Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-10-03


his tawny mnstachc uneasily.
Well, then, II you must leave me,
ring the bell Tor me before YOU 20.
Bring up bottle OF that oldest vintage.
Uncle Ned, says the lady, as black
face and gray woolly head answers the
summons And, when the wine is
brought. little figure glides in behind
the stately old servant.
Come. Marjorie, darling; drink with
me TO Royals health.
rs lie sickg" she asks. gazing M at
him in half mock, half serious gravity
The mother laughs. 8 merry, innocent.
laugh. as she pours the wine into large
glass until it i Drumming full. For her
self and Marjorie she sets out two dainty
little glasses holding half-a-dozen thin
blesful apiece.
Royal losses the burning liquid down
his throat ct one swallow, and ietills his
glass. No doubt had the great brown
eyes remained in the twilight of the
library, and not come to search his very
soul as they are doing now. the wine
would have been untasted. But, as it is,
standing under the sunset glow of
those limpid brown orbs, he feels an
unconquerable desire to quarrel with her.
And so he drinks until the bottle is all
but empty. and his mother stiIl sips at
her trimming glass.
The eyes and wine together prove too
much for his brain, and he feels the
potent spirit of the long imprisoned wine
taking fast and furious possession Of
him. She sees it. too, this little Ma
iorie, who loves him with her whole
heart and soul, and who sorrows, as the
angels might sorrow, for creature gone
asfray.
Come to me, Royal, after YOU have
said goodnight. =
In a moment he is beside her as she
enters the library.
Royal DenziI, implore you not to
go away from here tonight feel a
horrible presentiment-what it is can
not tell Oh. Roy, stayl You are not
fit TO ride to town tonight Stay with
us Roy, dear Royl"
But the wine is his master, and he
knows not what he does save that there
is fierce exultation in feeling that he is
opposing her wishes. Finding that be
does not heed her, she leaves him and
runs out through the yard, which is
black as ink, to the stable, where the
groom's lantern, swaying about like a
yellow. unsteady star in the still falling
snow, makes the surroundings more
gloomy.
What beast are you getting out for
Mr. Denzil?"
.sPrince, Miss Marjorie" looking
round-eyed at her bare head and dainty
figure abroad in the storm.
"Prince is we'll enough when Mr.
Denzil is sober; but tonight saddle my
own horse, Regan, and bring her around.
Mr.. Denzil is too drunk TO see a differ
ence;" which unvarnished truth she
leaves to astonish the groom as it may,
as she whisks back with icy powdered
curls and limp little silk wrapper into
the front hall.
And Roy is ready to 60. A dreamy
smile. with which the wine-spirit lit
up his handsome features, has changed
to a glance that is horrible to the little
him off,
!" Goodnight, little Prim; won't you
kiss me once before gog"
Her lips touched obediently the few
cred brow bent low for her caress; for a
presentment of coming danger is strong.
He gets into his saddle and is away
Down the long, rutty lane to the cross
road. A sharp jerk on the left bridal
rein brings Regain into the highroad,
and away through the darkness she gal
Tops straight for the crazy old bridge
that lies half mile beyond
Two feet beyond him Roy cannot see
and, giving the beast rein. he let's her
carry him on and on through the i'm
penetrable drizzle Of snow; oyerruts and
ridges, now down through q gully, now
mp over . snowy bank On, and on, and
on and at last, with loud snort, Regan
stands still, stiff -kneed. immogable, in
the dreary, penetrating snowfall.
Course the beastln calculated Roy,
cutting her sharply with his riding
whip. 'sGO ON Princel Get upl You
won't, chr he shrieks, in drunken fury,
cutting the delicate TANKS until they
CULVER with pain.
Sharper and sharper descend the blows
from the hand Of the now iufuriated
man, and still firm as a rock stands the
tortured animal. Only q low whine.
almost human, comes from her IS the
cruel lash cuts her once gIossy brown.
0u1 AOW It'll 0AA0 l&LCAdlC0 bAu&cs
Roy works himself into beastIy--
nay, il were better to say human
passion, and wreaks all his ill-feelings
upon the patient, dumb brute beneath
HIM.
At last > little glimmer Of apprehen-
sion breaks upon his dazed brain; he
dismounts as best he may, and creeps
along the ground, feeling cautiously be-