The Osceola times., 1879-02-01
A TRAGEDY OF LOVE.

The 1lth of October, 1910, was wild
night, night OF cloud,rack and pale,
intermittent moonlight. The high
westerly wind seemed like a demon let
loose over sea and land. In cities houses
were unroofed and chimney-pots fell
with the sound OF thunder. On seas,
full of hurry and confusion, ships stag.
gered blindly, with isr more chance OF
going down than of making port.
On that night carriage with foaming
horses ard shouting post-boys, drew up
before the principal inn at Deal The
carriage was occupied by two persons, a
mau and woman, who, having heard
that they could obtain good nights
shelter, dismounted.
Seen ny the bright light of the inn par.
lor, the two travellers showed strange
contrast. The woman, or girl, rather
for she could not have been more than
twenty-presented striking type of
village beauty. She was tall and straight
with fine sbspey figure. She had
brown hair, thick and curling. There
was a wistul look in the d.Ik, deep ewes
whose abundant treses fell ON rounded,
warmly-tinted cheeks. The lips, ripe
and red, might have excused any man
for longing to kiss them.
Her companion, who was at least ten
years older, was evidently in very dit-
erent position of lite. He must have
had good blood in his veins; at least you
could have guessed it from the long, ,slen"
der fingers, terminating in the exquisite
filbert-shaped nails. He WAS tall and
slightly fashioned. Tie face would have
been called handsome one, but it was
too pale and too delicate in outline to
suggest the idea of complete and manly
beauty.
He drew down her head upon his
shoulder, smoothing lovingly her soft,
trown hair. They had the room to
themselves, and 20 wrapped up were
they in each other, that they failed TO
notice a face from outside, which pressed
close against the blindless window, was
watching them with bright, strained,
sinister eyes. But wnen the girl, chang
ing her position, did catch sight of the
face, the blood suddenly foisook her
cheeks and lips, and uttering a short,
sharp cry, she hid her face again on her
husbands shoulder.
"Ob, my God, it can not be!' she ex.
claimed. "We are watched Arthur.
Don't you see?',
But the face had vanished, and so Old
worth replied quietly;
"My darling, see nothing. 1t is only
nervous fancy" adding as she WI
shivering in his arms, "the long, wint
drive has been too much for you-you
have taken chill Yes, / think you
have. Let us 20"
Oidw0rth was about to ring the bell
when the door opened and closed, and
man came up to where they were stand
ing-a man about the middle height,
but powerfully built. His face beaten
by wind and tanned by sun, was one
which, having seen, you could not easily
forget, The eyes which looked straight
out at you from under the heavy, over
hanging brows, had in them a strange
and indescrlbable fascination. He was
a man, you could tell, who meant to
have his own wsy-a sort otmastif1, dan.
gerous when reused.
"I have come to offer my congratula-
tions," he said, addressing himself to
Oldworth's wife and holding out his
hand, which she did not appear to see.
" l have heard all about 1t from the post
boys--all about the grand wedding down
at farmer Grants this morning. 1t is
lucky, my meeting you here. was on
my way to give you important news,
which have brought from over the sea
with me. It's not night when a man
travels faster than be needs. But / can't
say you seem glad to see an old acquaint.
ance."
MY. FRIEND" put in Oldwortb, "this
lady is my wife. She has had long and
fatiguing ride, and i. tonight quite unfit
for conversation; but tomorrow, before
resuming our journey, she will am sure
be happy to exchar &c the warmest wishes
with YOU"
Oldworth had spoken in tone of
sweet patronage, but the other man never
looked in his direction, only saying to
May, That's your choice, il iti Why,
he laoks a. II breath of wind vcuh