The Portland daily press., 1881-12-20
The Fatal Kiss.

on which he had tossed restlessly during the
long watches Of the night and scanned with
eager eyes the morning paper Of the previous
day, which his landlady, kindly soul, had
left in the room. When in health, Arthur was
as handsome man as one could wish to look
upon. Reared in the lap of luxury and dan
died carefully on the knee Of the same party,
he had been cast, by the disappearance Of
bank cashier, upon the mercies Of a cold and
pitiless world when just about to enter upon
life whose horizon was undimmed, except by
the rose-tinted clouds OF prosperity which
flecked its uttermost rim But Arthur was not
Of the kind that gives way to despair. AL
though deserted by those who had fawned
upon him in the days of prosperity, he had con-
fidence in his own pure soul and strong heart.
A position as bookkeeper in a shooting gallery
had sufficed to keep him from actual want, but
an attack of fever left him penniless, and save
for his landlady friendless
While reading the paper an advertisement
for young man to act as private secretary met
his eve. He answered it, and the next day re-
ceiyed reply. telling him to call at a residence
in the fashionable quarter of the city that
evening. He was on hand at the appointed
time. and was shown by q liverled servant in
to sumptuously-furnished parlor, where sat
fine-looking man OF oU, VINO turned MS heau
as Arthur entered.
ssMr Ainsleigh. / presume?'' he said:
.sYes sir; have the honor Of addressing Mr..
Stuyvesant McGuire?"
@That is INV name; sit down. But why do
YOU wear business suit when calling upon
gentleman in the EVENING"
1NIy claw-hammer coat is in hoe" responded
the young man.
"Humphl you are honest:
1t is needless to detail the conversation De-
tween the two men. Suffice it to say that Ar
thur was engaged as private secretary TO Stuy-
vesant Mcclure, pork-packer and poltlclan,
and was to be member OF the household. Inc
next day he entered upon his duties, not having
seen the other members of the family, wife
and daughter. He met them at supper. Al
berta Mcclure was Just 20, and full OF the
budding beauty of young womannood. Her
| hair was deep, rich brown, which IN the sun
light had tinge of gold in its high lights,
| while in its shadows it was almost black. Her
| ewes were deeply brown, and so tender, so SOIL,
that no man ever failed to admit their power.
| Her nose was small and straight-too small,
almost to be easily blown, and she was per-
| feet picture of proud, patrician beauty.
Arthur and Alberta soon became friendly,
| bnt of course it was only the friendship OF
| superior for a servant-for Arthur was only
| her fathers secretary. One evening tns Gu
| fire family were in the parlor when Berthe
1
| marriage Alberta's hand, called. After some
| desultory conversation, Alberta asked berte
| to play, and going to the piano he rendered
| Beethoven's ninth symphony-that DeautlIul
| remedy for driving cats out OF tne ne,gnoSoiI-
| hood-in a thoroughly artistic manner: Al
| berta was in raptures, but Mciulre did not
| seem pleased. Turning to Arthur he SAID;
| "Do you not play?"
| Now was our heros chance. Going 10 tne
| niano he struck few chords softly. choosing
| that iuexpressibly tender and melancholy Key
ID fiat minor Then he ran through few
| modulatons, and glide into Ihe SSlds are
| Ont Today" AS he sat there the memory OF
| the days when he had sat before tne olu lamll-
| lar instrument in his fathers house came over
| him-the days when he might have met tnis
| woman as an equal and have told her OF the
| love which was growing in his heart-and ne
! played with depth of feeling that astonisned
| even himself. When ne naa nnlsneu Aio1rsa ~ q 70
| simnly said sThank you," but the tone OF her
| voice was tender, and there was suspicious
/ nnoistnre in her eyes, Arthur went to his
| room, bowed himself to his labor, and wrot9
/ on into the waning night until his brain reefed,
/ his ayes hurued the letters danced before ms
/ aves and his usryeless hand refused to hold
/ the PEN Then he went to bed; put only 70
/ dream of those dueenly eyes and that proud
/ head, crowned with the coronal OF gold-pro"n
| hair.
| even showed him a blue dog which she nad
| painted on teacup. care you estheuc! she
/ asked.
1No." responded Arthur. "I'm New York
er by birth" -.
| cheeks at these words, but she only said, An
! revoir, Mr. Ainsleigh;" and Arthur responded
| in his CHEEKY voice, cover er-the-river-to-you.
That night he was again requested TO play
/ the piano. His selection was double song and
| dance arranged for the piano by Liszt and was
/ bit of music that Arthur loved. On tnat mgnt
| its sadness stole over his mind like an echo OF
| his own thoughts He forgot where ne was,
| who were around him; he played as ms ieenngs
| swayed him. and his music was filled with tne
| voice of tears. He did not remember himself
| or his surroundings until the old gentleman's s
| snore awoke him to knowledge OF bis sur
| roundings; then he saw that Alberta nad oent
| her head forward over the Keys, anu was snaA-
ing with storm OF sobs. -
| She sat down at the piano, and he stood be-
| side her. They played one of Chopin.s noe
| turnes soft, tender tone-poem. AS the mu-
| sic ceased Arthur saw that Alberta's eyes we're
| full of tears Almost without knowing what
| he aid he leaned forward and kissed her fore
| head. She looked up at him quickly, with q
| startled glance; then she bent down again, and
| her whole form shook with soDs. -,
"Forg1ve me-" he said, 81 am mad; VIII
| 60" III
4 hand upon his arm.
sDon't 90" she said in very low voice.
"You bid me stay? Alberta, you know that
| love YOU and you are not offendedY
0Offendedv she said, looking up at him Win
| bar GREAT ewes full of tears: 'Oh, Arthur
He caught her in his arms and pressed ner 70
his heart. Their lips met in the first long, pas
sionate kiss of love-.
When Arthur recovered consciousness he
was living on the curbstone, and the cold, gray
| light OF morning was slowly stealing over the
| North Side. The naughty pork packer had
awakened at the wrong time.