New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1883-02-07

Goodnight returned Ralph. '.1'N
show you tomorrow where the maiden
hair fern grows
He came whistling down the path to
find Daisy standing by the gate.
your mind which one Of us you'll Il takeP'
Ralph, you know that cant leave
Rick
Its him or me-" said Ralph, stub
bornly.
..He has no one else" pleaded Daisy.
"Have 1l There's no use arguing. it's
got to be one thing or the other. want
a wife in my home. and if you won't
have me maybe there are others that
will. Sweetheart, say that you care
too much for me to send me away
'.Oh, Ralph, you must wait"
Ralph muttered an unpleasant word,
and flung away without a goodnight.
An unsteady step came down the
path.
..Looking for me, Rick?" Daisy tried
to speak cheerfully.
mo; get awayr' Rick spoke wildly.
..You've been out with Ralph; you'll 20
off with him next. You're tired of me.
and can't do better than to make an
end of myself. I'm going the straight
road"
Daisy threw herself before the gate,
she chung to him, pleaded with him.
Halt crazed as he was. Rick was in no
condition to 60 back to the village Inn,
and the rough crowd which would bo
gathered there at that hour. But all Of
8 drunken mans obstinacy was aroused,
and while they stood thus, there came
again the roll Of wheels that were
checked suddenly. and DR.. Lloyd sprung
down AZ he took in that scene at g
glance.
go into the house, Richard" he
commanded, and Rick, without word,
obeyed. "l'n give him . powder"
said the doctor to Daisy. You must
sleep: yourself tonight" He stood
talking with her after he had seen Rick
safely in his room. $50 he has had the
pistol again. Well. I don't think that
need alarm you; Rick isn't one to do
J himself any harm. He has been sly
/, enough to hide it again, or would take
possession of it. He is never violent
towards you?'
Oh no, never"
mot quite brute enough for that"
muttered the doctor, as he took his
leave, and Daisy slept peacefully after
her trouble.
| She did not really believe that Ralph
meant what he said, but he seemed de-
termined after that to visit his displeas-
ure upon her. Miss Winter came back
from her walk next day with her hands
full of ferns.
! so Mr.. Armstrong isn't your engage
ed lover after all?'' she remarked to
Daisy. Il would have been flirting with
him before this if l hadn't supposed ho
belonged to you.'
/ ''Flirting! Oh, Miss Winter!''
He isn't bad hand at the pastime
himself" remarked Miss Winter, coolly.
She understood the situation MUCK bet
ter than she pretended, and liked Ralph
none the less because he seemed on the
point of deserving his little white Daisy
for her.
Rick had avoided the ledger from the
first. 1t was a revelation to Daisy when
she came upon him one day holding .
crushed flower which Miss Winter had
worn. He had not been near the village
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 UNDER
stood it now as she saw him lift the fall
en- flower and just touch it with his lips.
II have been mad enough for that,
Daisy-to fall in love with her. And If
I had not thrown away my own man
hood, l need not now be in despair
that is the bitterest thought of all.''
1T is not too late to be true to your
i self yet, Rick
She had 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
to bury regret in oblivion.
Meanwhile the time came for Miss
Winter to return to London, and she
sent for Ralph, who had promised to
drive her to the stations He came with
his light carriage and melted horse,
looking neither sorry nor cast down,
Daisy observed with a 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 maid looked down
from garnet window. AS Ralph settled
down in his seat, his glance fell upon
that shambling faare by the roadside,
and he gave vicious cut with his whip;
the spirited horses started with plunge,
buckle snapped, and then the next In
slant his driver had lost all control over
him.
Rick had taken in the scene which his
eyes rested on, and sudden stiffness
went over him.
They've been getting married!' he
said to himself. aghast. ''Been getting
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 revenge
moved him, and his fingers clasped and
brought out the weapon which he some
times carried. They were close upon
hin, now; he lifted his hand and fired
!: the horse, there is every reason to be-
li.,ve for there was dangerous em-
oankment near, toward which the rum
away was heading. But he missed his
n,ark, and the next instant the steel.
shod hoofs were trampling 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, bullet in
her heart, and further back was a bleed
ing. pulpy mass beaten down in the
dust, that groaned when they touched
it, but was beyond human aid.
The horror Of that time was year
old when Ralph opened the rackety
gate and made his way again to the old
house. Daisy was sitting in the porch,