Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1877-08-09

AT last circumstances came to pass
! which aroused Roland's suspicious of
Elsie's constancyto to Martin. He saw.
with pain, that she was far TO amiable
4 to Harry Gordon, late arrival from
the East, and man who was rumor-
cd to be possessed of untold wealth.
Elsie had always been mercenarily in
clined, and Roland felt seriously
afraid that the temptation of becom-
ing rich mans wife would be well
coined by her.
In his eagerness to prepare luxuri-
Gus home for his darling wife that was
to be, Martin resorted to overwork.
All his leasure time, when he was not
in waiting upon Elsie, were spent in
posting books for other firms. Roland
had often advised him to desist from
so much exertion, but love babe Mar
tin persevere, and that the natural con-
sequences were the result. He became
ill-dangerously so-with typhoid
fever. FL" r. -.'-' '''.'
Roland vas his nurse, Other
friends held aloaf, and the young man
became painfully aware that times of
trouble sadly try ones friends. ? But
this WAS not the worst. Elsie, the
promised wife of Martin, whose duty
it was to wait upon her lover, utterly
refused to visit him. She had no
idea Of enduring the fatigue of the
sick room, and wrote Roland that it
gave her much pain to refuse his
urgent request to visit Martin, but
ones health was everything, and she
was sure that he, in his rational
moods, would approve of her conduct.
She was not aware how pitifully
Martin weak voice called her name,
and how eagerly he looked for her in
vain. Only Roland, his sole friend,
was aware of the intensity of his long
ing for her, Of the moments when
frenzied with fever, her name rang
through the room in wistful, longing
words.
Once. when the fever was at it's very
height, and when the sick man had
pleaded so painfully for Elsie, that
Roland felt that on her depended the
life of his dearest friend, he went to
her, begging her to come to him. But
if Elsie had any inclination to yield to
this request, 1t was Instantly dispelled
by servant announcing that Mr.
Gordon was at the door, to take her
out riding in the park.
She left the apartment saying, "You
see | cannot 90 to your friend, Mr.
Mercer; a pressing engagement calls
me away: but l dare say Martin will
be all right in time without me-
For moment amazement held Ro-
land rivited to the spot; then the very
thought of his friend dying caused the
current of his blood to rush onward,
and he became himself again. He
advanced toward Elsie and caught
her by the arm.
"Woman,. iiend! is this your feai-
ty to him whom you promised to love
Is this your affection? Listen: il
Martin dies, God have mercy on your
soul; YOU will be his murderer" She
shrank back appalled,, and covered
her face with her hands.
! Il say it again." angrilY cried Ro-
land having lost all control of his
temper. "If Martin dies You will be
his murderer! Go out with your new
found lover and enjoy yourself in his
company; but too soon will the pangs
of conscience strike you!"
He was about to leave the room.
having flung the woman's hand aside
as though it were viper, when a man
entered the room and confronted him.
% Mr.. Mercer, demand that you
apologize to Miss Drummond," said
the new CONNER, Harry Gordon.
"Never, sir! beg no pardon from
wanton murderers,' said Roland,
liercely.
" But insist upon it! I tell you I
will have an apology, or you shall not
leave this room!" repeated Gordon
sternly.
81 will neither do one nor the other !;
stand aside" cried Roland.
mot until you do as / bid you.
Without a word, Roland strobe on,
striking the man aside.
81 demand satisfaction Mr..
| Gordon cried after him.
Call upon my address and you
shall have it." was the reply.
Still boiling with indignation, not
at Gortlon's actions but at Elsie's
ooldness, Roland again sought the
bedside of his friend, whose voice rose
eagerly, and whose eyes lit up iuridly,
at his entrance. The mute inquiry
was more than words to Roland, and
he told him of Elsie's refusal to come
as gently as possible. When he had
concluded, there issued such wall ol
intense agony from the wasted suffer
err as would have softened heart o
marble, and the patient fell back III !
deep swoon.
Roland thought his friend dead, an(
III