The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-02-22
IA shad WI fell between them and the

lA shadow fell between them and the
Emooh. 4 rt'
u Maude booked up. Al Sail figure eauht
land spafe, in solemn bfack, its .Rhastly
iEface bathed III the Hqnid moonlight, its
IprOfle cut clear az ainst the purple sky,
its head in the attitude oil attention,
and its whole individuality-Paul Win
chester.
Maude stood frozen motionless. Every
faculty was absorbed in gazing on that
gh6stTy appaffti0h.g - Z n p e Z
Following the direction Of her stfGihed
gaze, Wheatclif turned, but the phan-
tom vanished TN a group Of frefniocks,
| and his eyes met only vacancy, Lighted
by the pale, pure nloonlighb. a-fl...,
Maude's entreaties induced Wheatclif
into the house-nOr would shesHHer him
TO depart until the dawn began to red
den the eastern sky. She was OPP
pressed by terrible fear--vague ana
| hameless, but none the less ter ible.
Wheatelif was no tardy wooer, and
before he left her that night the we'd
ding day was fixed, and a Iatamond
cleaned on her fnger in token OF her be-
trothal. ... .r.. '... ... .. ....
The night before the day set apart for
the bridal, Maude sat alone, at mid might,
in one at the great parlUrs OF Ashley
Hall. There was subdued light in her
eye and bright glow on ,ner cheek
which was not all owing to the red fte-
light that fell around her. s..
Wheatclltt's Kisses were yet warm on
her lips-she felt yet the lingering cha,m
| OF his presence. There mus the chair
he had just sat in, the buncn of scarlet
luchslas he had brought her--and there
was one OF his gloves lying on the car
pet wnere he had dropped it. Sue picked
1t up and touched it to her lips. e..
Tue door opened softly-SU very soft.
| ly size was only dimIy conscious Of
some approaching presence, and she
| did not look up until u heavy hand
pressed her shoulder. ......-.
| She stood face to lace with Paul Win
chester. He folded his arms and re-
| gnrdeu her with stern anu gloomy
brow.
"Maude Ashley, is this your constan-
| cyl" he asked, pointing to the ring OH
"God Is my witness. Paul, though.
you dead" . .i
| "And had you known the contrary
would it have made any difference?
Answer me truly, do you l0Ve this
ma ?"
A faint rosy flush broke slowly over
ner face. He was ans wered.
"Enough, Mauue. l am satisfied.
| Liie viii be worth little to me now. But
l must tell my story and obiaiIn your
pardon. May, do not refuse to listen; fl
| is the last favor l shall ever ask Of you.
Before ever saw you, Made, was
married. Early in lie l met and Ia cied a
young gtIa in one ot tue Middle States
the laughter of my landlaay. she was
"a fair, Simple girl, ana l married her.
wearied OF her full soon, and sue ha"i
never loved me. Sne had taken my
nam, only because her mother favored
tine alliance. We parted AT last with
| nigh words, and l cane North. L pro-
| vlded her with all the money shr
needed, and when our little gIrl wa
born l Settled up.n her life an
nulty. just b4io,e ! met you / saw
a notice OF my wlfe's death n a news
paper. was iree, foI the child had die%
some months previously. Wnen L saw
| you, l loved for tue tirsU time, and after
i was raised to The nc 'g,GJ o. felicity by
| your accep ance, L could get cUul-'
age 10 tgH you TINS secret OF my lie.
| feared your hi4n, pure eoul Wdutu
snrlnk from the man who. had once, III
| name at least, belonged tn another. So
| / Il. pC ii hidden. Sometime 4 Wo uId tell
you, Said-sumetlne Wnen was sure
| Of your love. Well, l look the train on
| tUaG nigAt to come. To Asniey Hul,.
Judge Oh my CONSERVATION when | tel,
lyOu tuat enterng the cai L sat down.
| beside my own WlIe TIE recOg-
milton was mutual, and Il thlnk
liAhce was quite as deeply hoI-
lritea as myse.l. 1t appears tnat the.
loblCuary hadrelerrel IT, IA cbus,n OF hers,
bearing the same nanle, and uenCe my
| mistake. The mOnen.5 CnaJ passeu.
uulll felt The stunning shock Ot that.
terrible leap INTO the river, were agUH-.
Ilzlng. The train L knew was eX press.
aud did not stop unttl 1T reached Asuley
| Ol course L could not tnlnk OF going
there then. The accld mt put an end 20
all trouUfe. l leaped .ouL of the flying
car, and gaining the land tltd TO tup
woods. Once there ill The cool. CAIN
solitude, | sat down and tnouguL
over my situation. could not mtet
the reproach of your eyes-I could not
face me mater like ii man. IneIe re-
NAMED Oniy fight. For SIX mpntAs L
have been III South America. a Weeh
ago l returned home, aud The first news
LhaL greeted me was OF Lue death 0
Alice. Having ascertained 1t 10 be cor
rect, hIstened TO Asutey only to learn
that you are about TO be uAlled TO an
otner! 0, Maude! Mauae! is 1t jusL?'
She touched his c4asped hanus ply
ingly. .... ..
MAY God be good to you" she said
softly. '.r ....
He rose without word, and went out
win the blessing clingIng 10 nim.
Maude and WneaLcliH were married.
Two years after Lneir UNION Paul Wan
chester was kIlled al the Daltle oil Fred
ericGsDurg.
OHe sentence in Evarts' argument on