American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-07-24
VOL. XIV.
would undoubtedly .ceasc If he


The necessity was saved me. That yer,
afternoon my mother took the task upoI
herself. Breeze came to Merideth House
and found me absent gathering MOSES
He sat down in the cool porch, and fell t,
chatting in his light, careless, easy way
with my mother. How it happened d.
not know, but mother happened to spcal
of my approaching marriage.
1t was almost dark when 1 reached tn,
avenue that led up to Merideth House. A
1.-the figure stood leaning against the gate
way as l sauntered by, my hands full o
MOSES. Good evening" said, gayly
"Will you walk up with me?'
He did not answer save to step forward
draw my arm within his, and turn me-
away from the house, down toward the
lake.
1--WE viii go this way" he said; and
L felt the fire of his eyes burned my cheek
to flame. We walked so in dreadful
| silence fora moment; then he spoke:
- Is this thing true your mother tells
me?'' he asked.
"What thing?'' 1 almost whispered
| GO You knowr' he answered, fiercely
g Is it true that you are to be the wife of a
white-faced aristocrat next Octobers Thai
you are here to make your preparations ~
Yes" The word came reluctantly
and almost with a gasp. He took my
handssin his and looked down upon me.
:" You shall not-you shall notI' he
Kissed love you, you are mine, now
and forever"
Before could speak or cry out he had
taken me in his arms and was raining
kisses upon my lips, Twas young, roman,
tic and inpulsive. This man had aroused
a strange feeling in my breast, that now,
as lay in his arms, L believed must be
love. Il couH see the, reckless beauty of
his face as it bent above me and almost
unconsciously l clasped my arms about
his neck, sobbing wildly, and whispering,
"Oh, if l had known you soonerAif It
were not too late.''
1t is not too late,' he cried, passion
ately, straining me to his heart. " You
be my wifer'
but cannot" i sobbed. re am
bound to another-the wedding day draws
near"
q care nothing for that. You must
wed me and no other. cannot give YOU
up"
His imperious manner, his imprisoned
earnestness aroused my girlish admira-
ton. He seemed like some knight of
olden romance to me, beside whom Rollin
Weatherbee, with his patrician beauty, was
completely overshadowed. We walked.
long in the cleaning, he pleading, l
hesitating, almost yielding, but leaving him
at length with no definite decision For
three weeks I met Rogers clandes-
timely each day and listened to his
words of passionate devotion, and
my lips. Day after day he urged
me to fly with him. but, though l believed
l loved him better than l had ever loved
Roilin Weatherbee, l hesitated to make
him any promise, and a strange fear of
him held me back from flight. Yet each
day my resolution grew weaker, each day
the mans hold upon me and power upon
me became stronger At last came an
afternoon late in September / was to
ing out at the gorgeous sunset, with a
heart full of contending emotions, when
mamma came into the room. Rose"
she said, you remember Breeze Rogers,
who came Eere so often some time ago ~
Remember him! but only said: =" Yes,
mother" in very low voice.
IS Well. HARDWOOD tells me a painful
thing in connection with him. She says
her husband tells her it Is the neighbOr-
lovely young girl, gardeners daughter,
Cora Smith by name, whom Breeze has
been very attentive to for some months
The girls father says she is betrothed to
him. At all events he has been most
ardent lover for year or more, and now,
without word, or any apparent cause, he
has deserted her; has not been near her
for two months, and the girl is very ill
calling for him constantly, but he does
not go near her. 1t is thought she will die
She is a poor, frail, childish thing, and
never knew what it was to suffer before.
1t is very sad. What a heartless villain
he must bei'
My heart seemed to die within me. A
rush of emotion, shame, anger, grief, mis-
placed love and wounded pride fought to-
gether in my breast. OH how mean the
man was whom had placed above Rollin
Weatherbee in my hearts affection. How
1 despised him for that moment. Then
began to think it might not be so-there
might be some mistake. 81 will go to
him tonight" l thought, land 1 shall
know"
did go when the shadows of the gloam-
ing settled down over the earth. l found
him waiting for me. He held out his
arms, but l stood aloof
go to Cora Smith," / SAID. ''She is
entitled to your caresses.she wants them
Il do not''
L needed no further proof of his guilt
His face turned crimson from brow to
chin, and then pale as death.
"What do you know of herr" he cried,
hoarsely. "Who has been telling you
lies?''
NO one, i answered.. " our lace Is
a proof of the truth of all have heard l
will make this our last meeting. My eyes
are opened in time, thank Godl l do not
want to set them upon you again. Do not
try to see me, for it will be useless. ut
terly despise you. Go back to the only
person who believes you worthy of love-
who is dying for YOU
l turned and sped back to the house,
and for two weeks scarcely stepped outside
its walls. / was ill in mind and body.
My unreasoning, romantic folly, that
had called love, died suddenly at one
blow, and knew there was only one man
in the world l loved, or ever had loved,
and that one man was Rollin Weatherbee
But my heart was filled with regrets for
my past folly, and fears for what might
follow. But two weeks passed by and
heard no word and saw nothing of Breeze
Rogers until that chill October night when
my story opens.
/ turned my face away lest the light of
those dark eyes should bring back the old |
delirium. For at that one glance | felt |
the blood leap through my veins, and IA |
strange glow shoot through my heart. l |
despised this man, yet he had |
IA power over me still. At length l arose |
and moved away from the window. A |
second later something struck the glass |
with sharp click.
s'What was that?'' asked mamma
'sThe wind hurled something against |
the windowpane, answered. A mo-
ment later and it was repeated. Why, it |
sounds like something thrown against the |
glass;" mamma said. ''Tell HARDWOOD to |
see what it is, Rose
1 got up and went out of the room. l |