Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-01-25

me- t.oot at me, Donald. Am hid
cons Your sight?'
u breath came short and quick
..lD.naidr' ! said again. but nov my
voice had sunk to a whisper, so low that
even Tire nigh' winds failed to catch il
kiss me, just oncc,'
This time he did not start away. Nv
words cnthralied him. He bent his
handsome head. In another moment
his lips would have touched mine when
q little hand swept away the curtains
from the window. Pale and wondering,
Rita looked ont at Us from the shadows
Of the room. In an instant Donald Lad
sprung 10 her side. bad forever lost
him. Neither missed me rs passed in
aud away from them, though | heard
her say,
II felt better, and there was some
thing so strange about Ninas song it
startled me, and | came down to see. "
Before She slept that night She knock
ed ut my door.
II want TO tell you how happy | am,
she whispered, rs she kissed me. 10
night, Donald asked NE 20 be his wife
Tonight; yet only a little while ago, as
/ stood in the window, Nina, and saw
you both together, was almost jealous;
but / never shall be jealons again, Don
aid says. 1t is so strange, too. He is
50 eager for our marriage. He begs that
it may take place almost at once, He
is going abroad, he says, and wants TO
take me with him"
81 don't know how answered her: but
at last she left me alone. Ny brain was
on fire Ny blood ike molten lead
courscd through my veins. The weeks
that followed were weeks Of torture.
Everything was hurried preparation for
the wedding
laughed as | watched itall. alone
knew that il never should take place.
did not even longer strive to exercise
my power over him. | fancied some
times that people watched me strangely,
but | was very guarded.
Wen, it was the night before the we'd
dug. / had said "Good-night," and
gone early to my room 1t opened into
Rita's with a communicating door.
When she came up stairs Ipretended to
be asleep, but She bent over me and
kissed me.
An hour after got up and crossed
over to my table There | took mp a
pretty little Venetian dagger a toy
which had belonged to my mother. |
smiled as / felt Its sharp blade.
1T will not hurt," | whispered; "but
she will sleep the sounder."
Then I softly opened the door and
entered her room. She lay on the bed
asleep One white rounded arm was
thrown above her head aud her lips were
smiling.
only stopped to look at her, and
think how lovely She would be dressed
in her coffin in her wedding-dress Yet
was far more lovely than my rival.
My rival! Yes. that was the secret. 1t
was for this she must die.
Where was her heart? There, and
there only, must | strike All, | could
see it beat. | raised my arm.
Another moment and it would have
fallen but in that instant someone sciz-
ed it from behind and wrenchod the
weapon from my grasp. turned, to
look into my mcle's white. stern face.
From that moment, and for long
weeks and months, remembered moth
ing more. When regained conscious
ness | found my self here here behind
grated bars, and with human eyes al-
ways upon me,
Rita is married, they tell me, but do
not believe them Some day Donald
will give me love for love! Cold and
passionless, what can She teach him of
the hearts true tire? One of these days
he viii waken TO the truth, and come to
claim me as his bride Why should
try to take my life? He is coming.
am content to wait-yes. quite con
tent, and SO | smile and let them call me
mad.