Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-10-20
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bewildered and amazed, and in the |
DAYS that followed when remembrance
and realization asserted themselves,shel |
wondered why she had not beeL left to
die.
Mr.. Stletton never came to her room. |
but unfailingly, each morning, sent his
message, and bouquet of rare flow
ers.
And-as Muriel grew slowly back to
health, and Mr. Stretton renewed his
resolute attentions, there were times
when her heart and courage failed her,
and through weakness of body and
brain, she let herself drift along with
the current that was too strong for her.
Until she was well enough to insist
upon being taken to her own little un-
homelike lodgings.
= And then, one evening when Hubert
Stretton came and uIged his suit in a
passion:ul, lesolute way, that somehow
terrified her. she-said him yes, for
very desperation's sake, and agreed
that when he came week later, she
wOnld be ready to go to him-only, he
must give her the whole week, and not
see her once.
He left her at ten o'clock in the even
ing, and the instant the door closed
on him, she rushed to her room and
lost not an instant in dragging her
clothes down from her wardrobe, and
hastily, frantically plunging them in
her trunks, her cheeks alternately pal
ing and Gushing under the excitement
''Only week-only short week to
get as far as can from him--where he
can never, never find me! But-will
he Lot find me wherever l go? Am !
safe, SO long as / tread the earth, from
a man so desperately persistent as hei"
By daylight she was ready, and while
Hubert Stretton was drinking his coffee
leisurelv in dressing gown and slip
pers, Murlel and her luggage were at
the station waitiIg-nOt for the ex-
press due lii three minutes, but for her
fate.
But-for Cyril Vernon, who stepped
out of carriage as the long train
steamed in, fair young girl on his
arm, with eyes like wood yiolets and
hair like spring sunshine.
He instantly saw Muriel, and walk
ed rapidly up to her, his eyes alight, his
handsome face flushed with delight.
This is indeed a pleasant surprise
lisa, this is my old friend of whom you
have heard so much. Miss Fentcn, my
very dignlfied and charming auntie-
Mrs Vernon, nee Gordon"
And Muriel bowed, and took the fair
creatures hand, and il the one look
she gave Cyril, he read the agony ofl
fear and the awful mistake she had be-
lieved all those months when he was
abroad, hourly thinking of her, and
wondering, fearing why his letters
never, never were answered, until he
had heard, long before, from Mr. Stret- !
toms own lips that Muriel had gone to
Scotland to her fathers people.
II was only the work of second to |
give young Mrs Vernon in charge of
the friends who had come to meet her,
and to return to the train with Muriel, |
and, as it rushed on, to hear all the
sad, pitiful story.
''ShalI tell you what l intend you
shall doY"
He said it with masterful and pas
sionateness that thrilled her to her
very soul.
This shall be our wedding tour; my
dailingr and he said it softly and
eagerly as be looked in her passionful,
happy eyes. ''We will be married at
once, Muriel-a special license will
overcome all difficulties we will
return IN time for me TO present my
bride to Hubert Stretton when he
comes at the end of the week. Do you
know, though, sweet" and he bent his
head little nearer her, shat, richly
as he deserves the fate instore for him,
yet / feel sorry for the disappointment
he will suffer-
And the look Muriel gave him from
her ,bonny eyes was enough to make
his heart throb just as it did.
A week later-but Hubert Stietton
did not go to claim his bride, for Cyril
had previously sent him word or two
with a marked copy of Muriel's mar
riage rotice
And 80 the tangled skeins were
smootled, and love reigned at last in
two fond hearts.