The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-29

laugh. ooh, yes, have seen doctor, but
ne can do me no good. 1t is you who are
killing me.'
~" answered family.
eyes," he answered.; ''sincc the night
you tore the heart and soul out of my body,
can not live without YOU, and ] WON'T"
was very much terrified by his wild. cS.
cited looks. but replied with great show of
frmness: "you talk nonsense. Arnold; why,
you are married already"
| did not know ut the moment whether it
was really so, but there was vague impress
sion among the company that such was the
case, and it was upon that authority only
that spoke.
How did you know that-yott questioned
me when was under Your infllence:'' he
rctorted, sharply.
{" did not, 4yt find it is true. And un.
der such circumstances, how dare You ad.
dress me in such terms:" exclaimed. grow.
ing very indignant, perhaps more in seeming
than in reality.
EYES," he replied, aejectedly, T am mar
ried to woman hate, to a woman | left at
the church door. was forced into it by my
friends-neyer mind why, that would not in
tcrest you."
lie paused for moment, then laying his
trembling fingers upon my arm, he added:
"Alicc," he had come to call me by my
Christian name, "if anything were to hap;
pen to her-if she were to die-would you
be my wfew
I started away from him, exclaiming:
''Don't talk like that, it is too horrible"
But he followed me, and again srasped my
arm, and said: 'AIice, told YOU just now
that | can not live without you, and that l
will not, and swear before God that it you
do not give NE this promise, when leave
this house will throw my>eifover the bridge
into the riyer-1 swear it,"
Men-and women, too-say these things in
moments OF strong passion without keeping
their words: butf knew that he would keep
his, the mysterious sympathy that had been
created between us told me so, told me that
it he left me with that thought in his heart.
he would not be living man within the next
hour.
1t was nearly dark, just between the lights,
and his face cleaned out Of the shadows
white and terrible, and then thought how
it would look when it was drawn out OF the
water, with the long dark hair clinging
about it.
sit is not much to ask of you." he went
on, pleadingly, why, she may outliye us
both; more than likely; there is nothing
shocking in it-she is nothing to me, never
has been, only the mockery OF ceremony
links u.s."
"But what is the use OF such pledge
what satisfaction can it be to you:' said,
still with my face covered, for dreaded to
meet his eyes.
II don't KNOW" he answered, tit would
give me a sort Of hope that can't live with
out, that won't live without"
Well, l gave him the promise. l dare
say YOU will consider it was very wicked of
me to do so. think so myself. But |
thought it was almost impossible that
should be ever called upon to fulfill it, and
how could l hesitate when mans life seem.
ed to be at stake!
The following morning, as was seated at
breakfast, l caught sight Of ArnOld's dark
figure passing my parOr window, and the
next moment heard his now weil-known
knock at the street door. Ipnt down the
cup of coffee that l had raised half way to
my lips, while an unaccountable dread stole
over me.
One glance at his countenance as he en-
tered the room told me that something had
happened. He did not look at me, nor even
exchange q greeting, as he laid down his
hat ana LOOK cnalr.
81 have strange news to tell you, Alice,''
he said, in voice thick and indistinct with
agitation.
"For Gods sake don't tell me that"
l could not complete the utterance of my
fears, my voice died away in my throat, and
! with parted lips and rigid eyes could only
! await the explanation.
Meantime ne had taken from his breast
a. VS,hiO no nd off
| me, It had a deep black border.
shrank back: | would not touch it;
| knew its contents.
"Iou knew what was going to happen
you have cruelty entrapped me-, l ex.
! claimed, bitterly.
He threw himself down upon his knees al
| my feet. IL swear most solcmniy," he
cried, 81 did not. 1t was very sudden, the
letter will tell you SO; heart disease--hel
friends had scarcely moments warming"
There was that in his tone could not dis
believe, and when, after while, l brought
myself to read the fatal letter, | found hi.
assertions were there fully confirmed.
''ThiS makes it all the more HORRIBLE"
cried, "for l now feel as though was il
some way the cause Of her death.'
Iimplored him to release me from my
promise, as nothing good could come OF
marriage contracted under such auspices
But he only repeated the old words: 8"
can not live without you, and won'tv'
Nv friend, who could perceive how ill-as
sorted we were, did all in her power to per
suade me to break with him. "Leave thu
company" she said; ''give no notice of you
intention and 90. home, or take another EN-
.ayement under another name."
But felt that could not break VOW S,
solemniy made, and which fate, whether TO
good or evil, had so suddenly called upon M
to fulfill.
No, am wrong; did not love him,
was only Il glamOtlr-whether the result O
supernatural influence or mere superstition
l cannot pretend to say-it was mixture Q
dread, repulsion and fascination.
| That day two months was our wedding
day. had striven hard to postpone it to
much later date, but he would not give IL,
u moments peace until l consented. Ssh
was my wife only in namc," he kept urging
$50 what need is there Of delay"
Although the strange manner OF our WOO
ing was unknown to everybody, save tn
friend have before mentioned, it was lin
possible for the company not to see no,
matters stood between us. But somehow
we had drifted away from the rest, and no,
! hCpU AiOOA HUH lHClus 0Au Vuay NIl OCS0SlUAp
hint, or innuendo, or sly look told us Of thei
observation. know we were the constan
theme of conversation and wOnderment, bu
l do not think that any one ever dreamed
would be 4 match.
And We were both equally DESTROYS q
keeping our approaching marriage 4 pro
found secret. My friend, and one of the &C
tors whom Arnold had almost sworn t
secrecy, were to be the only witnesses, S
that when on that bright March morning W
entered the quiet suburban church, only
few strange loiterers were there. We wer
dressed in our ordinary costume, and no on
who had met us would have suspected OH
purposes.
When he passed the ring over my finge
his hand was like ice, SO were his lips, tina
just touched mine at the end Of the cere
mony, and saw no Joy in the lvid face: tia
was expressionless as though carved i
stone.
We walked back from the church to m
lodgings, where we were to be domiciled 70
the present. He scarcely spoke the Who'll