The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-04-14

iuk Cuoecu sOBo QUO OI whom more
was known-some retired merchant
some gentleman of fortune whose
father had been known to her friends
Nothing, to be sure could be said
about the Spauiard or Cuban with
the English name but who knew
any thing 10 bis favor?
However no Que said this to Mrs
HahfoDt. or if any one had, word.
never changed woman's fancy yet
Mrs Halifont belived in Col,nel
Humphries, and meant to marry him
too.
Indeed the trossesu was prepared
the wedding day fixed, all was ready
aud Ida Halifont believed herself 1,
be very happy woman. She once
mure built castles 10 the air. HeI
old sorrow seemed TO fade away in
The distance. She was u girl again
AT last only twenty-four hours lay
between ber and her wedding day
She was busy 10 her Sc wing room
on the last day, finishing some ru file,
In lace and ribbons, singing softiy u
berself when suddenly the house wa-
filled with cries.
An old servant, while cutting
the grass upon The lawn, had wound
ed himself seriously. The doctor
was sent for al once, but was not a
hume, and mean while poor Zebedee
was bleeding to death
Suddenly Ida Halifont remembered
that Mr. Humphries had said that be
understood wounds. as though b,
had been bred surgeon. Wlthoul
this, it would have been natural for
her to call one who was SO soon TO bt
her protector, in moment OF anxiety
She would call him herself that there
might be no delay and sezlog heI
garden bat she ran along little patti
thar leo from her ground To that o
Mr Humphriss, climbed low fence
10 save Time which would have been
lost iu reaching gate, aud SO gained
the rear OF the gelling, of which To
morrow she will be mistress
She thought herself terrified and
distressed She felt rather injured
in that such an unpleasant tbiag a.
the wound of poor old z ebedes should
have happened on the eve of her
wedding day Ten minutes bef,rt
che thought herself at that moment
as utterly at ease--wonderoas
happy-for, as she reached those
windows and peered half timdly
through the curtains, q thing happen
ed thai made ali she had ever suffer
ed appear as nothing
The room, The windows of which
she bad approached, was one lba
opened out of cOnservitOry. Sne
saw Colonel Hunphries busy with
some rare plants Re bad just eet oul
to the sunshine that fell through the
glass. He had taken of bis coat an d
rolled up bis sleeves. Now be LETT
the conservatory. aud coming forward d
proceeded TO wash bis hands 10 ba
sin of water that he had set read J
for him He was close to Ida Hall
font. He did not see her, but shs
could have reached out her hand aud
touched him Why did she not spsas
aud call him by name? Why did she
sink down upon her hands aud trem
ble ike an aspen leaf? Alas tht
awful reason was this: Upon tba
arm to which she was about TO give
the right to clasp her in tender EN-
brace she saw terrible mark
mark she had seen once before. Sht
knew it's shape size and color. Hell
eyes had been rive ed upon it as The
sinewy hand, at the wrist of wbict
it ended, grssped her dying husband.
throat. She had learned all it by
heart; she could not be deceived
Though many years had rolled away
that horrible marked arm was not u
be forgotten or mistaken tor any 9th
er
Suddenly Colonel Hunphries fell
himself grasped by band that
small as 1t was, had the fierce touct
of tigers claw. The fingers closed
over that red merk-a white fac,
came close to his.
You are my husbands murder
er !" hissed voice in bis ear
Then the two stood staring a.
each otoer. He made no denial He
only looked down to the red mari
upon bis arm and cursed it aloud
"How dare you make love 10 me?'
che gasped You"
Because | loved you," be said
Woman. if / bad not fallen 10 love
with you that night, would have
kllleo you also. 1t was ri-king my
lie to spare you, with your scream,
calling help to hunt me down-"
"Oh, if you had bar killed me
then - she moaDed.
"Well, am at your mercy now
be said:
She answered:
"You can kill l wish you would
] pray do it You killed my bus.
band. The murderer of husband
must be brought to justice, and l.
yesterday, nay, an hour ago-l loved
you! Oh, God, pity me 1 have
loved this man, this thief, wh, came
in the night to rob my husband, aud
who murdered him
Sue remembered saying this AT
terward d strange drowsiDess over
came ber. She seemed To let 60 her
hold on the world She faiotIy rec
ogDized the fact that Colonel Hum
phries knelt at her feet and kissed
her hands. Then there were blsnl
hours. and strange, wild dreams, and
she awakened in the twilight and
found herself bound fast 10 great
arm chair, ,ong cords about her srms
tleing ber hands and con6Ding Rel
feet. So her servants iouDd her, bul
she was the only lising being 10 the
great house. ColoDel Humphrie.
/ aud bis two black servants bad van
iahed