The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-05

with strange smile.
"Deadp repeated the old man, drink
ing from his pewter cup like a satisfied
child.
In spite of long fast, Redmond could
not eat. These strange people had risen
among his rosy bridegroom visions like
ghosts at a feast.
81 am very tired-too tired to eat" he
said, rising from the table. 81 would
like to 60 to rest; for / must be on my
way early in the morning"
Barbara bowed her cold, beautiful face.
"Kathy will show you a room-her
rooml He shall sleep there once-his
last sleep!" she murmured, turning away.
"She is crazy, tool" thought Redmond,
leaving the room.
The chamber into which the old woman
ushered him was large, irregular, full Of
hooks and shelves, on which were piled
articles of female apparel.
elias Miss Barbara given me her own
bedroom, I wonderw he asked, looking
about him, as soon as he. was left alone.
At the head of the bed hung family
portrait hale man and three children,
boy and two girls. In the dark, bright
beauty Of one he failed to recognize the
childhood of the pale, cold woman he
had Just left, but the infantile beauty
of the youngest girl had in it something
familiar.
"a pretty child; the eyes--whose do
they remind me ofT' he mused.
His eye wandered and fell upon scar
let cloak flung over chair, and then to
pair Of dainty shoes hanging from peg.
There was knot of pink ribbon beneath
the little round mirror of FURNISHED steel
and Leghorn hat hung out from an
overcrowding chest.
"a last years bird's-nest," said Red
mond, giving clumsy, tapestried chair
a little shake, to clear it Of dust, before
he threw his cloak over it; "and am
tired enough to sleep anywhere. wonder
what my little bride will think" was his
last thought, as he composed himself to
sleep.
He awoke with the dawn and sprang
up. Early as it was breakfast was await
ing him, and his horse was saddled at the
door.
! M am afraid that you have been put
to some trouble on my account" he said,
as Barbara appeared, and took her place
at the table. 81 meant to have taken
my leave without disturbing any one in
the house."
"Yon could not have done that" she
answered, looking at him with the same
strange smile he had before noticed.
1t was cold, almost cruel look, he
thought, as he hastily supped the milk,
and tasted the wheaton bread, still with
little appetite.
As he arose from the board, his hostess
arose also.
'The storm is over, but the rain has
made some of the turns impossible" she
said. "My horse is saddled; will ride
with you, and put you on safe road out
of the gap" ... .. .,...
In vain he protested. She mounted a
black horse, and rode at his side down
the path. She wore black cloak, her
pale, chiseled face under its hood. Red
mond looked at her covertly, wondering
how she could be so beautiful and yet Sc
repulsiye to him. ....
''Your father never goes abroad3" he
asked, by way Of conversation.
"No. He sits all day, with my BROTH
ers dogs, trying to clean the boys rifle
that will never be used again"
"Your brother is dead, then7"
"He died of broken heart"
"Your family have seen trouble" said
Redmond, carelessly.
eve have seen bitter trouble" she an
swered. ..... ......
4 After moment she resumed "Wt
had sister, who was our daring and
our pride-the boys twin. She was mur
dered. Twins hearts grow together, you
know. She could die and Nugent live
His strength followed her weakness. WI
are left to poverty, desolation and de
cay. Where are you going, Lord Bed
mond%
He was convinced that she was partly
crazed, and told the truth, thinking i
a more pacific theme for her gloomy
mind.
81 am going home to be married"
"Wherew
cat Redmond Castle"
"Is your bride youngr
I "Young and lovely; my cousin-th'
Lady Ann Delaney"
"She loves youT
eyes. See this little mare I ridel
bought it tor her 10 ride over tho hill
with, when the spring comes"
"Lord Redmond, stop!" she cried.
"Do you know where you stand?" sh,
cried. "You stand before my sister
. grave-my sister whom yOu murdered
three years ago, by false vows, as surely
as the knife murdersl You know whom
, am now-I can see it in your face
You remember Bess McCrea. You wol
her love; she came home to die. It i
you who have ruined US. Do you thinl
I shall let you go to happiness9 Never
There is her grave! You shall 60 over j
to yeur deathp'
The mound was on the very edge Of
! cliff. He held his horse desperately, btl
she urged hers forward step, passin,
him to the very brink, so that ishorse'
n