Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-01-24

| Tor me 10 send ME away.
"Oh, Ralph, you must wait"
Ralph muttered an unpleasant word
and flung away without goodnight.
An unsteady step came down the
path.
Looking for me. Rick?" Daisy tried
to speak cheerfuily.
mo; get awayi" Rick spoke wildly
"You've been out with Ralph you'll gC
off with him next. You're tired of me
and L can't do better than to make al
end of myself. I'm going the straight
road.
Daisy threw herself before the gate
she chung to him, pleaded with him.
Half crazed as he was, Rick was in nc
condition to go back to the village inn,
and the rough crowd which would be
gathered there at that hour But all OF
a drunken mans obstlnacy was aroused,
and while they stood thus, there came
again the roll of wheels that were
checked suddenly, and DR.. Lloyd sprung
down as he took IN that scene at a
glance.
Go into the house. Richard he
commanded, and Rick, without a word,
obeyed. ''Ill give him a 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, 1 don't think that need
alarm you; Rick isn't one to do himself
any harm. He has been sly enough
to hide it again. or | would take posses
sion of il. He Is never violent towards
you?'
"Oh, no, never"
''Not 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 dispieas-
ure npon her. Miss Winter came back.
from her walk next day with her hands
full of ferns.
so Mr.. Armstrong isn't your engag-
ed lover after alp" she remarked to
Daisy. Il would have been flirting with
him before this ii L hadn't supposed he
belonged TO you"
Flirting! Oh, Miss Winteri'
''He isn't bad hand at the pastime
himself" remarked Miss Winter, coolly.
She understood tine situation much bet
ter than she pretended, and liked Ralph
none the less because he seemed on the
point OF deserting hls little white Daisy
for her.
Rick had avoided the lodger from the
first. 1t was a revelation to DAISY when
she came upon him one day holding a
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
>, ,rass with look on his face which welt
to ms sisters heart. She understood 1t
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 fail in love with her. And If
hao not thrown away my own manhood,
1 need not now be IN despair-that is
the bitterest thought of all. -
1t is not too late to be true to yourself
yet Rick"
She had little hope that this new
hO1h cOllC SSOO7t
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 Tor R1lph, who had promised TO
drive her to the station. He caE,e with
his light carriage and mettled horse,
looking neither sorry nor cast down,
Daisy observed with a throb of the
heart.
'.He isn't false, then; hell 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 III
it, the minister stood on the steps, and
the curious face of maid looked down
from garret window. As Ralph settled
down in his seat, his glance fell upoa
that shambling figure by the roadside.
and he gave a vicious cut with his whip;
the spirited horse started with plunge,
a buckle snapped. and then the next in
stant the driver had lost all control over
him,
Rick had taken In the scene winch his
eyes rested on, and a 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 we're close upon
HIM now; he lifted his hand and fired
at the horse, there is every reason to be-
lieve, for there was a dangerous en-
bankment near, toward which the run
away was heading. But he missed his
marx, and the next Instant the steel
shod hoofs were trampling him down.
A little furtheS on ana the carriage
was wrecked. Ralph Armstrong was
picked up bruised and senseless; his
newly made bride was dead, bullet IL
her heart, and further back was bleed
ing, pulpy mass beaten down In the
dust, that groaned when they touched
/ L, Dul Was d4O-
The horror of that time was q year
old when Ralph opened the rackety
gate and made hIs way again to the old
house. Daisy was sitting Ii the porch,
all III white, as he remembered her SO
well. Then he was holding her hand,
and looking into her startled eyes.
my little white Daisy !" broke over
his lips. 81 never really loved anyone
but you, and have come back to ask
YOU to be nv wife, after all.
"Oh, Ralph, don't you know?'
know what?" he asked, almost
Gercely.
"That L am DIR. Lloyd's wife. l was
married a week ago."
'And-are you happyT
He wanted her to say no; he thought
his own misery would be easier to bear
if he knew she shared it. There was a
sound of wheels nearing the gate. She
turned her face that way; beautiful
flush tinged 1t. and that look answered
L. los xr-r,r.ls