembled for a moment, as il
with a chill, and then suddenly turned up
on him. Hold up your head and let Inc
look at you. I've known only what men
| are let me see what traitor looks like"
! lie rccoied more from her wild face
than her words He saw for the first time
that her hollow cheeks and hollow eyes,
were blazing with fever. He was no cow
ard but he would have fled
You are III, Jenny" lie said; you had
Stop" she cried, hoarscly; move
from this spot and I'll call for help. At
tempt to leave me now and I'll proclaim
you the assassin that you sre!"
1T was fair fight" said he, doggedly.
"Wa It a fair fight 10 creep behind an
unarmed and unsuspecting man; Was 1t
a fair fight TO try TO throw suspicion on
some one else: Was 1t n fair fight 10 de-
ceivc me? Liar and coward that you are"
lie made a stealthy step toward her with
evil eyes, and wickeder hard that crept
within his breast. She saw the motion,
h"' Il only st'Ing her to newer fury.
Strike :" she said, with blazing ewes,
/ throwing her hands open before him.
'Strike, Are you afraid Of the woman
who dares you?-or do you keep your
knife for the backs OF unsuspectng men?
Strike, | tell you? No? Look, them"
With a sudden movement she tore from
her head and shoulders the thick lace
shawl that had concealed her figure and
stood before him. Look" she cried, pas
siona,ely, pointing to the bosom and ,houl-
dcrs OF her white dress. darkly streaked
with faded stains and ominous discolora-
tion. Look. This IS the dress | wore
that morning when | found him lying here
-hers-blecding from your cowardly knife.
Look Do you see? This is his blood-my
darling boys blood .-one drop of which.
dead and faded as il Is, is more precious to
me than the whole living pulse Of any oth-
er man. Look. | come 10 you tonight
christened with his blood and dare you to
striAe-dare you to strike him again
through me and mingle my blood with his
Strike. implore you, Strike. ify you have
any pity on me-for Gods sake. Strike. if
you are a man. Here lay his head on my
shoulder; here | held him to my breast,
where never-so help me God another
man-Ah. =" F."
She reeled against the fence, and some
thing that had flashed in RANGES hand
dropped at her feet; for another flash and
report rolled him over in the dust. and
across his writhing body two men strode
and caught her ere she felli
"She has only fainted," said Mr. McClos-
Ky. jimmy dear, my girl speak to me.''
What is this on her dress:' said Ridge
way, kneeling beside her, and lifting his
set and cOloress face. At the sound OF
his voice the color came family back to
her cheek; she opened her eyes and smil-
ed.
Its only your blood, dear boy" she
said ..but look little deeper and you'll
find my own"
She put up her two yearning hands and
drew his face and lips down TO her own.
When Ridgeway raised his head again her
eyes were closed. but her mouth still smil-
ed as with the memory Of kiss.
They bore her to the house still breath
ing but unconscious. That night the road
was filled with Gathering horsemen, and
the summoned skill of the country side for
leagues away gathered at her couch. The
wound, thay said, was not essentially dan
gerous, but they had grave fears Of the
shock to a system that already see med sut-
fering from some strange and unaccount-
able nervous exhaustion. The best medi- |
young and observing, and waited patiently
an opportunity to account for it. He was
presently rewarded.
For toward morning she rallied and
looked feebly around. Then she beckoned
her father toward her, and whispered.
''Where Is he2"
"They took him away, jimmy dear, in a
cart. He won't trouble you again" He
stopped, for Miss Jenny has raised herself
on her elbow, and was leveling her black
brows at him. But two kicks from the
young surgeon, and significant motion
toward the door, sent Mr.. McClosky away
muttering, "How should know that he
meant Ridgcway," he said apologetically,
Is he went and returned with the young
gentleman. The surgeon, who was still
holding her mise smiled and thouUht