The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1878-11-05
Vol. l6.---NO. 80


Lund. 1have been iend ever since. !
stood at the parlo- door to night when
he held that note before her eyes. How
happy was when saw that aeonized
look break over her white face. She
little thought who had fixed the fiery
draughtthat was raised to her lips. And
Arthur"
You are strange woman, Madaline."
said Morrison. al like your strength
and bravery. But you are shivering
with the cold. Let me lead you to the
house"
"No / am not cold" she answered.
Life is to deep for that tonight. This
revenge is maddenng, intoxicating! My
brain Is on fire Ny heart seems burning
out"
al must insist on your going in
He said something more, but Arthur
could not quite distinguish what il was.
Something about living until the victory
was entirely won, was the burden of his
words as they moved away.
When Arthur reached the house. he
found Alice asleep. He bent over her
couch He could see then how sadly she
was changed---how pale and thin she
had grown. She turned upon her pillow.
and whispered his name brokenly.
Tears gathered in his eyes. His heart
was full.
"Forgive me-" he cried, as she opea.
ed her eyes upon him.
"Oh, Arthur, you wrongcd me I did
not write that note. do not love any
one but you. You are all that l have in
the great, wide world!'
He took her hands tenderly in his,
and in broken sentences.told her what 10
had learned And more, he told her Of
this strange infatuation, now gone for
ever; and he promised, with the help OF
God, to be all in years to come that he
had been in tho past, tender, true and
loving.
The next morning he carried Alice
down to the breakfast.room in his arms.
and placed her close beside him at the
table. Madalno looked wonderingly
upon him She was so taken by sur.
prise, that she forgot the part she was
playing.
al did not think to see you down. Mrs.
Lund,"
Arthur bit his lips. care you quite
we'll this morning." he asked. raising
his eyes to her face.
"Oh yes, quite well r
"Then you did not take cold last even
ingp"
take cold 7" she repeated, changing
color.
"Yes, Mr.. Morrison was apprehcnsive
that you would. And 1t was extremely
careless OF you standing out in the night
dir so long. Did you go out Immediately
after leaving the parlor"
No-that is"
"You stopped to glance through the
c soI}}n5 dc nEhile Alice read your note.
She flashed her eyes upon him. They
shone like balls OF FIRE in her great anger.
She urose from the table. Trying TO
speak, her rage nearly choked her. ~
hate you, Arthur Lund" she said.
"Indcsd! !" he answered. "Your feel
ings arc emblematc Of change. My re-
CARDS to Mr. Morrison when you meet
him again. Alice and would be pleas.
ed 10 have him call ut his leisure
She swept out of the room without an.
swering. An hour later she Was on her
way to the depot. She did not stop to
thank her kind host and hostess for their
protracted hospitality, or even to bid
them good morning. For long time
they sat at the breakfast table, Arthur and
Alice, while Hester read by the window.
The breczes came in deity, laden with
summers dying perfume, the canary
whistled and thrilled in its cage, the sun.
shine threw is golden lines farther and
farther across tho snowy linen Of the
table. The young wife smiled-tho shad'
ow had risen.