Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1883-03-10
Rick had avoided the lodger from

Rick had avoided the lodger from
the first. 1t was revelation to Daisy
when she came upon him one day hold
ing crushed flower which Miss Winter
had worn He had not been near the viii
lage for days. Languid and spiritless
he had crept about the house or lain
in the long grass with look on his
face which went to his sisters heart.
She understood it now as she saw him
lift the fallen flower and just touch it
with his lips.
81 have been mad enough for that,
Daisy-to fall in love with her. And
If 1 had not thrown away my own
manhood need not now be in despair.
That is the bitterest thought of all"
1T is not too late to be true to your
self yet, Rick"
She had a little hope that this new
feeling might work some good in him,
but before the week was over he had
broken bounds again, as if determined
10 bury regret in oblivion.
Meanwhile the time came for Miss
Winter to return to the city, and she
sent for Ralph, who had promised to
drive her to the station. He came
with his light carriage and mettled
horse, looking neither sorry nor cast
down, Daisy observed with throb of
the heart.
~He isn't false, then; he'll come
back to me again when she is gone"
Rick had been at the village. He
was on his way home when, at some
distance away, he saw the carriage
standing at the parsonage gate.
Ralph and Miss Winter were Just
taking their places in it, the minister
stood on the steps, and the curious
face Of a servant looked down from a
garret window. As Ralph settled
down in his seat his glance fell upon
that shanbling figure by the roadside,
and he gave a vicious cut with his
whip. The spirited horse started with
a plunge, a buckle snapped, and then
the next instant his driver had lost all
control over him.
Rick had taken in the scene which
his eyes rested on, and a sudden still
ness went over him.
They've been getting married !" he
said to himself, aghasS. "Been get
ting married, and he has cheated
Daisy. But he shan't get away so
easy as that"
His brain was clouded with liquor;
some blind impulse of rage and re-
Venge moved him, and his fingers
claSped and brought out the weapon
which he sometimes carried. They
were close upon him now; he lifted his
hand and fired-at the horse, there is
every reason to believe, for there was
adangerOus sembankment near, toward
which the runaway was heading. But
he missed his marx and the next in
slant the steelshod hoofs were tramp
ling him down.
A little further on and the carriage
was wrecked. Ralph Armstrong was
picked up bruised and senseless; his
newly-made bride was dead, a bullet
in her heart, and further back was a
bleeding. pulpy mass beaten down in
the dust. that groaned when they
touched it, but was beyond human
aid.
The horror of that time was a year
old when Ralph opened the rackety
gate and made his way again to the
Old house. Daisy was sitting in the
porch, all in white, as he remembered
her 50 well. Then he was holding
her hand and looking intoher startled
ewes.
- My little white Daisy" broke over
his hips. "Inever really loved any
one hut you, and l have come back to
ask YOU to be my wife, after all"
- oh. Ralph, don't you knows"
Know WHAT" he asked.
THAT am Dr. Lloyd's wife. /
was married week ago."
And-are you happy"
He wanted her to say no; he thought
his own misery would be easier to bear
If he knew she shared it. There was
q sound Of wheels nearing the gate.
She turned her face that way; a beau-
tifnl flush tinged it, and that look
answered him without the low-spoken
words:
II am very happy"