Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1875-04-08


noticed, and Miss Raymond loved
Felix Penhallow altogether too much.
All this while, night after night, I
heard that death watch ticking in the
wall.
remember well the time when I
began to suspect something wrong
One evening the mistress was i'll, and
Miss Raymond went to sit in her
chamber. Tt was ain August night,
with full moon in the sky, and no
wind stirring. So close and sultry it
seemed indoors, that was fain to
walk out as far as the entrance gate
for breath of fresh air. The grounds
were full of intricate windings, and
black and thick with shrubbery. I
strolled as far as the high-road, then
turned about, and, half way back to
the house, stumbled upon two figures,
man and woman, walking together
under some linden trees.
was little startled, and stopped
short and looked at them. There was
no mistaking the splendid head and
shoulders fthe man; felt and knew
he could be no other than Felix Pen
hallow. AS for his companion, she
was not Miss Raymond, but more I
could not say, for she wore hat and
mantle, and kept closely in the shad-
ow. / only saw that she was slight,
and guested her to be young.
His arm@ was round her as they
walked he leaned over her, talked to
her in a low, murmuring, lover-like
tone, and once lifted her head in his
two hands, and kissed her passionate
ly.
stood rooted to the earth staring
at them through the dense shrubbery.
1 could hardly believe my eyes. Miss
Raymond within, watching with her
mistress, and her handsome, noncha-
lant lover without, wondering through
the moonlight and making love to an
other under the rose! It seemed as if
I must be dreaming. But they turned
suddenly, and came towards me, and
as it was plain that discovery would
be awakened for all parties, hasten
ed to give them one last look, in which
I saw that he had gathered that slight
figure up to him, and was holding her
head on his heart, and then 1 fed
breathlessly through the shrubbery,
and back to the house.
got as far as the kitchen, and there
sat down quite overcome. The maids
were all out, and it was a custum OF
mine to sit up always till they came in
for the night. The last who appeared
was Molly.
l don't know what made me eye the
girl so closely on this particular oc-
casion, unless it was her unusual pal
lor. She was pretty little thing, as
| have said before, round and plump
and blue-eyed, like Dutch shepherd.
ess, and vain of her white skin and
1axen hair.
Where have you been, Molly !?
said I, cross enough.
She colored, and stammered, and
dropped her eyes, in a way people
have to whom lying is new.
Down to the village, mann
with some follower, I suppose
Mrs. PenhalIoW's bell has rung fol
you'll mnst watch you, miss. There's
enough that's sly and secret going on
about this house already
She gave me quick, odd look, then
went away without another word tc
answer the bell.
The tick, tick in the panel thai
night sounded louder than ever; il
awakened that simpleton, Moll. She
rose up in bed, and peered out into
my chamber.
'Oh, Venner, what is that?' she
quavered:
"a death watch,' said I, Grossly
Lie down, and go to Sleep
She looked dreadfully frightened.
'Then some one is going to die
cried she, for she had been bred in the
same superstition that I had.
WELL said I, 'Tm pretty sure its
not you, Molly
But she began to sob and cry pit
eously.
'Oh, Venner, I'm a wretched girl
said she. I would rather it would b.
me than some others. Let me com
into your bed; I'm afraid
And she wouldn't be appeased, bu
nestled down with me, and went OF
for long time in a way quite broker
hearted, and without speaking
word.
The next morning Miss Raymond
in descending the staircase, met wit
an accident-slipped on its slipper,
edge, and fell, striking her tempt
against some projecting bit of cary
ing. Mr.. Felix and his mother wer
in the drawing-room at the time, an
both rushed to help her, calling fo
me. When I reached them, he wa
kneeling on the floor, with Miss Ray
mond's head on his knee, her pale fac
upturned, and her brown hair over
! flowing him.
AS we bent to loose her dress an
give her air, ,froma chain in her boso1
dropped out his portrait-the hand
some shadow of his handsome face
Mister Felix looked up at his mothe
t in dark, strange, remorseful way.
why did you ever bring her here
, he muttered. why did you ever mec
! die with either of us?' and he droE
4 ped her into Mrs. Penhallow's arm
and rose up and walked out of th
/ room. The mistress looked quit
? dazed.
What did he say, Venner P 81
n asked, with her hand to her forehead
I'm sure didn't understand, man
) said 1. And no, didn't.
!, But that night Felix Penhallow wa
: walking in the shrubbery again wit
t one who was not Miss Raymond.
d kept my own counsel for a fe
J. days, and then / went to the mi
!, tress.
b 'Maam,' said 1, Pm quite at 10
D about Molly. She's out till midnigh
sometimes-where, or in what cor
a pany, I'm sure I don't known. She
d but young thing, ma'am, and il
J, time, 1 think, that somebody look
! to the matter
s 'Indeed,' said the mistress, i ha'
noticed something odd about the g