West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-07-19


meaning from the sheet, she hid il hastily
in her bosom, for her fathers steps were
approaching She shook 80 with fear al
the sound that her trembling obliged her TO
hurriedly empty her hands of flowers and
fly from the room
't'et your supper now my child. and be
dressed early ~ he called after her. as he en-
tered the apartment by another door.
The warm, hearty voice filled her with "A
pang of shame for the deception she was
practicing,
81 would-oh, | would tell him if |
dared! she said To herself 'But have
i have right to love 50 good a man as
my cousin Allanl"
She composed herself with difficulty. and
entered the supper-room. At the table old
| aunt Dorinda detailed some culinary woe
connected with the evenings refreshment
and she soon escaped from the room almost
unnoticed.
But glancing back as she closed the glass
door, Clarice saw her father stoop To the
carpet and pick up "A paper. Pressing her
hand quickly to her breast she found Allan's
note gone.
Sick with terror, she leaned against the
wall, and saw her father, slowly unfolding
the note, pass out one of the long windows
oil the supper-roOm upon the piazza. Then
she went, almost blindly, TO her own room.
AS soon as the first shock of alarm was
over, Clarice hastily penned note to oAllan
forbidding him to come, and sent il 10 him
by one of the house servants.
''Get it To Mr. Larrimer within half an
hour James, and will give you that for
your sweetheart, y slipping "A ruby ring from
her finger
The mulatto showed his teeth and slipped
alertly away.
But Clarice's hands trembled so that she
could scarcely thread out the great hraids of
her fair hair, She was glad her maid had
been pressed into other service, that she
might hide from the girl her white face and
shaking hands.
AT last Lucille came hurrying in:
The people are coming, Miss Cline and
your father wants YOU"
Dropping on her knees, Lucille looped
up, with clasps of dead gold, her mistrcss's
misty skirt and, catching up fan and bou
quet, Clarice fastened TO take her stand at
her fathers side, as the first bevy of laugh
ing guests trooped up the broad steps, un-
der the moonlight, among the flowers.
Not once dared she look at him, and he did
not address her
When the last guest had arrived, he Gov
cred his face with "A domino and entered the
crowd
And Claricel She yet stood in the great
arched hall, under garlands of roses, faint
with apprehension, and anxiousy watching
for James return.
1t was eight o'clock. If the man should
miss seeing Allan, the latter was liable to
appear at any moment, and her sinking
spirit told her that it would be at the risk
of his life
Suddenly her lips broke apart. her eyes
dilated. In the very thickest of the throng.
In the centre of the principal apartment,
stood figure in troubadours dress, a
pink ribbon on the sleeve A domino con
cealed the face, but the sunny hair, waving
under the plumed cap, was Alan's very
own.
Like one transfxed she stood. The trans
parent nails of one small hand cut into the
soft palm. yet she seemed in some horrible
trance. She dared neither advance nor ad-
dress Allan nor retreat from view, yet she
knew some instant measure must be taken
10 prevent her father and lover from com
ing into collision.
She looked down the rooms the former
was not TO be seen. But the next instant.
door swinging wide, she beheld him at
Allan's side
She turned, and would have fled i'm very
terror, but the sudden sound of her fathers
voice transiiXed her The terrible temper
OF Hartley Cline was aroused, and forget
ting all else he covered his unwclcomc guest
with maledictions.
What taunt flew back she could not guess
but a herculean blow suddenly fclled the
troubadour to the ground
score of hands seized the mailman. for
he was little else, so terrible was the SUI
premacy of his passion, and forced him
aside, while others tenderlY raised the pros.
tratc man literally weltenng IN his blood.
His head had struck the projecting arm of
bronze statue as he went down, frightful-
ly gashing it,
physician pressed through the crowd.
and his hand removed the domino. A white
boyish face was revealed, one that had late
~ come far over the seas, to be met cruelty
indeed. No other than Leigh Cline.
your son, sir :" said voice, sternly in
Hartley Cline's ear
"My SOM
He pushed them all aside, with rsde.
irresistible force, and bent low over the
scnseless face, like one growing blind
Leigh, Leigh-my boy, Leigh thought
no matter what thought--God, he is
dying g."
For a tremor shook the PROSTATE form !;
then It lay very still.
They lifted the young man softly up,
and bore him TO his chamber, the physician
shaking his head as he followed.
The guests dispersed the crowd melted
away. Hartley Cline stood alone i'm the re-
bukng stiffness Of the lovely rooms. and
lifting up his voice, wept.
what sob echoed hiss His daughter git
ted through the hall, speeding ON some or.
rand Of the physicians orders. Then ALI
was still, until the latter came quietly down
the stairs
~ can do nothing more, sir
He, TOO, was gone.
Hartley Cline believed that his only son
lay dead In the chamber above.
That terrible night whitened his abund
ant hair. All through its hours he walked
the floor. At length in the still dawn.
Calrice, white as a spirit, touched his arm
Father, Leigh breathcs We think he
is little better
Hartley Cline sank into an armchair.
''Oh, thank God thank God !" he cried
Faithfully, humbly, through long weeks.
he nurscd his family breathing son back 10
life
At first Clarice feared 10 address her
father but he was gentle and kind with
her, with all. For be had changed utter
ly, utterly changed That dominant fcm-