Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-01-20

A .
the usual hour, Arnold came as before.
As soon as the lights were brought in he
again besought me 10 fmesmeriZe him. j
| firmly refused; but could not rest my eyes
upon him for moment without his face be-
ginning to culver and his pupils to dilate,
i and the very feeling that must not look at
/ him made the desire almost uncomfortable.
Matters went on thus for upward OF a
week.
But surely, It will be said, you could have
devised some means of keeping him away;
| you might have requested your landlady to
refuse him admittance. Truly, could have
done so, but-well, / must confess it even in
my own defense-Arnoldh had begun to throw
coming, yet I experienced vague yearning
when he was absent. / had fallen myself
within the meshes OF the spell had uncon-
| sciousfy cast upon him.
| One afternoon he arrived rather earlier
| than usual; there was certainly some occult
| sympathy between us, for the moment he
entered the room felt that crisis was
come.
He was in very weak health, and he sank
down in chair looking pale and exhausted,
and wiped the damp from his forehead,
while his breathing was very labored; and
| there was feverish glitter in the restless
eyes and n red spot in each hollow cheek.
GLOW very ill 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 mocking
laugh. ''Oh, yes, have seen doctor, but
he can do me no good. 1t is you who are
killing me.''
81" answered family.
Yes" he answered; Esince 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
firmness: "You talk nonsense, Arnold; why,
you are married already"
I 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 infiuence?' he
retorted, sharply.
az did not, But I find it is true. And un-
der such circumstances, how dare you ad-
dress me in such terms 2" exclaimed, grow
ing very indignant, perhaps more in seeming
than in reality.
"Yes," he replied, dejectedly, 81 am mar
rled to woman hate, to woman left at
the church door. was forced into it by my
friends-never mind why, that would not in
terest YOU"
He paused for moment, then laying his
trembling fingers upon my arm, he added:
"Aiice," 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?"
I started away from him, exclaiming:
'fDon't talk like that, it is too horrible!"
But he followed me, and again grasped my
arm, and said: 'sAlice, told you just now
that can not live without you, and that
will not, and swear before God that if you
do not give me this promise, when l leave
this house will throw myselfoyerth the bridge
into the river-I swear it.'
IL:
moments of strong passion without keeping
their words; but knew that no would keep
his, the mysterious sympathy that had been
created between us told me so, tod me that
if he left me with that thought in his heart,
he would not be living man within tie 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.
est is not much to ask of you," he went
on, pleadingly, '.Why, she may outlive us
both; more than likely; there is nothing
has been, only the mockery Of q ceremony
links u.s."
'sBut what is the use of such a pledge
what satisfaction can it be to you!'' said,
still with my face covered, for dreaded to
meet his eyes.
81 don't know" he answered, sit would
give me sort of hope that can't live with
out, that won't live without"
Well, 1 gave him the promise. I dare
say you will consider it was very wicked of
me to do so. I think SO myself. But /
thought it was almost impossible that I
should be ever called upon to fulfill it, and
how could hesitate when mans life SEEM
ed to be at stake?
breakfast, caught sight of Arnold's dark
figure passing my parlOr window, and the
next moment I heard his now well-known
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
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"
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 a deep black border.
l shrank back; l would not touch it;
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," he
cried, 81 did not. 1t was very sudden, the
letter will tell you SO; heart disease-her
friends had scarcely moments warning.0
There was that in his tone could not dis
believe, and when, after a while, brought |
myself to read the fatal letter, I found his
assertions were there fully confirmed. 49,
ssThis makes it all the more horrible,0 I
cried, ssfor 1 now feel as though was in
some way the cause of her death.O i
IimplOred him to release ms from my
promise, as nothing good could come of q |
marriage contracted under such auspices. |
But he only repeated the old words: 81 |
can not live without you, and 1 won't!"
My friend, who could perceive how ill-as- |
sorted we were, did all in her power to per- |
suade me to break with him. ssLeave the |
she said; 'give no notice of your |
and go home, or take another en- |
gagement under another name" /
But 1 felt that I could not break VOW so |
solemnly made, and which fate, whether for |
good or evil, had SO suddenly called upon me |