Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-07-24
The Poisoned Bouquet,

Oliver WARRIOR had prospered In bust
less.
His elegant place Of commerce was I
he cynosure Of all eyes, and, Midas l.
Ike, his touch seemed 20 transform his
into gold.
de was the scion Of an ancient family
and an enviable future seemed to lie
before him
Ru,por had connected his name
onially with the future happi
ness of one OF the city's fairest daugh'
ters, and the wealthy banker rather en-.
It's circulation than ventured
to contradict it.
The beaux and bellies of the fashion
able world caught eagerly at everything
to the affair, and when II
BECAME gossip, WARRIOR, with many
smiles, admitted the existence OF the
IL was quite late one night when the
". althy lover returned home from the
club which he frequonted.
He passed into the house, closing the
door behind him, but the sound thereon
had not died away when a fem ale figure
Rlided from tie shadow of the bAy-win-
dow and mounted the steps.
She raised the knocker with timcrous
hand, and the sound started Wartop NJ
the head of the stairs.
some one at the door at this hour?"
he asked himself. Why have just
entered the house. My visitor must
have III istaken the place"
80 saving, he was about to continue
on to his room when the knocker was
jerked half.angrily, and the banker
bounded down the stairs.
i" I'll kick the upgentlemanly disturb
er into the street," he exclaimed.
4" Halloa, a woman"
The last exclamation dropped from
(his lips as he opened the door, and
beheld the figure on the steps.
" Here" he said, thrusting his hand
Into his pocket. 81 have but little
change about my person, but
al do not want money, though 1
have precious little" was the interrnp,,
ltion. and the rich man felt his hand
pushed rudely aside.
"Then what do you WANT?
ii "I want to talk with you.
. Warrior was becoming interested,
though he felt pallor stealing across
his face.
:. He seemed TO fear his nocturnal
visitor.
"Come in then," he said, and thu
unknown one stepped half-timidly int
y !. the lofty hall, and thence, by his inv
tation into the parlor.
With eager fingers the young CrDsu
J turned on the gas and looked at III
= visitor. IN.
y But the next moment he shrunk lik
q guilty man.
His face was whittier than ashes, an
Y his eyes seemed ready to leap from thei
q sockets.
u A sudden metamorphois had take
v place. The queer bonnet that had COZ
= lcealsd his visitors features upon I'll
steps now lay upon her shoulders, an
Is her face was revealed to the man of I'll
Il world.
A beautiful face it was, framed
-Iraven hair. but wan and white frol
suffering.
% For moment the twain looked In
each others eyes, and then oliver wa
|top treathed a name that made u
4 woman start =
u Editha :"
IT, She advanced step aud answer
him.
IT " At last" she said. Do you knc
4, that we have not met for fve years
lOliyer, those have been long and wea
TT years TO me. They said you were Il
q. when the Golden Horn went dow
and believed them. The maria
: ceremony performed in the dead no
IN Iof midnight has not been forgotto
nd II ia recorded In heaven as we'll as
IN the hook. / waited until the last 81
his of hone flew reluctant from my brea
= and then put on the widows weeds;
She paused as ii 10 let him speak, D'
~, AZ he kept silent, she resumed - !,
t ~ "My heart beat for joy when q
zen covered that you we're not dead-ts
u the waves did not enRulf you. l
. that the old love still burned in yo
/, K heart, and, to test it, l am mere.
no. boy Ia dead. God took his little q
SSso. before sin could find Judgement the
and put him away among the .
. tercups l called MIN oii'e'' IA
you" ..,.
swell, what do you want Inc
lido ?"
His words, barsh and cold, aim
staggered the frail being before him.
HThis is Il strange question:"
)said. 81 hear that you are going
marry again but, oh, Oliver, that c
A not be. You cannot forget the ve
-' taken thas night. come to be own
. lyon hold the certificate of our N
rage. confided it to your keepi'
for az God il my witness, ! loved
with my whole SOUL.
n You must be wild, Editha Wynar
u No, no not that name J" O.
the woman, with hands outstretc
pleading. 81 am you wife. l I
YOUR name the law and God say l
nj am not Editha Wynant.
noe. What! acknowledge you to be
aios wife | Why, girl, think who a.
, OF one of the princes Of this mart or
yles world. You have reached gull
o. YOU can never cross. Go and tal
POSI- lover from the cliffs of Dover.
ceremony in the chapel, girl, may
4 have been binding =,
\ "It was, it vas p and the speah
ewes flashed madly for the first Il
=" Do not seek to cast q stain upon
-. baby coffin. Remember. IL cont
the bones of my dead-and you
Wartop bit his lip.
"Wbat will you take ?" he said.
"The certificate" was the RI
"a. aI.et ma stand stainless before
world"
land plunge me into everlasting
}. grace %
-, Right disgraces no one.
''o Editha. listen to me. That "
C,,v you seek would do you no good.
back"
without it %
eyes"
!, ruo "Never. I ask my rights. l
Justice that is all. l am your
and you know it. Be man AM
the world know that there was a W,
who trusted her first love to your
ing"
!" cannot do it"
cents "Caunot ?"