Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-07-26

Pryse-Davieses hurried up, excitedly and
delightedly. .'He's coming, Winrlel
Here's the notcr'
/ could fairly believe my eyes.
"Why notp" said MacLeish to me
that night. 'Pve been very ungraci-
Gus 10 your kind friends. Let me off
the races, and I'll be as civil rs you
please all the evening. Next Friday, is
TIP Well, l hope they won't make a
late affair of 1t. I'm going TO shoot in
the match on Saturday.
So il befel that on Friday evening a
resplendent figure presented itself in
my room. Caolchairn in full war paint.
''Why, you are as bejeweled as an old
dowager going to Court, said l, gazing
on him with respectful admiration.
You'd be worth something If you were
melted down! MacLeish laughed mer-
rily. He was in high spirits, as excited
as any schoolgirl 1t the prospect Of a
dance. asked me no end of questions
about the Miss Pryse-D avieses, and made
me solemnly promise him introductions
to all of them.
"By the way, ought to have some
money with me-" | said rs we passed
through the barrack gate. 1--WE may
want cab home"
Nonsense; it, splendid night; be-
sides, I've plenty" And he drew out his
purse as he stood under the lamp. " No,
it's all gold; what nuisancer'
/ noticed a pair Of hungry eyes CLEAN
ing out of the darkness as he poured the
money back, and saw ragmuffin figure
move slowly of. LUCKY there's two OF
u.s." thought.
1t was brilliant little dance. The
rooms were pretty and gaily decorated,
the local confectioner had surprised him
self in the supper, and the Pryse-Davies
girls looked as fresh and bright as if they
had not passed whole day under a
broiling sun on the race-course.
- Is this wisc" | asked Miss Winnie,
as we stood in the open French window
of the dining-roum, that looked on to the
Parade.
What, the open ARP o, it never does
me any harm; and the moon is rising 80
exquisitely."
There was small enclosure in front
of the house, and over the dwarf wafl a
crowd of shabby looking people were
gazingin at the brilliantly-lightcd room.
III send two of the men round 10
order them off," she said.
The last that departed looked round at
me with the curious eager eyes l had
seen before.
Meanwhile the fun was becoming rath-
er fast and furious. They were getting
up reels. One of the Highland officers
had brought his bagpipes, on which the
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performer. MacLe:sh was one of the
noisiest and gayest there. 1 could hardly
recognize the proud, reserved boy l
knew. The Pryse-Dayieses were be-
witched with him and he with them.
What has come to you, MacLeishP
| asked, when came upon him, sitting
i'm u dark corner alone, his face buried
in his hands. He looked up with queer,
wild smile.
I'm not mad, Jones, or melancholy,
I'm fey; that's what il is"
Come home now, there's good fel-
low; it's past two, and you wanted TO be
early"
mot bit of it! I've a waltz with
Miss Winnie and half dozen other
dances to dispose Of
The other men departed by degrees,
but MacLeish stayed on to the last and
with him.
might have left him, but some in
stinct detained me. At last we took
leave.
Our shortest way home was through
the Lady's avenue and took it without
reflection. Half way through the grove
MacIeish stopped. He had forgotten
some nonsensicai commission for one of
the girls.
I'm overtake you," he said. Unjust
60 back"
was too provoked with him TO argue,
but walked on, then sat down in the
gloom on an overturned wheelbarrow
and waited.
Some one passed me few minutes
later. He was in the full light of the
moon, and recognized the same shabby
figure had seen twice before-a young
broad-shouldered, slouching rough. He
seemed to disappear suddenly behind
one of the trees as footstep approached
and MacLeish's voice was heard singing
waltz tune. caught a glimpse of his
Glengarry and plaid as he crossed a
streak of moonlight, and the next mo-
ment heard sudden exclamation. There
came scuffle-blows-aHd before l
could reach them a heavy fall-a groan.
MacLeish was on his knees struggling
to rise, held down in the grasp Of fallen
man. He shook him of as i got up, and
staggered to q tree, against which he
leant painting and GREATNESS.
He tried to garotte me, and when
managed to twist out of his hands, dealt
me heavy blow on the head. / only
struck him once, in self-defence. Is he
damagedp"
turned the fallen man over on his
back. He lay still. dragged him to
moonlight.
"MacLeish! He's dead"
But MacLeish had dropped on his
knees beside him and was gazing into
the dead face with as face as ghasay.
Fergus! Fergus MacLcish! Have we
metz AT lastr'
He rose, perfectly panic-stricken. 1t
was his cousin, he was assured, and in
deed the likeness would have convinced
me Of the fact, without the additional
evidence of the marked eyelid.
MacLeish was distraught with terror.
1t was murder he had done; he should
die felon's death. Nothing could sa
would reassure him.
"Leave him here. Who's to know
anything about himp" l said at last
Society is well rid of him. What on
earth are you going to do nowP'
He had seized one of the pickaXes left
by the laborers, and was digging in
fierce haste under the last elm tree.
Ellis grave was to be here" he said.
"He came to show me the spot"
/ suppose it was q mad thing to do,
but seeing him resolved, turned to with
the spade and helped him. The earth
being newly laid, was light and easily
moved, and we soon made trench deep
enough for grave. Then we laid the
body gently down, and shoveled the
earth in with feverish haste. The broad,
staring moon showed every pebble on
the pathway, every stray leaf on the
u IN A.