The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-11-13

l0uI2Gu HSl bltGllB NuCkCe
Past these stood her piano. Past
this tho music-rack, with all her songs
upon it. All, mel
Next, standing diaeonalls atross this
corner OF the room, the curious old
clock that / had brought from my
studio at her request. I put my hand
upon the door, as il to open it. Then
stopped and wondered If one could
not stand with ease behind the antique
tlme-piece.
Then passed on.
Between the windows OH the third
side Of the room was tho lounge tipoti
which / had 80 often lain and heard
hef singing In The twilight; sometimes
she had come to sit beside me, and lay
her small, soft hand upon my hair.
turned another corner and came to
! the door, through which she must
enter. Past this were chairs, and lit
tie stand heaped with cabinet photo
graphs, her own among the rest. A
chiionier with bric-a-bfnc in the fourth
corner; and so came again to the door
OF the bed chamber. After time I
thought again Of the old clock, and re-
! turned to examine it's position.
drew it out little further and
slipped in behind.
The room grew dusky; the afternoon
was slipping nway.
walked up and down the rooms up
and down, up and down-thinking. /
had not broken my fast the lifelong
day. Ny mouth seemed parched, my
tongue swollen. / felt the shadow Of
approaching calamity.
As it grew dark / went out to flor
lists and bought little bunch Of flow
| ers, carnations, with surrounding sprays
| Of mignonette.
Coming back, stopped and spoke
to the janitbr Of the building, giving
him message for my wife, who must
soon arrive.
| / went mp hurriedly after this, for
there was no time to lose. I put the
sweet and spicy blossoms in tumbler
Of water. and set the tumbler on the
center-table, underneath the chande-
lier. I had q vague notion that the lit
Ito Offering might touch her heart and
cause it to yearn for me, who loved her
SO. l wrote my note hastily, telling
her I had been called away, but would
return Tomorrow. I placed the note
beside the flowers. I liz one jet Of the
gas above, and left it burning dimly.
It was time for her to come. 1 grew
each moment more feverish and i'm
patient. I felt, besides, q faintness
from long fasting. went back through
the bed chamber to the dressing-room
for swallow of ice-water. There was
some fruit in dish upon the table. ]
thought perhaps taste Of this might
cool my throat. took an orange and
hurried back to the parlor, slipping
into my hiding-place behind the clock.
Why did she not come? It was past
the time now, and began to imagine
all terrible things. fanc;ed that she
had come, had met the janitor at the
entrance. had received from him my
message and taken advantage Of my
absence to return or send word to some
lover. The thought fairly choked me.
My throat was painfully parched.
| took out my large pocket.knife and
began to cut the orange. Ny hands
trembled constantly.
At length I heard footsteps. This
waiting was torture, but endured it.
| The gas burned dimly. The spicy
fragrance Of the flowers upon the table
seemed to fill the room. stood motion
less, listening for the sound Of her
latchkey. still clntched the orange
and the open pocket-knife.
held my breath.
She entered alone. and let the door
| o0x ftnr her. - AL NOT
close entirely. She gazed inquiringl,
about, then advanced toward the table.
! "Flowers?" ! heard her say. "Car.
nat.ons--mignonette!"
saw her take my letter in one
hand, while with the other she reached
up to turn the gas higher. The chan.
delier was high, and she was not very
tall, so that she did not reach it Mt the
first effort. Her 1.-THE form and beau
tiful, uplifted face seemed to draw me
toward her. longed to rush out and
clasp her to my heart. Heavens! what
demon held me back?
She balanced there on tiptoe.
Il wonder il he will Gomez" / heard
her say. Then / heard something else
"A soft sound, rs ii the wind had
pushed ajar the door she had not fully
closed.
She did not turn; she did not seen
to hear; her slender fingers were upor
the gilt of the chandelier.
What happend next was swift and
strange and all in silence. A mai
had stepped within the room, closing
tho door noiselessly. and darting for
ward, encircled her head with his
hands, binding her eyes ere she hai
seen him.
Something heavy dropped from hi,
arm to the floor. But not word was
spoken.
She did not scream or struggle; i
seemed to me there was smile npoI
her lips. rs Observation-Disclosures
! The gas went suddenly out.
Just for a second then / felt mysel
crouching like wild beast. In tha
second seemed to know an eternity o
hell.
She was in her lovers arms, and T..
sprang out to where they stood.
"Fiend-. DEVIL" l cried out, an,
struck at him with the knife, in til,
darkness.
heard low moan; something fel
to the floor and some one crept to tin
door and groped for tho latch.
God! What was this2 A terrible fea
seized me. What had done?
The door flashed open. l saw hin
fleeing from me down the lighted hall
and Mignon auiyered at my feet.
/ lit the gas; how. / know not.
closed the door. But when locke,
upon her lying there. her white fac
froze my very hearts blood.
"Oh, God be merciful!" / tried t,
whisper.
| l had terrible fear of touching her
l was growing cold from head to foot
l clung to chair for support.
Her eyes unclosed; she looked VI
and, seeing me, tried TO smile. Sh
moved her lips, but uttered no sound
/ Then saw her slowly drag hersel
toward my feet, until she could reacl
up and clasp my knee.