The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-08-21

'CilouSH ! Lave fWalkeQ one Aundfeu miles
that you might give it to me. I take no
welcome but the old one, Elsie.''
And he stopped as if to kiss me, bat I
drew back, shuddering.
"What! no greeting?n he exclaime ed !;
and slowly there crept into his eyes look
I had never seen there before-a look of
cunning and Of mortal dread.
He glanced round the room.
II have waited so long waited to find
you alone. We are going on 6 journey
tonight, you and !, Elsie. But you will
not fear it if you are with me-, even if
Death be the boatman to row us across.
Listen, Elsie. I am tired OF life. But
one thing only has made me cling to it
so long, and that is, the gates of heaven
would not open to receive me nnles you
were by my side; so I have come for you.
In that moment I knew the truth
knew that this man by my side. quiet as
he was, was indeed mad, ready at any
moment to throw off even this mask of
sanity, and seize me in his powerful
grasp. .~s~. ...+.s..s
Once more I glanced around my pretty
room.
My husbands eye looked into mine
from his portrait on the wall, as if to say,
"For my sake, darling, keep calm. All
rests with you. Do not let me return to
find desolate home. with your blood
staining its Threshold" -" ~,
"Victor," I said, suddenly, ''before we
go on this journey, tell me Of yourself
of all you have been doing"
"Of myself2 What is there to tell?" he
questioned, with rising passlonin his voice.
"Of what have been doing shall indeed
tell you! Working for this hour, shaving
for it, enduring for it, with but one ambi-
ton IN tile wretched struggle they call
life-to meet you face to face, to look in
to your eyes as they rested on your work,
to tell you of the burning brain which
could find no relief in tears, the weight of
iron breaking the heart on which your
hand has placed it. All! it is little
hand, white and fair clasping it within
his own-"even to lift so INDUSTRIOUS
weight; yet you placed it well, not miss
ing single nerve slender, pretty fingers,
but 0 so cruel! Elsie, have you no re.
morse?" ...... .-.
"Victor, you are the cruel one; you do
me an injustice unworthy Of yourselfw
"Ay, injustice! What do you know of
the word? You, who sit here in your
beautiful home. and let the world go by
unheeded and uncared for, what memory
had you for the man you had doomed,
whose struggles, whose agonies you could
watch as the cat playing with the mouse?
saw him kiss you last night, the man
you call your husband, forgetting my
right to the titie-forgetting, in the sight
of Heaven, that you are my wife. You
rested in his arms, you laid your head
upon his shoulder, looking with adoring
eyes into his face! You whispered
words Of love in his ear, but for the last
time! 1 would have killed him, but
that I wanted you alone in the world to
which we are gong. Elsie, darling, you
do not fear me?" his voice suddenly sink
ing from frenzied anger to its old tender
ness. - sf ~-'' a
At any moment. he might draw the
concealed weapon from his pocket at
any moment plunge the dagger into my
heart. A scream, struggle, would but
make sure my fate. What was to be done?
"Victor," said, with cunning match
ing his own, ''let US not die, but live. In
death all is uncertainty; in life we have
each other and love-" .
He glanced with keen suspicion into
my face. ......E. ~.
"And you love me?' he questioned.
GLOW dare you, then, give your kisses to
that other--the kisses which belonged to
me? Listen We have no time to spare.
Already they are on my track. Tonight
| saw them, but their eyes failed to find
me. Nor do 1 find it such a difficult task.
Yet, if once they seize me, they will bear
me back to the place from which I fled;
but not alive--O, not alive! See, Elsie p
throwing back his coat, and disclosing
the long, narrow cleaning blade he had
concealed there. '''First your heart, then
mine! You grow pale; you tremble. It
will soon be over. A moments pang;
eternal happiness" .sl..
His arms are thrown tight around me.
I am powerless even to struggle in his
iron clasp. His words fall Kissing, one
by one, on the still air. Darkness is
gathering around me--the darkness of
despair. a.--..1 -
The little clock upon the mantel chimes
eleven, and remember, with thrill Of
horror, it is the last time shall ever hear
1t strike, when outside sounds a cherry
whistle, and step 1 recognize as my
husbands upon the pavement.
h It's firm, manly tread is unmistakable.
I can fancy his glancing up at the lighted
windows shining forth their welcome for
him. Another momen: his latch-k KEY
will be in the door, ti7
"Victor.''' I exclaimed, II hear them
coming. He, the spy, is on your track.
Conceal yourself where you were before.
I will mislead him and return to you.
For my sake, be quick
At these last words his hold relaxes.
The old cunning leaps to his eyes.
"Fer your sake" he whispers.
With sudden spring he is again hid
den behind the folds Of the curtain, and
in that moment my husband entered the
room, and / rushed to the shelter of his
arms Behind him follow two men.
MY darling, what is it?'' Will ex.
claims. "What has happened? I found
these men watching the house, and they
insist a mailman entrusted to their care
| has entered here Of cn1rse hove