Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-01-16

great pain in her voice.
And you will see him before he
goesPn
"Oh no, no, Charlie. Oh, don't look
so cruel. / cant see him now, you
know | can'tr
Since you've heard that he's got a
wife elsewhere, ehw
Charlie! l don't care; it isn't that, "
she answered, chokingly. How could
she add 1t is because / have found
him base, untrue, when he seemed to me
like an angel of light"
Her red lips quivered; the tears stood
large and shining on her lashes, her
eyes were downcast, her hands folded
with the rigid clasp of despair.
:" shall never see him again." she
whispered, hoarsely;" but if you say all
is over between us, why it must be So"
Il don't say it need be, mind" he
said, looking pitifully down at her. "
can overlook a good deal, love you so
much, so much! God in heaven only
! knows Row muchtI have loved you.
But l won't have the face of that man
between us. God! no! nom and his
great shoulders lifted with the scarcely
drawn breath, while dark red hate
smoldered in his usually soft eyes.
alt shall be just as you say" she
murmured, meekly, without looking up.
" 1t shall be just as you say" he re-
piled. quickly. "Do you think you
could learn to love me again, little?"
he asked, the anger all gone. She was
so beautiful.
"Try me, Charlie. You are so strong
and good, and noble; l always felt that
and one can't long like where one
can't respect, can oneP" Her hands were
on his arm now, and the lovely plead
ing eyes uplifted to his.
ou won't see him again?"
Il won't--I swear l won't! What
should | want to see him for nowP" she
sobbed.
"Then, we will wait. This troupe
goes tomorrow. Don't cry, darling; |
dare say it will all come out right" and
after a few low-spoken words, the young
man left her, but by no means with
peace seated on his bosom's throne.
" Mamma, if anybody comes, say I'm
out" called Margaret, from the top
stairs.
"Well, l guess nobody'll be here to-
day, unless it's that actor fellow" was
the response. Don't walk in the sun, y
she added, for mother and father were
proud of their darliDg's beauty, and they
secretly wished for her better match
than even their neighbor's son.
Deep in the woods she struck, deter
mined never to see that too fair fatal
face again.
He'll be gone tomorrow" she half.
sobbed, holding her hands hard against
her heart, and l shall never see him
again. God be thanked! for, oh, / dare
not trust myself
The path, slippery, with pine-leaves
led TO a tavorite resting g-place-a cleared
spot through which ran a crystal-cleal
river. The place combined several dis.
tinctively beautiful features. Here she
stream, The soft shadows, the sweet
murmuring of the wind in the tops OF
the trees.
A footstep near startled her.
In the river, as in a mirror, she saw g
her--a graceful figure clad in black vel
vet, tile small hat, with its wavins
plumes, reflected, with the outstretcheC
hand that held it, in the blue depths.
She sprang to her feet, a burning fusl
| ONCl llOW anu nbCh, AIT
would have fled but that he was beside
her at bound.
My beauty! my darling! my own!'
''Sir, those words are an insult tC
me!' she cried with spirit, striving ir
vain to free herself from his caressine
arm.
"An insult! [ would die before
would offer you an insult, my beautiful
Come with me; l want to show you {
loyelier spot than this-come
" will not, she said, firmly, wrestling
herself from him, not daring to look VI
in his face. "How could you follow
mellow dared you?"
Love will dare anything" " he said
gayly, fastening his powerful eyes OF
her face, and drawing her glance I'D t.
his. Come, | will WOO you lik,
Claude Melnotte. And again he put al
arm about her; but, like flash of light
ming, the two were torn asunder, AM
the man was thrown headlong with on
blow from the powerful arm of Charli
Vance.
"Gow he said, sternly, pointing to til
frightened girl. I" can save you fror
his insolence, but | cannot promise t
save you from yourself Go, and thin
on your broken promises"
Later in the day Charlie came up t
Margaret's house and asked for her
"Whatever is the matter with TIL
child P" queried the mother. Ineve
saw her in such low spirits"
The young man made no answer, bu
went into the cool, shaded parlol
Presently Margaret came down, whit
rs a lilly. There was an unspoke
question in her wide, fearless eyes.
"Nc, l didn't kill him, ,Maggi
though he deserved it. l don't war
tie crime of murder on my soul, eve
for you, my poor girl. But sent hil
g away as subdued and cooleddown
: man as ever you see. Such men al
l always towards. And now, Maggie
you're free. ! never should want t
! ! think of the look you gave him while
l held you in my arms, ard | should hay
D to think of it. I've come to say goot
1 bye, for I'm off for the W est, and if evt
I-hellow
e There was low, broken sob, and G
+ his chest Margaret lay dead weigh
e The girl had tainted away.
e Well, u long sickness followed. Charl
e could not leave her lying there betwet
life and death, and the first visit aft
she could set up settled the matte
s Margaret had conquered her vanit
: which, after all, was more toucht
:. than her affections, ,-and found that the
: was only one image in the heart th
IS had been, as she thought, so torn wi
y conflicting struggles-and that was Il
frank, honest, blue eyed Charlie Vanc
le who had loved her ever since she was
,, baby.
d And of course they were married.