The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-04-04

And Beta promised, wondering al
the strange sound of the sweet voics
and the strange whiteness of the fact
on which the lights she carried fell.
But no one noticed any change in
her when later she descended to the
drawing room, dressed for the late
dinner.
A touch of rouge simulated the
usual lovely damask OF her cheeks,
and her eyes were like stars in theil
brilliancy. If her gaiety had a triflt
of restlessness in it, nG one wonder
ed.
Was not it her last dEht of maid
en- freedom? !
So the evening pasle I'D and the
morrow came. BY sunset the great
house was overhowing with guests
The bridal hour drew d apace:
The hair dresser had Just gone
leaving Leah, and her tone chosen
bridesmaid. Rachel, alone with theil
respective maids, when Leah, to the
horror of the latter, and the undis-
gui.ed amazement of her sister, sum
marily dismissed both.
ave will dress each other, my
dear" she smiled brightly in answer
to the enquiring eyes Rachel had fix
ed upon her.
But no sooner had the key been
turned on the maids, and other pos
sible intruders, than he3 pretty i'm
periousnes changed to "a startling
gravity. Facing Rachel she placed
an icy hand on her shoulder.
al know all, Rachels' she said,
calmly. II witnessed your parting
with Oswald yesterday evening, and
''Oh, Leahl Oh, greataHeavens p
gasped Rachel. staggering back, hel
face pallid as the snow swiftly fall.
ing without.
She made a movement to fling
herself on ner knees befofe a couch
at her side, when Leah caught her
arm.
Nay I" she cried, almost sternly,
and little sarcastically, I'VE have
no time for heroics, Rachelm Then,
slipping her hand into her bosom,
she drew out tiny flask of chased
gold.
"You see this?" she asked, her
tone changing to one of awful mean
ing. as she pointed to the one word
plainly engraved on the side of the
flask.
Rachel shudderingly glanced from
the flask to her sisters rigid face.
"What do you mean?" she gasped
with stiff lips.
ITO drain this to the dregs unless
you obey me in every particular-to
die at your feet!"
"Nol no Oh, noi'
"Yesl Listen, Rachel. ! utter not
a word of complaint-nos . word ct
upbraiding. Oswald only made a
sad mistake in giving his boyish
heart to me, and with it his troth-
plight. You. and you only, have
the mans heart, and | see that your
grave ways suits him far better than
nv gay ones. Enough for that. Now
listen further"
With these words she placed her
lips to Rachel's ear, and whispered
a few sentences with feverish rapid
ity. Whittier and whittier grew Ra-
ehel's face. At the last word she
wrung her cold hands passionately
together.
Il cannotl / cannot !" she gasped.
You cannot ?" echoed Leah chill
lingly. "Very well. | can do this,
then y
As she uttered the determined
words she turned the screwed top of
the golden flask. Rachel sprang for
ward and caught her hand with a
stifled cry.
"Oh, Leah, you cannot mean it, "
she breathed, her eyes wide in stony
horror.
"Wll you consent ?"
Again Rachel wrung her hands.
"Oh, Leah, ask me anything else, I"
she moaned.
With chilling smile Leah drop
ped her ewes to the golden flask and
swiftly turned the top. But once
more Rachel's grasp stayed her reck-
less hand. White liped she gasped.
You cannot mean to do so wicked
a thing?h
''As Heaven is my witness, / do, F"
Leah, her voice firm and
passionless ''for the last time, / ask
you. Answer me quickly"
A low moaning cry broke from
Rachel. The next moment Two
whispered words fell from her white
lips:
II consent"
A hushed murmur of surprise ran
through the crowded drawing room,
as the bride and her bridesmaid en-
tered. Both wore wells, and over the
farce of each the veil was closely
drawn.
In few minutes the brief ceremo-
ny was ended.
Salute your BRIDE" smiled the
clergyman.
The bridesmaid drew back the
thick folds of point lace from the
brides pallid face. For one instant
Oswald Liscomb stood as if petri6ed.
The next he bent and, kissed tine
quivering lips of Rachel a raptur-
Gus JOY at his heart and in his grave
ewes.
The world accepted the surprise
as fanciful caprice of the sisters,
and only Aunt Ruthven knew how
one proud heart suffered-the heart
of the unloved Leah.
But Time, the great soother, won
her back to joyousness, and one sun
ny morning, two years later. she be-
came the happiest of happy brides,
and took the pretty title Of Lady
Stafford.
NEW BLOOMFIELD, Miss, Jan. 2,
1SS0.-I wish to say to you that /
have been suffering for the last five
years with a severe itching all over.
/ have heard of Hon Riffera and