The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-04

starlight; 'l-yOu know all that would
say. / want you to understand that the
IneXt lime you are caught sneakng
about my house, to obtain stolen inter-
views with my wife, l shall shoot you
down like dogl Or, worse still, l will
order my servants to eXpel you from
the gates, III buOlic and open disgrace.
Do you hearT
l stood calmly-not trusting my voice
to break the sllence-opposlng cool,
unmoved front to his angry clustering.
| wanted TO spring upon min, and Sc ze
him by the throat aud strangle the lite
out Of his miserable body; but some.
thing-I can not understand it, or eX-
p. p.aiM-restrained me; and still, without
word, l stood and stood and listened.
"Do you understand ?" he snrieked, in
uncontrOllable rage, mis- cane half up
Ii ted, as though he would strike, had
he possessed sufficient courage. But
coolly as though he were little dog
swapping at my heels. turned, lighting
A cigar as did 50, and walked leisurely
on. One thing certain, he should not
provoke me to a quarrel. l felt con-
yiction that if once laid my hands on
him l should not let him go until Il dread-
tul deed was done.
In a tumult of unrestrained fury he
dashed madly after me. lie was OLD,
and nearly blind-he did not see the d.
rectiou that he took; his foot slipped,
and he was precipitated, with cry that
fell like weight upon my ears, down
down the unused shaft, which, covered
with dirt and debris, lay unsuspected at
our very teet.s
For a moment ! stood with clasped
hands and Dated breath. God forgive
me for the temptation that aSsaiied me
then, and crepG like Shiny serpent
over my heart. l could not save MIN
alone; / had only TO walk away, and
pushed the horrible thought back, as
though it were tiend; L iougut the
dreadful impulse from me; and uartihg
off at a break-neck speed, rushed Wild
ly back towards the village, whose
lights cleaned family in The distance.
On, on, like a mailman l ran, until al
last the goal was gained. Arrived al
the nearest house, the inmates were
soon aroused; and armed Win ropes ana
lanterns we speedily set forth.
What if we should be too lateW
We reached tue spot at last; and sto0p-
ing down 70 the aperture, l shouted the
old mans name. A faint groan an.
swereu me. Alive still, thank God! Yes,
at that moment, did thank God!
They drew him forth at last; not dead
though very weak, aud severely i'll
iured; then they bore him away w his
iordly home, and lett him with her.
The next morning, true to my resolve
| l turned my back upon the scene oil my
misery, and for many weary months
in other lands, l sought iorgettulness
But, wherever 1 Went, the past pursued
me. 1t stung me like scorpion; it sa
al every feast; 1t made my ayllgnC one
long darkness. Ny lie mad taued into
notnnguess-. here was no love Ior mt
any mUre. While, of all those vanished
days, garnered up only a wItneret
lly-the one trail link which held me t.
the lie that might have been.
| mat was years ago. To-day ] met heI
lace to lace, and held her nand Onci
more. Free, now--for the ola man was
long since gathered 10 his fathers
.aza INTO her eyes, and read all tue ole
love, unspoken; and, as remember III.
terrible temptation, l draw her clOsel.
to me, and Win a .reaL wave oi graft
Lude surglug over ny henrt-thank Coz
that, Luruugu muc1 suffering, we nave
been sIrUus. And 30 we are reunILei
| .taIter many yeara,n