Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1875-04-01

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thing to tell you" ~
Her accent was cold. There was
something in her manner that caused
him to step back look at her with a
dim premonitior of what was TO come.
"You know" she continued, "how
bitterly opposed your aunt is to your
affection to me. She has told me
herself that she will never consent to
our happiness. Gerald, / am too
fond of you to wreck your whole life.
There is but one way to end it all"
She paused. He leaned forward
and still kept his eyes, now wan and
haggard upon her face. Then she
sank, pale and trembliuginto chair,
and covered her eyes with her hand.
She was moved with pity, perhaps or
a vag1e regret. At last she spoke.
q have just accepted an offer of
marriage"
"From Badger" cried Gerald, and
walked to the door. "Your pru-
dence, = he added, standing upon the
threshold "has served you well. You
have just got rid of me in time. My
aunt died this morning, and has left
everything she had to her nurse and
companion"
Then he got ont into the street,
and walked along with a faltering
staggering step. His eyes were
wild his face lividly pale.
He went home and stood by the
body of his aunt. There was a slngu-
lar fascination about this death
something very wonderful and tempt
inc in that mysterious and absolute
/ rest. Suddenly he became master
of himself. of the bitterness and des-
pair of the moment. He walked
firmly to the door; but step follow
ed him, and turning he saw the pale
perturbed face of Miss Williams.
Then he remembered her presence
in the room but his madness and
grief had prevented him from reali-
zing it.
"Just one word, Mr.. Melton," she
said. "Of course you know that |
will not touch one penny of this
money!
at dosen't matter now he re-
piled. ut might as well be yours
rs anybody's"
"But it is yours" she said.
'Oh. as for me- said Gerald, 81
shall not want it. He walked on
through the hall. Miss Williams fol-
lowed him stealthily. lie entered
his room. but when the door shut
him in, Amy remained haggard and
trembling. A grim silence reigned
about her. She could hear the clock
tick in the dead woman's room below
Suddenly she put both her hsnds
about the knob ond opened the door.
Gerald turned quickly; there was an
ominous click the pistol fell Il little
as it went OIL The blood soaked
through hiscoatand trickled ont upon
The floor. just as Amy was about
sinking at his feet, Gerald put out
mis- hand to her.
can accident, Miss Williams" he
said. "Plca>c send Adams for the
doctor, and then help Inc of with my
coat"
This brought Amy to herself She
hastcned to do his bidding, despatch
! ed Adams, and returning again to
Gerald, staurched the blood with
strips of the pillow case from the bed.
When the doctor came she held the
light for him while he probed the
wound and extracted the bullet.
"An inch or so higher said the
doctor. "and YOU would have been
buried on the same day with your
aunt"
at was lucky thing, then that
Miss Williams had IN erraud to my
room when she did" said Gerald.
AS she opened the door my hand
fell and the pistol went off,
"She has unconciously saved your
life" said the doctor. Then as Amy
left the room he added, shes the fl
nest young woman | know, and
would make a capital nurse for my
hospital. DO YOU Know what she
thinks of doing now that your aunt is
gone?"
NO said Gerald with n grim smile;
"But ! fancy she will think Of some
thing livclier than that"
"She has an excellent physique
and splendid nerve" said the doctor.
"But / must go. Keep as quiet as
you can, and have Adam within
4 call
That night Gerald awoke with in
tolerable thirst his temples throb-
bed, his eyes turned. Looking over
ut Adams, lef5und tha the was sound
asleep This of itself was offensive
20 Gerald. What business had the
nan to sleep when he was suffering 7
How horribly oppressive the stiffness
was, this semi-darkness and loneli
ness? At that moment ponderous
snore resounded from, the throat OF
The sturdy Adams, and Gerald al
most leaped from his bed. 1t was
like stab to him lit was unendura,
bic. He stretched out his sound
irm, and reaching pillow, threw
it with all his might at the uncon'
.cious man. But III spite of the ago
ny the movement cost him, it was 8
futile. one. The pillow fell far short
/ Of the object, and Gerald sank back
with groan.
But suddenly the soft touch of
woman's hand fell tenderly upon hi'
forehead, and the sweet tones of
woman's voice fell soothingly upon
MS ear.