Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-08-22
VIC1'OR:
The story Or = Nad.Lev~.


VICTOR:
:Tee steFv q 2>d Ae'e {;
Do people often wonder at their own
happiness7 Certainly was wondering at
mine, as l sat alone in my pretty drawing
room. resting back in my chair, allowing
nv Berlin work to fall UNDECIDED on my
Lap. while nv ewes wandered here and
there, surveying with fond pride my pos
sessions
Many of the pictures on the walls, the
BONES on the mantel, the clock, chair
here and there, had been bridal presents;
and.ase,4lI opu sshort year had passed
since came to my kingdom, had no
time to sl1a&J.9 ssss:sss,
q year ago, and had sthsn thought g,
to full happsnes 8 which comes Is every
loved .aa8 loving wife; hut i had esPacia.
caueefcRraf3Spde ID fact which might
pfeoe alts ss ss=Sss Il "A
BSoss1 met VIII, NV husband, I Had
lf6 ICED 10 + Young man BY very
nj aenior. when one discover
eaNs fSther 46fetsndf father store him
hsa .died 1n1atesofa Junatic asylum.
INV parente r medlateiy broke. Oft the
engagement, and Twas too senaible not
to bow to their decree, For q time I
was very mi(erabla but SOON after I.met,
Will, and learned that into his Keeping
had passed the one true love of my life,
end he held it SO tenderly,t SO sacredly,:
that soon there was not even scar to-
mark the old wound.
But the tears came freely to my eyes.
nor did Win reproaEh me with them,
when. some six months after nv marriage,
Learned. in the full flush of my happiness
that Victor Struthers' sad fate had over
taken him, and that he, too, had fallowed
in the steps IF those gone before; that
never again the light Of reason would
shine within his eyes, or the words Of love
he SO we'll knew how 10 utter fall from
his lips. ~ .,' 1885 ! -" u ~
These thoughts slowly came back to-
night - sat alone==the~ first evening I
had spent alone since; my marriage; but
Will had been called away by important
business, and would not be- back until
late, perhaps not until tomorrow. =
Once more the tears. came within my
syes2as I contrasted my lot with Victors,
OF sbuddered at the fate which would
have been mine had l followed nv first
mad impulse to be his at any cost. >.
Yet, had not the loss Of the girl he
loved fastened his doom2 The physi-
clans said not: but their verdict would
not satisfy nv nervous dread. I sighed
a long tremulous, sigh at this latter
thought. %t5;.,..!:.!! !4;<HA
And surely--was it imagination9-
somewhere within the room the sigh was
re-echoed.
We had in the month Of roses two long
French windows, draped with blue satin
and lace, opened on q vernada, which, as
the evening was cool, were closed and
fastened; but Us | glanced round, with a
strange misgiving at my heart, l saw the
folds of one tremble.
The window must then be open; yet I
felt no air. ~: 1;ei.:...~' s.:.~.5 .,. ~
With this thought ] arose from my
seat, stepping forward to ascertain the
cause, but had barely taken single step
when stopped, my blood frozen, unable
to make another movement, or even part
my lips to scream for help.
On the blue surface was mans white
hand-no rnffianis hand, but white and
handsome. O.
A ring cleaned on one of the fingers,
and on Is lusthe .iny eyes rested. fasci-
mated as the dove by the serpent. Where
surely surely, though where my tortured mind
Then .nnmsnine all nv, strength and
courage, with desperate effort I turned to
leave the room. Once put closed door
between myself and that that; white b hand,
ment step from his copcealme't, and I
might know what best could be done.
scarcely see, though the room was brill
. Eantly lighted, to grippe my way to the
door. '>,''' 49, >, .
At last approached # and stretched
out my'arm TO- open the way 70 freedom
when i've white fingers. one: bearing the
cleaning rlDg, we're lad on mine. ana
slowly drew me back into the room:
.s..|Look At me-" said voice. ut is
- QQK. RoEks@;yQn need not lea.
Then ! reeizeqs tbs truth and glanclng
% me- 80" '''''' ''' 1~'ss s'I'o q ''
Ny :si sfnsst9s was Of !ss a
'i0id s6ftness:s around his mouth swvas the
old old s%iis; "a, tboush lis Words s. We're ere
Could he 81 mad, @0t had recovery
come TO him. spite es;' Of t The pyhspapps
hopeless decfeef .t..ts. ss.sa:.,... ia,: .as9
..Ga !, laughed asnervoas laugh, a. Ian
sWered, ~aow comic You 81 Static en- me-
Victor1 What strange way to pay me
3 Z L.