Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1881-01-20

AlLGI u lCW hhJH my AlAghA AbNht AgN ."
! her own lodgings. The next afternoon, ut
the usual hour, Arnold came as before.
AS soon as the lights were brought in he
again besought me TO mesmertze him. l
firmly refused; but could NOT rest my eyes
upon him for q moment without bis face bee
ginning to culver and his pupils To dilate,
and the very feeling that must not look at
him made the desire almost unconquerable'
Matters went on thus for upward OF
week.
But surely, 1t will be said, you could have
devised some means of keeping him away;
you might have requested your landlady to
4 refuse him admittance. Truly, / could haze
done 80, but-well, must confess II even IN
my own defense-Arnoldh had begun TO throw
strange glamour over me; dreaded his
coming, yet | experienced vague Yearnlng
when he was absent. l had fallen myself
within the meshes Of the spell had uncOn-
sciOusiy 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 a chair looking pale and exhausted,
and wiped the damp from his forehead,
while his breathing was very labored; and
there was feyerish glitter In the restless
eyes and red spot in each hollow cheek.
chow very i'll you look" said, pityingly;
''let me give you glass Of wine"
"NO, l want nothing" he said In gasp
ing tone, "there's quite fire enough within
me now; am being slowly burned up"
!" Have you seen doctOrW l asked, grow
ing very nervous.
"a doctor,N he echoed, with a mockng
laugh. "0h, yes, have seen DOCTOR but
he can do me no good. 1t is you who are
killing me.'
"IW / answered family.
"Yes," 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
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 influence" he
retOrted, sharply.
81 did not, but find it is true. And un-
der such circumstances, how dare you ad'
dress me in such htermsW | exclaimed. grow
ing very indignant, perhaps more in seeming
than in reality.
Eyes," he replied, dejectedly, 81 am mar
ried to a woman / hate, to woman left at
the church door. was forced into it by my
friends-neverm mind why, that would not in
terPst you.n :,
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 WifeW
I started away from him, exclaiming:
"Don't talk like that, it is too horribleW
But he followed me, and again grasped my
arm, and said: "Alice, told you just now
that 1 can not live without you, and that
will not, and 1 swear before God that II you
do not give me this promise, when leave
this house will throw myselfOverth the bridge
into the river-I swear itW
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 l thought how
it would look when it was drawn out of the
water, with the long dark hair clinging
ut is not much to ask of you," he went
OH. 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 a ceremony
links u.s."
"But what is the use OF such pledge
what satisfaction can it be to youp' | said,
still with my face covered, for dreaded to
meet hi, eyes. =,
II don't know" he answered, sit would
give me sort of hope that can't live with
ont. that won't live without"
Well, l gave him the promise. l dare
saw YOU will consider 1t was very wicked OF
me to do so. 1 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 stalker
The following morning, as was seated at
breakfast. I caught sight Of ArnOld's dark
figure passing my parlor window, and the
next moment 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 BI6eIlnSJ dS no ldlu uOWu HIS
hat and took chair.
II have strange news to tell you, Alice"
he said, in a voice thick and indistinct with
q For Gods sake don't tell me that"
7 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 he had taken from his breast
pocket letter, which he rose and offered
mo. 1t had deep black border.
I shrank back; l would not touch 1t; l
. know its contents.
, s'You knew what was going to happen
YOU have cruelty entrapped me-" l ex-
: claimed, bitterly.
He threw himself down upon his knees at
, NV feet, "I swear most sOlemnly," he
cried, "[ did not. 1t was very sudden, the
letter will tell you so; heart disease-her
friends had scarcely moments warning"
There was that in his tone could not dis
believe, and when, after while, brought
, myself to read the fatal letter, l found his
assertions were there fully confirmed.
"rhis makes it all the more HORRIBLE"
cried, 'for l now feel as though l was in
some way the cause Of her DEATH"
I tmplored him to release me from my
promise, as nothing good could come Of a
marriage contracted under such auspices.
But he only repeated the old words: II
can not live without you, and WOn't!"
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 the
company,U she said; ''giYe no notice Of your