Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-08-27
Her Love or her Life.

The road that led from the small railway
station to the business part of the pleasant
town wound for nearly mile along the
banks of a picturesque stream, across a
wooden bridge, and up a broad avenue
fanked by handsome villas.
Just across that bridge, at the close of a
dark, sunless day, stopped before the tall
gate of plain black iron fence, and scruti-
nized interestedly the grounds and house
within tie rather grim enclosure. The
place attracted me irressably, although the
building was decidedly not miracle OF
architectural art, nor were the great shiver-
ing pines behind it suggestive of anything
particularly CHEEKY. The low polygonal
structure was of brick, red rs jasper, heavy
crimson curtains shaded the quaint win
dows, and the only door visible was broad
and solid, and paneled in curiously carved
oak, black with age. Weeping willows
and mountain ashes bordered the wide gras-
sy walk, and the scent of hidden violet;
filed the air.
Back under the pines saw tall, me,
lancholy figure moving to and fro, his dark
handsome head bowed, and his white,
shapely hands looked behind him. The
clash of the iron latch startled him; hC
looked UP, smiled. and at once hurried to-
wards me.
ssYou have come, = he observed laconi-
cally, but affably. ''How do you like the
placel"
81 can scarcely decide that as yet, i re-
turned smiling at his eagerness; ''but i
looks to me something like the nest of &
wild bird who by mistake builded in :
garden of roses 1t is very unlike the gay
modern mansion on the other side of tn,
avenue
q hope you do not regret having
bought it, Philip" he commenced un-
easily.
Not at all, Horace l assured hin
promptly; ''my business keeps me in thi:
town at least seven months Of each year
and am heartily tired of the noisy hote
over yonder. l like the quiet of retired
LONE, and | shall employ a housekeepel
and make a bachelor Paradise of the hous'
you are leaving.
Il have some fine old wine you mus
taste before you CO." he remarked as, aftel
conducting me through the open door anC
spacious hall, he led me into large, din
room.
Thanks for the wine, if il will help ex
pedite our slight task Of business, sai(
lightly; II must catch the next train, yoI
know
. He acknowledged my hint with smile
and left me alone.
/ | drew back the crimson curtains OF
broad west window, and gazed curiouslN
about the apartment. The ceiling was de
Ucately frescoed, and the walls exqui
sitely painted in some pale-pink tint Th'
velvet carpet was like a vast bed OF mos
scsttered over with dainty red rosebuds-
table of rosewood and marble stood in tn
centre of the room, and as | sat down be
side it a golden beam from the setting SUI
flashed through the parted curtains OF th'
window and lighted large picture on tn
wall before me. 1t was the life-siZe paint
inc of A woman-a young creature who's
form vas all queenliness and grace, who's
yellow hair was wound in great snaky coil
about naughty but must lovely head
whose laughing, mocking lips were as re-
as rlbies, whose skin was as dainty "hil
as the leaf of a lily, whose eyes and brow
and lashes were dark as night. She wor
some old Venetian costume of purple vel
vet draped with cloudy lace and SOW
with moony pearls. With shudder
turned away from that pictured VISION
wicked, smiling beauty.
.It is the portrait of Horace Chichester
renegade wife, thought.
| knew very little about the domestl
sorrow of nv friend. knew that he ha
married one whom he hadloved passionate
" that she had deserted him, and HI
trouble had made him misarthrope and
wanderer; but | knew nothing more. n
though we had been confidential associate
in our college days, we had been for sevel
nj wears almost strangers, and no" ~
NOT care to question BIN of a trouble IN
he evidently did not wish to discuss 81
had no kindness or mercy lor tiie WI
who. believed, had made him the "ree
be had become, and whom | had new
2 seen. =,
That day ne spoke to me.of her for u
r src, time We had finished our busine
! ! and our wine, and he had accompanied Il
4 70 the gate through the gathering dusk
!: the Spring evening.
= az shall travel, he said. Il intend
find INV wife wherever she has hiuu'
from me. | sinned to win her, ana II
cannot have her love i shall have Il
life." no
T could not bear to look upon his ago
,zed countenance expressive OF misery an
10 madness, and as l turned my eyes ava