The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1880-04-15
the door. A woman staggered up bear.

the door. A woman staggered up bear
ng babe in her arms.
BREAD" !" she gasped, "my child and
I are dying, dying for food" -
The despairing look in Aileen's face
told the woman that her prayer could
not be answered. The woman gave a
cry of anguish. ...
"Oh, girl you cannot let my baby die!
See how pale and thin heis." ct
,Aiieen started back in horror as lit
tie dead face was placed close to hers,
and then for the first time she noticed
that the fires of insanity blazed i'll the
woman's hollow eyes. The poor crea-
ture turned and staggered off, leaving
Aileen to make resolve that she i'm
mediately carried out. - -.
She left the cottage and started in the
direction of the house in which the
agent lived. She walked slowly, for
aside from hunger-weakness a sicken-
ing agony sped through every pulse, s.nd
her very limbs seemed chilled with an
guish. She reached the house at last
and raped teebly. A servant admitted
her and led the way into the agents sit
ing room. An evil leer disfgured the
face of Morris Leinster, as he said:
"Ah! how do you do, my dearp Will
you please be seatedp" l - y
Aileen dropped into chair without a
word. Her torture was too intense for
words at the first moment. 2.
At last, through lips that quivered
pitifully, came the family uttered
words: .... ........ ..-.., -,
"Mr. LenisterI have called to inform
you that-that I have changed my de-
cision. 1 consent tc become your wife
If you will keep my family from starv-
ing"
How utterly dreary and despairing
was the pathos of her voice! but Morris
Leinster did not mind her, but smiling
said:
every well, Aileen! 1 will bring q
priest over to your house this afternoon
to perform the ceremony. Goodbye,
for a very little time, my dear little wife
to be-"
He put his arm around the shrinking
girl and drew her toward him. Aileen
saw the horrible light in his eyes as, he
bent his head toward her, and with q
scream she dashed his arm away and
left the house. Leinster stood before
the window and watched Aileen till her
tagging steps told him that her mo
mentarY strength had departed, and
then he turned awsy, rubbing his hands
and chuckling to himself:
"It is of as much use to beat against
the bars of fate as it is 70 thwart one +
my plans. All! my dainty Aileen. youi
discipline has just begun"
Aileen walked on, upheeding whittier
she went. She only longed' to get away
from even the sight of the house in
which she had spent fifteen wretched
On, on, until her strength
utterly failed, and it seemed as if she
never could reach her home. But at
last she reached it and told her family
what she had done. Their ferNent
thanks fell on ears that heard nothing.
"Oh, Neil! Neilr,swas Aileen's smotfr
cred cry. "Whst can I .dop ] hate
Morris Leinster, 7 loathe even the very
sight of him, and bow can I endure to
become his wifep" But "a knowledge;
that an external breakdown would be
agonizing TO the whole family prevented
her from giving expression to the in!
ward anguish that WIS torturing her
with inquisitorial pain.
Quickly, oh, 30 quickly, the hours
sped away. She counted every moment
as a miser counts his gold. But she
knew that Morris Leinster would keep
his word, and she was not snprepared
when the agent and a strange priest en-
tered the cottage. Her father greeted
them and then turned toward Aileen.
Mechanically she arose and placed aaice
cold hand on the agents.
Slowly the ceremony began. Why
did Aileen neglect to answer the ques-
ton of the priestP She bent toward
the door in q listening attitude, then
snatching away her hand, she disap
peared through the door, hastily pulled
open. Nothing was said. for astonishT
ment sealed their lips. They were not
less amazed to see bronzed and
bearded man enter the still open door,
carrying in his arms senseless burden.
Neil O'Neale's quick wit gave q solu-
tion to the scene that met his eyes. He
pointed to the door and his eyes cleaned
like blue stilettoes, as he said in stern,
Imperative tone, $50, and bear in mind,
that if you cross the pathway Of .Aileen
Clary again you take your life III your
hands," Foied, the covering agent
skunk away. The priest, at a motion
of Nel's, remained. Soon Aileen had
30 far recovered, as to be able to place
the 70 longer reluctant hand in Neil's,
and say the words that bound her to,
HI m forauor L /, b.