The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-12-10
deeper hoIIows, and there were black

the usual hour, Arnold came as before.
As soon as the lights We're brought in
he again besought me to mesmerize
him. firmly refused, but / could not
rest my eyes upon him for moment
without his face beginning toeuiyer and
his pupils TO dilate, and the very feeling
that must not look at him made the de-
sire almost unconquerable. Matters
went on thus for upward of week
But surely, it will be said, you could
have devised some means of keeping
him away; yoa might have requested
your landlady 10 refuse him admittance.
Truly, l could have done so, hut-well,
| must confess il even in my own de-
fense-Arnold had begun TO throw a
strange glamour over me; ] dreaded his
coming, yet | experienced vague yearn-
ing when he was absent | had fallen
myself within the mershes of the spell
l had unconsciously cast upon him.
One afternoon he arrived rather earlier
than usual; there was certainly some oc-
cult sympathy between us, for the mo-
ment he entered the room / felt that
crisis was come.
He was in very weak health, and he
sank down in q chair looking very pale
and exhausted, and wiped the damps
from his forehead, while his breathing
was very labored; and there was fever
SttklGE tltC ICSklcSS eyes anu Il EGu
spot in each hollow cheek.
How very i'll you look,'' said, pity
ingiy; "let me give you glass of
wine
"No, want nothing" he said, in a
sasping tone, there's quite fire enough
within me now: am being slowly burn
ed up
"Have you seen doctors" / asked,
growing very nervous.
- doctor,n lie echoed with a mock
ing laugh. "Oh, yes, have seen a doc
tor, but he can do me no good. 1t is you
who are killing me-"
IT. l answered family.
Yes" he answered; "since the night
you tore the heart and soul out Of my
body, cannot live without you, and
won't"
was very much terrified by his wild,
excited looks, but replied with great
show of ffrmness; You talk nonsense,
Arnold; why. you are married already"
did not know at the moment whether
it was really so, but there was a vague
impression among the company that
such was the case, and it was upon that
authority only that spoke.
"How did you know that-you ques-
| toned me when was under your in
| fluence 81 he retorted sharply.
/ utNA LOt, Out II Is Anu
under such circumstances, how dare you
address me in such terms?' l exclaimed
| growing very indignant, perhaps more
! in seeming than in reality.
Yes" he replied dejectedly, Il am
married 10 a woman | hate, TO Il woman
| l left at the church door, ! was forced
| into it by my friends--never mind why,
that would not interest YOU"
He paused for moment, then laying
! his trembling finger upon my arm, he
! added: Alice" he had come to call
| me by my Christian name, "if anything
were to happen to her-if she were to
/ die, would you be my wife,
L started away from him, eXclaiming ::
| Don't talk like that, it is too horriblep'
| But he followed me, and again grasp
| cd my arm, and said: ''Alice, | told you
| just now that | cannot live without you,
and that | will not, and l swear before
/ God that if you do not give me this
! promise, when | leave this house | will
| throw myself over the bridge into the
river-I swear it,"
| Men-and women, too-say these
| things in moments of strong passion
without keeping their words; but knew
! that he would keep his, the mysterious
| sympathy that had been created between
| us told me so, told me that if he left me
VIII t1dl lHOt9uL uCdi jAt NbulO
not be 4 living man within the next
hour.
1t was nearly dark, just between the
| lights and his face cleaned out of the
| shadows white and terrible, and then
! thought how il would look when 1t was
| drawn out of the water with the long,
dangling hair clinging about IT.
sit is not much to ask of YOU" he
went on pleadingly. why, she may out
! live US both; more than likely; there is
nothing shocking in it-she is nothing
to me, never has been, only the mockeTy
of a ceremony links u.s."
"But what is the use of such pledge,
what satisfaction can it be 10 you?" l
said, still with my face covered, for l
dreaded to meet his eyes.
Il don't know" he answered, 'it
would give me sort of hope that can't
live without. that | won't live with
/ OUT
Well, / gave him the promise. 1
daresay you will consider it was very
wicked of me TO do SO. / think so my
self But thought 1t was almost i'm
possible that l should be ever called
upon to fulfill it, and how could hest.
tate when n mans life seemed to be al
stake?
The following morning, as was seat
ed at breakfast, | caught sight of AR
nold's dark figure passing my parloI
window, and the next moment | heard
his now well-known knock at the street
door, l put down the cup of coffee thai
l had raised halfway 10 my lips, while
an unaccountable dread stole over NE.
One glance at his countenance as ht
entered the room told me that something
had happened. He did not look a; me
nor even exchange greeting, as he laif
down his hat and took chair.
II have strange news 10 tell you
AlIce,' he said in a voice thick and in
distinct with agitation.
"For Gods sake don't tell me that
l could not complete the utterance o
my fears, my voice died away in m,
: throat, and with parted lips and rigit
eyes l could only await the explanation
Meantime he had taken from hi
breast-pocket a letter, which he rose ant
offered me. 1t had deep black border
| shrank back; | would not touch it
knew lis contents.
you knew what was to happen-yo
have cruelty entrapped me" exclaime
, bitterly.
E He threw himself upon his knees d
, my feet. 81 swear most solemniy," Ii
l cried, al did notr It was very suddeI
!, the letter will tell you SO; heart diseas
j her friends had scarcely moment
7 warning"
There was that in his tone could nc
T disbelieve, and when, after while,
q brought myself to read the fatal letter,
$ found his assertions were there full
{ confirmed.
Y This makes il all the more horrible,
i I cried, .for now feel as though wei
II in some way the cause Of her DEATH"
o | implored him to release BE from N
Il / &c ros1aiuo- npod could como 4
It a marriage contracted under such a
d spices. But he only repeated the Oh
:, words: 81 cannot live without you, an
J. won'tl''
} My friend, who could perceive ho'
r ill-assorted we were, did all in her poy
er TO persuade me to break with hin
n Leave the company" she said; "give I
= notice of your intention and go home, {
take another engagement under anoth'
C name"
e But felt that could not break vo
It so solemnly made, and which fate, whetl
IS er for good or evil, had so suddenl
I called upon me 10 fulfill.
4. No, / am wrong; did not love him
.e il was only glamour-whether the 7
suit of supernatural influence or mel
r Superstition cannot pretend to say
was mixture of dread, rcpulsion an
Y. fascination.
II That day two months was our weddin
Re day. had striven bard to postpone
S to much later date, but he would NJ
IS give me a moments peace until CO.
4. sented. "She was my wife only
name,'' he kept urging, $50 what need
1t there Of delay -
20 Although the strange manner of OF
,s53 wooing was unknown TO everybody, sa'
= the friend have before mentioned,
was impossible for the company not
see how matters stood between US. b
- somehow we he'd drilled away from u
= resi-, aud now kept aloof from them, al
4, only an occasional hint CT inuendo,
:. sly look, told us of their observation.