The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1878-09-06

still trust you, cannot, and you shsl
not talk 10 Willis again ill | hsv'
told him all. Willis is only human
aud though think il impossible, yor
might lead him TO be false TO his hon
or and manhood, false TO his brother.
Tell Frank I viii keep my engage
ment.' Antoinette said quietly; "a'
for willis"
"Yes. What of willisi"
"He will make no sign the girl
said, sorrowfully; che may blame me
inwardly, but no unkind word will
leave his lips"
The remainder Of the evening An.
toinette was strangely restless, and
Willis watched her with eager, ques.
tioning eyes, while Frank pretended
not to notice any change in her man
ner.
Once as she passed him Willis said:
keep your promise, Antoineete, for
this cannot last
At ten O'Clock Willis arose. GOOD
night, mother" he said, and she, i'm.
PEELED by a strange feeling, drew down
his head and kissed him.
GOOD night, Frank" he said, turn.
ing to him.
GOOD night, old fellow" Frank
replied, and then the door closed be-
tween them.
After Willis was gone, Frank turn
ed to Antoinette. at is all right
now" he said: 81 will tell father
when he comes home, and we will new
err have secret again, dear"
"Yes-yes, tell him." she said;
"you may as well do so now as
again."
She stood before him, and his moth
err watched them with a pitiful little
smile.
After Frank went up to his own
room, he stood at the window
for more than an hour.
Suddenly a shadow fell between
him and the moonlight. the shadow Of
a slim, girlish figure, that, wrapped
in dark mantle, had passed the win
dow.
"My Godl Antoinette," and the
next momen: he went down the stairs,
opened the door, and walked quickly
down the path Antoinette had taken.
He came on her in the shadow of
the dropping trees-came on her stan
ding with his brother Willis arm
around her waist. her curly heal rest
ing on his shoulder.
Inethat moment Of intense agony,
Frank Gray's heart seemed to stand
still. The girl be had loved so ten
derly-the brother who was his second
self. Il was worse-far worse than
death.
Still in the shadow of the trees, he
saw Willis stoop and kiss her lips, and
heard her say, passionately:
"Oh! Willis, Frank will come be-
tween us. II is not just-it is not
fair"
He did not hear his brothers an.
swer, for, almost unconscious of what
he was doing, he turned down another
path.
What difference whether he heard it
or not, he knew how passionately
Willis must have loved her, when be
could forget even his honor. Forget
his honor Willis Gray had scarce
ly done that, for his answer to her pas
sionate cry was
"Yes, Antoinette, he must come be-
tween us, for / could not take my
happiness at the expense of his. Oh!
Antoinette, Antoinette, why did you
so wrong us both?'
Frank had gone a little distance
away. but had suddenly turned back.
He would face them, let them see the
misery they had wroughs
As he came close he heard Antoi-
nette's answer.
"Why, oh, Willis do you ask me
whyf 1t was all jest at first, and
then-oh, Willis | learned to love
you"
Frank went forward, still in the
shadow of the trees.
God knows Willis Gray saw not his
brothers face, never dreamed il was
he. He heard Antoinette's startled
cry, saw the dark shadow, and on the
impulse of the moment, raised his
hand and struck the intruder.
Maddened by the blow, Frank clos
ed with his brother; Willis. still under
the impression he was a midnight
tramp. fought desperately.
Suddenly Frank was dashed to the
ground, and Willis turned 30 the trem-
bling girl.
81 have knocked the scoundrel
he said. "Run 10 the house
my darling, and then III raise an al
arm. Hope he is not dead"
He knelt down by the fallen mans