Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-06-16
EIoise's Daughter.
BY PRESLEY W. NORRIS.

She was seated at the piano. Low
tremulous thrObs of music filled the
apartment. sad, and sweet, and tender
were the sounds, while the woman,
though pale and pensive, was very fair
to look upon. Her brow was white
her eyes brown and liquid; her mouth
curved with red lips hiding teeth like
pearls; her cheeks were pale and smooth
as aiabaster, yet once they had glowed
continually with crimson that only
changed by becoming deeper at times.
Her form was evidently slender and
graceful. No one could look at her and
call her anything but fair and pure.
She had come a few days previous to
the country mansion of Judge Duncan
and asked to be taken in As bOarder for
a short time. She gave her name as
Eloise Herbert. She was not alone, but
a little girl probably four years of age
accompanied her. The child called her
''mamma."
Judge Duncan's family had never
taken boarders before, but the fair
sweet face of ElOise Herbert won their
hearts so that they could not refuse
what she asked. Now she had been
with them a week.
Presently she ceased playing, and
walked to an open window. She lifted
the lace curtains and stepped outside
upon the piazza.
Mamma" said child's vOice-a
voice as sweet rs the music ElOise had
been playing.
What is Nina's wish ?" Eloise asked.
The child stepped from the piazza and
pausing for a moment, reached back her
hand toward her girl-mother. Then she
started down the avenue, saying:
Come, mamma."
Eloise followed. At the entrance to
the avenue they stopped. ElOise leaned
over a low side gate while her child
played at her feet. Nina was the image
of her mother, in miniature, a little
fairy, beautiful creature.
The branches of huge tree shaded
them. The grass made green carpet
for their feet. They were on gently
sloping hillside, and the landscape
spread out before them. A mile away
the suns rays sparkled on the waters Of
bay. No cloud dimmed the deep blue
of ,he sky. The air was laden with the
fragrance of summer blossoms.
A buggy road, level, and smooth, and
straight, stretched out to the right and
left. Presently Eloise heard in the dis
tance the faint clatter of hOrses' hOofs.
Then the sound was borne TO her ears
more distinctly. 1t beat, beat, upon the
hard road. She glanced down to her
left, and beheld, yet i'm the distance,
swiftly approaching object. Nearer and
nearer. ElOise saw presently that it was
a frightened horse running away with
buggy. Eloise could do nothing but
stand there and watch, with her hands
clasped over her bosom in terror, for
she perceived that there WIS a clinging
human figure in the vehicle.
On. on, came the maddened animal.
A huge dog, doubtless startled by the
noise, came leaping down the avenue.
He sprang into the road. The catas-
trophe that seemed inevitable, at any
rate, was hastened. The horse sprang
20 one side with a great bound. The
buggy struck tree standing by the
roadside, and there WAS a terrific crash.
The horse reared, and plunged, and
fell.
With a wildly beating heart Eloise
opened the gate and passed out quickly.
There was no danger for her, for the
struggles of the animal had ceased
almost tinstantly-death had ended them.
The man was lying some distance
from the shattered vehicle. Eloise gave
n glance at his face, and then it seemed
TO her that her heart must cease its
beating.
The still figure before her scds that Of
her husband!
Her husband, Yet she had hoped
never to look upon his face again. He
had been her tyrant as well as the curse
of her womanhood. The fairest dreams
of her life had found an end i'm him.
Once, she had exalted him to god; he
had proved himself to be a demon.
Once, she had loved him with all the
strength of her passionate heart; later,
she had hated him with an intensity so
great, that she had to pray daily to her
God for forgiveness. Once, she had
waited for his coming with eager
anxiety; afterwards, the very echo of
his step had been perfect torture.
No wonder that Tournier Herbert's
face burst upon her sight like vision
of terror!
For full minute she stood paralyzed.
For the time she had forgotten, as it
were. that he might be dead. But now
pity took the place Of fear. She felt
that she must bring help for him. Turn
and rushed up to the house.
Luckily she found Judge Duncan. him
self on the piazza.
There is a man in the road who has
been thrown from his buggy" she
cried, breathlessly. 81 fear that he is
killed.
Judge Duncan sprang into an apart
ment and rang bell violently. Soon
half dozen colored servants answered
his call.
Tournier Herbert was brought to the
house. A physician was summoned.
Eloise had gone to her room, and
locked herself in. An hour later she