Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-07-07
AT THE BARS.

down to the bars beside the road,
that leads through the lovely valley
in which she lived.
The night was one of the lowell
est of the year. Myriads of stars
twinkled overhead, and a light wind
stirred the leaves lying like a COW
erlid of gold upon the ground.
Lonely looking stood the old bars
amid the landscape CT nocturnal
beauty. and the country belle
brought them bright companion
ship for which they seemed to long
Lucie Drayton was a farmers
daughter, but her beauty could
not be concealed behind the hum
BILE door. 1t had escaped like some
radiant bird from its cage, and in
the thriving town, nested among
the hills far away, the young gentle
men drank in her loveliuess, and
longed to pay their court to the
farmers daughter.
She was a frequent visitor TO the
bars, for there, on stated occasions,
she had met young man who had
ridden from the town for the pur-
pose Of looking into her bright
eyes and telling her that be loved
her with his whole soul.
And Lucie believed him.
Legal business first brought
Shirley Dighton to the elegant
farmhouse, and there he encounter
ed the fair girl. \ mutual affection
at once sprang up between the
twain, much to the discomfort Of
several gallants who wished that
it had been otherwise. While
farmer Drayton harbored no i'll
feeling against the young law
yer, he did not encourage the visits
that followed the legal call, and so
the lovers held meetings at the
bars, undisturbed by any one.
On the particular night that in
augurates our story, Lucie Dray-
ton was waiting for the lover
who met her so often at the bars,
She saw the wind scatter the leaves
as she looked down the star-lit road,
and fancied that she could see him
crossing the bridge that spanned
the river not far away.
At last the sound of hoofs greet
ed her ears, and brought smile tc
her face. She felt that Shirley
Dighton, true to his word, was com
ing down the valley thoroughfare.
Waiting, with a look of wei
come, she stood at the bars, an(
presently in the CLEAN of the star
light, q white horse came in sight
At the same time the maiden heard
the sound of voices, instantly be
face assumed look of disappoint
ment.
Shirley Dighton always rode un
accompanied to the bars.
With her heart almost throbles
in her bosom, the country bell
saw two horses approach, and hear
the voice-the clear ringing laugl
of a woman, which she at one
recognized.
at is Belle Wingate y murmur
ed Lucie with a frown. "Can it b
that he is riding with her."
But it was the white horse an
his rider that commanded Luci
Drayton's attention. The ma
looked like Shirley Dighton in tn
night, and the voice was undoubtet
" his. The sight, the thought, mao
her blood chill she was GROWN
faint.
Back behind the post she san
with a CLEAN of indignation
her eyes, and watched the twai
The man was Shirley Dighton, al
the woman Belle Wingate - d
heartless coquette of the Virgini'
valley, and, if rumor was true, Il
widow Of a man whom her hear
less conduct had driven to a 81
cide's death.
They were laughing as they a
preached the bars, and when direC
~ opposite, Lucie heard the m
IN q cold, heartless tone:
"These are the bars, darlin
Here a hundred times have ma
the foolish girl believe that | Low
her,"
Lucie Drayton could not shri
as the words went TO her hea
Her face became deadly pale, a
without a word, but with a ga
she sank, faint and helpless, at
foot of the bars