The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-12-26

from the ocean stirred the draperies
from the window.
Without, the atmosphere was weary,
oppressive, as though a starm we're
broodiug. 1t seemed to weigh on
Vaughn Dare's spirit.
HI leaned out to look into the Dight
to try, if possible, to shake it off.
a faint scream reused him.
Miss S;erne had crossed the room to
her escritore; breath Of wind had
blown the lace shawl she had thrown
about her shoulders, and fastened on
her hair, directly across the flame of the
lamp. It had instantly taken fire.
AS instantly, Dare comprehended
the danger. A table stood at his side,
covered with some pretty, dainty cloth.
lie dragged it off, and threw il about
her.
Scarce sixty seconds, aud the peril
was over! She was uuscorched, un
marred, bat he still held her as he had
caught her--close wrapped in his
pressed to his heartl
One of his hands was severely burn
ed IL did not even know it, until
she caught and pressed it TO her lips
For met she whispered. "Vaughn,
Eaughul | love you-I love you! The
life you have saved Is yours"
At her words, he slowly opened his
arms and released her from his hold
an ashen pallor creeping on his face.
She looked up at him in dim, be
wildered wondermeut
"W bat is it?'' she questioned.
Only that you bave opened heaven
to me, and | must turn away from its
gates Mad, blind fool that l have
been, not to see whiiher We we're drift
ing Laura, love you-aye. as you love
me-and [ am bound in honor 20 an
other woman
You mean that you have been enga-
ged to-be-married all this time, add
I-Oh, what have | done?" covering
her face with hands and sinking back
in her chair.
Nothing he replied, "but what
the loveliest purest of women might
have done Knowing no evil, you
thought none. l."
Leave mel' she cried. bringing to
her feet. Go to the woman who has
the right to claim you. make to
heaven but one prayer-that l may
never see your face asain.'
But when he had obeyed her, she
crouched down on the floor in her
struggle to keep back the moans-aye
and kissed the spot where his feet had
rested.
! Calm, ,,saent, impassiVe, all her life
he had opened the pent up food gates
of her soul, for thi--for this
K =
1--WE have made a mistake. Forgive
me that my eyes were just opened t.
it, and that ask you to release mt
/ from my bonds l thought | loveC
/ you; but women do not always know
their own hearts. l sead you bacI
your ring, your letters. Send M,
back my broken pledge, and your for
] giveness
This note from his afFiauced, Vaughn
Dare, found waiting him in his room
on his return to the city. This, which
Fate bad sent him in the moment o
his need-this, which raised the weigh
from his chest, aud load from his brazil
which made him a free man-free I
WOO and win the only woman, he nov
knew, that he had ever truly loved.
1t would be little difficult, perhaps
to gain her forgiveness-to win aneI
her trust; but with such an end, an
the knowledge that she loved him b
could not fail
Why was it, then, that on the boa
returning, sleep forsook him? In tn
morning, he would fDd her sitting
perhaps, where he had first seen hel
He could fancy the naughty look c
incredulity on the beautiful face as h
approached, only to see it soften an
die out under the eloquent passion {
his words
All. how he loved herl Now, in th
new sense of his freedom, he dare
3 avow to his own soul how we'll.
But, spite of it all, the night wor
5 heavily away. Toward morning h
sought his berth. but only to lie al
2 toss restlessly about, until the steamt
] touched her pier.
1t was still early when he reache
D the hotel. A sudden chill seized BIZ
. as he entered the office. The fe
: standing about wore sad, plying loo
5 be could not understand.
"You have heard the terrible new
, Mr.. Dare?" the clerk questioned.
/ Il have heard nothing" lie abrupt
answered.
o "Wbatl you do not kneg? Mi
Sterne was drop ned Yesterday, whi
e bathing At first, she seemed aver,
TO going in, but they finally prevaile
] upon her. The tide was very stroH
! but they say when it swept beyond h
reach she seemed to smile. as thoug
she had no fear. She. uttered no mos
! or cry, and must have lost consciou
ness almost Immediately, for when Il
life boat was thrown her-they hops
t TO save her life-she made 20 effort
grasp it. Her body was recovered la
It night"
take me to her," Dare whispere
5 in hoarse, changed voice.
I It seemed as though he had know
h it all long ago. as though he had iiv'
o 10 another life Walking, as in
dream, with all trace of color fed fro
8 the cheek and lips, he followed to Il
closed door, where the man bad Il
II him. Then be opened it quietly al
; went in. The few watchers, takiI
a one glance at his awful face, rose al
y left him with his dead-ah, his oY