Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-08-28
Her Love or her Life.

The road that led from the small ralwa,
station to the business part of the pleasant
town wound for nearly mile along tht
banks of a picturesque stream, across
wooden bridge, and up broad avenu,
flanked by handsome villas.
Just across that bridge, at the close of
dark, sunless day, stopped before the tai
gate of plain black iron fence, and scruti
niZed interestedly the grounds and house
within the rather grim enclosure The
place attracted me irres;sably, although the
building was decidedly not d 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 as 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 violets
filled 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; he
looked up, smiled, and at once hurried to-
wards me.
You have come, he observed laconi-
cally, but affably. GLOW do you like the
placei"
81 can scarcely decide that as yet, | re-
turned smiling at his eagerness; ''but it
looks to me something like the nest of a
wild bird who by mistake builded in a
garden of roses. 1t is very unlike the gay.
modern mansion on the other side of the
avenue
81 hope you do not regret having
bought it, Phillip" he commenced un-
easily.
'eNot at all, Horace" l assured him
promptly; ''my business keeps me in this
town at least seven months of each year,
and l am heartily tired of the noisy hotel
over yonder. / like the quiet of a retired
home, and shall employ a housekeeper
and make bachelor Paradise of the house
you are leaving"
81 have some fine old wine you must
taste before you CO." he remarked as, after
conducting me through the open door and
spacious hall, he led me into large, dim
room.
''Thanks for the wine, if it will help ex-
pedite our slight task of business" | said
lightly; 81 must catch the next train, you
know"
He acknowledged my hint with a smile,
and left me alone.
| drew back the crimson curtains of a
broad west window, and gazed curiously
about the apartment. The ceiling was de-
licately frescoed, and the walls exqui-
sitely painted in some pale-pink tint. The
velvet carpet was like a vast bed of moss
scsttered over with dainty red rosebuds. A
table of rosewood and marble stood in the
centre of the room, and as | sat down be-
side it golden beam from the setting SUN
uuSllCu JHIOuSl pdlJC Ouu OA thN
window and lighted large picture on the
wall before me. 1t was the life-size paint
ing of a woman-a young creature whose
form was all queenliness and grace, whose
yellow hair was wound in great snaky coils
about a naughty but must lovely head,
whose laughing, mocking lips were as red
as rubies, whose skin was as dainty white
as the leaf of lily, whose eyes and brows
and lashes were dark as night She wore
some old Venetian costume of purple vel
vet, draped with cloudy lace and sowr
with moony pearls. With shudder
turned away from that pictured vision Of
wicked, smiling beauty.
sIt is the portrait of Horace Chichester
renegade wife," thought
| knew very little about the domestic
sorrow of my friend. / knew that he haC
married one whom he hadloved passionate
ly, that she had deserted him, and hit
trouble had made him misarthrope and ;
wanderer; but knew nothing more. AL
though we had been confidential associate
in our college days, we had been for sever
al years almost strangers, and now | die
not care to question bim of a trouble thai
he evidently did not wish to discuss. But
had no kindness or mercy for the wife
who. believed, had made him the wreck
he had become, and whom / had neve
seen.
That day ne spoke to me. ..of her for the