The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-07-10

went to my own room that night 1 tore
it from my tinger, and tossed it into my
little Jewel box. After that Ubreatbed
more freely, and slept more soundlr.
S x daysl God help me-what short res
.pite; and these, toe. were gliding by.
The evening of the fifth day had arrived,
bringing with it a strange, dreadful feel
at my heart-a goaded, desperate feeling,
like that OF some prisoner VINO must die
on the morrow-die, too, for some crime
Of his own committing. l had restored
the diamond to its place upon my finger;
for my betrothed husband might arrive
at any moment, and should he miss the
badge oil his ownership it would madden
him with rage. Remembering every.
thing, l had already learned 10 dread
Van Alstyne's anger; like all little, mar
row minds, he was brutal in his wrath.
| must have sat, deep in reVery, for an
hour. The lamps had not been | g lted;
my mother reclined i'll an easy chalr
near one of the long French windows,
whc led out upon little lawn Gov
cred with grass, like spread of emer-
aid velvet. over head the harvest moon
shone, yellow, full and lustrous; the
sweet breath of bliss perTumed tne ar,
and came in at the open windows l
can never see the harvest moon and
smell the scent OF lilies now, without all
that dreadful night coming back to me.
| arose to my feet at last; think
was gong to light the lamps, when
hand pushed aside the lace curtain anu
a tail form stood beside me. 1t was Dr.
Linden. His face was white and rigid
| his ewes were set and wild; the ehorus
| ahouL his firm mouth were tense ana
drawn; his voice, as he spoke, sounued
far of and drear. lie seemed 10 forget,
or care not, tor my mothers presence
| "Luuise"
| His voice was choked; he laid his hand
| ON mine-mine that wore Van Alstyne'a :
engagement ring. His eyes caught lis
cleaning; a savage llgnt flew into them;
lie turned sharply, and wrenchlng the
ring from my finger, tossed 1t upon the
floor anu set his Doot-heel upon IL.
| my Godl' he cried, me shal never
Ihave you-tnat man! Louise, Y, my dar-
Iipgl you are nine, aud we love each
| othef!'
He caught me in his all as he spoke
For one Urier, heavenly moment ,orsol
all. Tor knew he had spoken truth.
| There was the SOUND Of heavy loot
step without; he did not release me,
Tue door was pushed burriedly open
| and Van Alstyne STOOD upon the Lhresn.
mold. His face was llyid, and CLEAN
OF horrible, satanic meaning flashed iron
his evil ewes. knew then that he nat
been an unseen witness; that he kneW
all. Not word was spoken tor mo
ment. never moved from the shelter
ling arms about me. AT length:
| tDoyou love That man, Louiser
| Van Alstyne's voice was lrightful t.
hear; his wicked look tran nstiXed me.
Better than liteW l answered
simply.
| $50 help me GodW he shrieked il
manlacal fury, ''ll you are not my wife
YOU shall never be hlsV
There was the Drigut CLEAN of silVe
as the barrels of a revolver were turnet
toward me, fol owed by a sudden lout
lrepurt. The arms OF the man l love,
held me closer; then Wild shrek rem
the air, and l knew that murder ha
been done.
Tue bullet which was meant for m
had passed hai mlessly by, and wa
buried IN my motner's heart. l saw DI
Linden grind his teeth sayagely together
and turning, with whlte, fixed lace
like that Of dead mans, seIZ9 tn
murderer by the throat. l heard piieou
CRIES Tor mercy, even as l kuelt at IN
moLhel's side, ana begged, and praye
, for just one sign of llIe, one look, on
+ word. But VINO ever dragged a VIGIL
from beneath the relentless juggernau
. of deaLh2
They carried Van Alstyne away an
, I never saw him again. Not even hi
: wealth could save him now; he Wa
, sentenced to Lifelong Imprisonment
and not long afterwards they told me h
> was dead.
Happy now-as the wife OF DR.. Lir
den-sLill, the memory OF the dreadlt
, past will haunt me ever; and, thlnkin
' OF that loveless marriage which was
{ nave been--a buying and seillng-a mer
r matter OF barter-l shrink in horrC
| from the contemplation.
10 sell ones self Tor goldl When W
= chance TO meet one at whom the lnge
9 of scorn is pointed, as receiving u
o wages Of sin, and VINO sells her purlt
for the "glittering coin of the realm,
g we step aside in yirtuous indignatlo
b and hold up our dainty skirts for fear
-: pollution. And then, D, wicked lnco1
!. sistency! we sell ourselves, with II
title-deeds made out, and the seal a
fixed, and deem it honorable, because
e is legall
And such was the sin 1 was save
:. from committing by tue lesson that
d learned i'll Six short days.