Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-11-24

Maurice, my only love-" As Leontine
ceased speaking she examined the fiacon
hidden in the folds of her handkerchief.
"Happily," she continued, 81 have
drank it all. 1t is a quarter of II, and
commenced to take the drug at O'Clock.
1t requires but five hours for the poison
to do its work. In fifteen minutes
will be dead. Death is near me, gather
ing closer and closer around me. NV
body is already chilled and my heart
oppressed by heaviness; surely this
must be the beginning of the end"
As she ceased speaking she arose, and,
approaching her priedieu, she bowed her
head, and kneeling in prayer, folded
her hands devoutly before the crucifix.
'.Let it come quickly" she murmured.
''Oh, God. grant my earnest prayer, and
let death anticipate his coming"
For some time she knelt in silence.
then rising, she placed herself before
the mirror and gazed at her altered
couGtenance.
your husband is coming; be prepared
to receive him."
She then removed her bridal wreath
and vail, the jewels and satin dress. Her
hair being unbound fell around her
white shoulders, covering her form like
a mantle, its luxuriance Frightening her
marvellous beauty.
ROBBED in a white dressing-wrapper,
Leontine at length threw herself upon
her couch. and in the large mirror that
hung opposite, she contemplated with
horror the nuptial bed As she did SO
the mirror suddenly turned upon hinges
and another chamber stood revealed.
/ S.arcalxr haI h, IA. NJ -l,a,
to her surprise, a man, beautiful as the
Arclangel of Eden, stood upon the
threshold.
81 am here" said the stranger,
calmly.
AT first Leontine deemed herself either
the victim of some supernatural mani
festation, or thought the poison had rem
dered her delirious; but i'm an instant
she recognized Maurice Dorval.
SIS it indeed you, Maurice" she muir
INJURED, land are you dying also?"
"Dying, Leontine" he exclaimed,
seizing her hand. ''Why, what do you
mean:''
''That have lost all desire to live"
'Late as it is" he continued, 81 must
have some explanation from you before
you become that mans WIFE"
"What explanation do you require?"
responded his listener. "You know
that you deceived me-"
"You were mistaken, and have been
deceived, terribly deceived
"The man you married forged the
letters that illuminated me, and held
me prisoner until this damnable deed
was accomplished. This chateau was
my fathers. knew of the secret door
and came TO you."
''But 1 am dying, Maurice, truly
DYING
With a cry of terror he raised her
gently and carried her into the adjoining
chamber. and, having placed her upon
the bed, he quickly turned the mirror
and then approached LeOntine. En-
circling her with his arms, he called her
name again and again. At length he
pressed kiss upon her lips, and shud-
dered at the chilling touch.
"Speak, Leontine; oh, speak to me!'
he cried in agony.
Leontine did not reply; her lips were
colorless, and on her forehead the cold
dew of death had gathered
"a physician" exclaimed Dorval,
suddenly. eff can but procure ply
sician, il may not be yet too late"
"It is useless" whispered Leontine
feebly. ''Do not leave me, do not sum
mon any one, for am dying"
"Dying?" Oh, surely you are mis-
taken. This is but a sudden weakness;
it will pass, and you will be strong
again"
"No," responded his companion.
s'Listen to me; rather than belong to
another, Maurice, rather than become
the wife of any man but you, L have
taken poison. But even the pain OF
dying | hail with joy, for in your arms,
close to your heart, will breathe my
last. Press your lips to mine, and let
me feel your warm breath on my cheeks.
One kiss. Maurice, and know that have
died for my love of you, for the sake of
a love that the grave shall preserve
sacred"
"Oh, Leontine, nv love-" murmured
Dorval, as he clasped her TO his breast,
and pressed kiss after kiss upOn.her cold,
trembling lips. ''Oh, what have you
done, my beloved? Surely this cannot
be DEATH"
cit is death, Maurice, and rejoice in
nv escape. have, in inviting this fate
done my duty. Forgive me- she con-
tinued feebly, g for suspecting you.
Adieu, nv love, and may God comfort
you"
The words were scarcely audible, and
Maurice Dorval bowed his head to catch
the sound. As Leontine ceased speak
ing she trembled violently: a sigh of
weariness parted her lips, while smile
celestial in its exquisite sweetness, crept
over her face. ''Maurice," she whis-
pered family, and, i'm an instant more,
The spirit of Leontine lie Neuilles had
fled from earth.
For a few moments Dorval remained
in silence beside the dead woman he
had so fondly loved. 1t seemed to the
man. i'm this terrible hour of agony, as
though the world itself was passing
away: then, realizing that the still form
no longer contained the soul, despair
seized upon him, and he rushed forward
and drew Leontine to his breast con-
vulsively.
The stiffness of the room was broken
by the clock striking the hour OF mid
night. As the last stroke vibrated upon
the air. the noise of steps was heard IN
the corridor, and a moment more the
door of the nuptial chamber opened ana
De fremont entered, taking the precau-
ton to bolt the door after him.
He had replaced his court-dress by
sumptuous robe de chambre of velvet,
trimmed with gold. Softly he glided
into the room, but soon saw that there
was no one present. Raising the lace
curtains, he observed that the bed had
not been occupied.
sLeontine," he said, "where are you?
"Here," exclaimed strange voice
suddenly. The tone was dreary and
sepulchral. De fremont shuddered al
the sound and turned toward the spot
whence it came.
Once more the mirror had turned and
before him he saw another room bril-
liantly lighted, and upon the BED the
male still form of woman. Beside tne