The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-01-29

AFTER rev Gays my ITleUu IobuihON v"
her own lodgings. The next afternoon, aI
the usual hour, Arnold came as before.
As soon as the lights were brought In ne
again besought me TO mesmeriZe him.
firmly refused; but could not rest nay eyes
upon him for moment without his lace De-
ginning to culver and his pupils to dliate,
and the very feeling that must not LOOK AT
him made the desire almost unconqueraoie.
Matters went on thus for upward OF
week.
But surely, it will be said, you could have
devised some means OF keeping him away
you might have requested your landlady 10
refuse him admittance. Truly, could have
done so, but-well, must confess it even IN
my own defense-Arnoldh had begun to throw
a strange glamour over me; dreaded ms
coming, yet 1 experienced vague yearnlng
when he was absent. l had fallen myself
within the meshes Of the spell l had uncon-
sciously cast upon him.
One afternoon he arrived rather earlier
than usual; there was certainly some occult
sympathy between us, for the moment ne
entered the room l felt that crisis was
come.
He was in very weak health, and he sank
down in a chair looking pale and exhausted,
and wiped the damp from his forehead,
while his breathing was very labored; ana
there was feverish glitter in the restless
eyes and red spot in each hollow cheek.
How very i'll you look, !" said, pityingly;
''let me give you glass Of Wine"
"No, want nothing,' he said in gasp
ing tone, ''there's quite fire enough within
me now; am being slowly burned up"
Have you seen doctor?" asked, grow
ing very nervous.
GA DOCTOR" he echoed, with hooking
laugh. "Oh, yes, 1 have seen doctor, but
he can do me no good. 1t is you who are
killing me.''
"Ii'' 1 answered family.
EYES," he answered.; "since 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, ex-
cited looks, but replied with great show of
frmness: "YOu talk nonsense, Arnold; why,
you are married already"
| did not know at 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--you questioned
me when was under your int1uence?' he
retorted, sharply.
az did not, but find it is true. And I'M
der such circumstances, how dare you adj
dress me in such terms?" exclaimed. grow
ing very indignant, perhaps more in seeming
than in reality.
Eyes," he replied, dejectedly, 81 am mar
ried to woman 1 hate, to woman l left at
the church door. was forced into it by my
AiiShOo AiAihU why Dllno WOuiu NV III
terest YOU"
He paused for moment, then laying his
trembling fingers upon my ARM he added:
"Alice," 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 wife,"
l started away from him, exclaiming:
"Don't talk like that, it is too horrible!"
But he followed me, and again grasped my
arm, Snd said: ''Alice, told you just now
that 1 can not live without you, and that 1
will not, and L swear before God that if you
do not give me this promise, when l leave
this house will throw myself over the bridge
into the river-I swear it ~
Men-and women, too-say these things in
moments Of strong passion without keeping
their words; but knew that he would Keep
his, the mysterious sympathy that had been
created between us told me so, told me that
if 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.
''It is not much to ask of you," he went
on, pleadingly, ''Why, she may outlive 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 1 dreaded to
meet his eyes.
81 don't know" he answered, sit would
give me sort of hope that l can't live with
out, that l won't live without"
Well, l gave him the promise. 1 dare
say you will consider it was very wicked of
me to do so. l think so myself. But /
thought it was almost impossible that |
should be ever called upon to fulfill it, and
how could hesitate when mans life SEEM
ed to be at stake!
The following morning, as l was seated at
breakfast, 1 caught sight of Arnold's dark
figure passing my parlor window, and the
next moment heard his now wellknown
knock at the street door. put down the
cup Of coffee that 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 greeting, as he laid down his
hat and took a chair.
81 have strange news to tell you, Alice"
he said, in a voice thick and indistinct with
agitation.
"For Gods sake don't tell me that"
l could not complete the utteranee of nv
fears, my voice died away in my throat, and
with parted lips and rigid eyes 1 could only
await the explanation.
Meantime he had taken from his breast
pocket a letter, which he rose and offered
me. 1t had deep black border.
shrank back; would not touch it; l
knew its contents.
"You knew what was going to happen
you have cruelty entrapped me-, ex-
claimed, bitterly.
He threw himself down upon his knees at
my feet. 81 swear most solemnly,o he
cried, 81 did not. 1t was very sudden, the
letter will tell you so; heart disease-her
friends had scarcely moments warming"
There was that in his tone l could not dis
believe, and when, after while, 1 brought
myself to read the fatal letter, 1 found his
assertions were there fully confirmed.
"Fhis makes it all the more horrible /
cried, "for l now feel as though L was in
some way the cause of her death.0
implored him to release me from nv
promise, as nothing good could come of a
marriage contracted under such auspices.
But he only repeated the old words: 81
can not live without you, and won't!''
Ny friend, who could perceive how ill-as-
sorted we were, did all in her power to per-
suade me to break with him. ''Leave the
company she said; "give no notice of your
intention and go home, or take another en-
gagement under another name"
But felt that could not break VOW so
soemnly made, and which fate, whether for
good or evil, had SO suddenly called upon me