St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-26

Poor manr' says Mildred Fortescue,
with little laugh. and she whispers some
thing in Evelyn's ear.
/ hold my breath to listen. 1 strain ev-
cry power possess, but in vain, cannot
catch word.
Evelyn stands silent, looking down for
minute; then she says in low, soft voice:
''How do you knOw?"
81 can see it"
For some moments, during which hardly
dared venture to breathe, except once when
it thunderS, there is silence. and then Evelyn
speaks again, this time with a sort of shy
gladneSS. but are you quite sure?"
''Quite. Positive. You must have seen
it ages ago yourself, dear?"
1T is only sheet lightning" says Evelyn,
suddenly, ''let US open the door and look at
it. L love lightning"
l trembIe. They are coming nearer. 1
shrink as far back into the darkness as l
may.
With some difficulty they got the door
open, for il dragS on the floor. l cannot
conceive how it is remain undiscovered,
for several times they seem to be looking at
me. Then they stand on the dOOrstepS talk
ing softly to each other. Evelyn'S arm is
round the others waist. She looks so
lovely, and is SO inaccessible that cannot
nCAp OUh Sleh-
Evelyn assures her it is nothing but dis
tant thunder. Comparisons are odious. y
Even in my menviabe state of mind smile
t hear lovers sigh compared to thunder.
But you are cold, dear" Evelyn adds:
''yOu are shivering. And l forgot you di d
not like the lightning. How selfish l am.
Let us go III at once"
Yes, am very cold" Miss Fortesque
admits.
Then they come in, and try to shut the
door.
1T is far worse than ever" Evelyn cries,
pushing with both hands; land it has al
ways been a nasty, self-willed thing"
Pull and push as you like, sweet Evelyn,
it will not shut, for cunning stratagem has
come into my head. There was cord hang
ing down from the window above and have
thrown it over the handle. and the end I
hold in my hand, while a wicked smile
adOTns my face.
Il think must leave it." says Evelyn,
prettily painting. My heart sinks. All
my subtle planning in vain! And my hands
are Smarting horribly with that vile cord
But the night air will kill the flowers, :"
says Miss Fortescue, with a SILVER; lit is
gradually shriyeling me up"
Heaven bless me! May she never Shrivel!
80 it will" says Evelyn, but you are
so cold, dear. Go in and L will try once
more, for hate giving things up, and then
l will come"
l almost chuckle.
Evelyn pulls with all her might. 1 pull
with nearly all mine until L hear the draw
ing-rOOm door close behind Miss ForteScue.
Suddenly she finds the door yield TO her en-
deavOrs and shut with bang.
Then she sees man among the dark
plants. With little suppressed scream she
moves toward the other door. Forgetful of
the fright it must cause her, and everything
else but my great love and my fear of losing
her. spring out and seize her hand.
As she catches sight of my passionate,
flushed face, L see distinctly in her eye that
she still believes me under the influence of
wine. She grows white with terror, trem-
bles and would fall, but that l catch her in
my arms.
Dumb with horror, carry her lifeless
form into the little room and lay her in a
chair. She is as white as death. Mad
was before; now l am rabid. Her pulse
does not beat.
l have killed her, tell myself, as l chafe
her hands. Then pace wildly to and fro
across the room. Why did l not rush from
the house, regardless of everything and
everybody, rather than sit down with thir-
teen?
l dare not summon help. will go out
by the garden way and put an end to my
wretched existence in the river.
But must take leave of my lady first. 1
kneel by Ter side and take her cold hand in
mine. press my lips to it. JOY! she
moves; faint color comes into her cheeks.
My late suicidal intentions all forgotten. 1
watch breathleSsly for more signs of hope.
Then it dawnS on me that she has only
tainted. L had never seen anyone faint be-
fore. My spirits rise to a height proper
tionate to the depths where they broOded
before.
She opens her eyes and meets mine full of
love and joy.
'.Mr. Trevor?" she says, in faint voice
of wonder, not remembering anything; then
know, as surely as though it were passing
in my own mind. that the recollection of the
past few minutes is coming back to her, and
she Shrinks away from me.
But the touch of her hand, as I hold it in
mine. sends i thrill through me, and gives
me new strength.
She trembleS, and seems afraid of me, and
do not wonder, if my face expresses all 1
feel.
NO, Evelyn" 1 say, answering the
thought, forgetting how strange her name
must sound from her lips, Il have not
taken too much wine"
1T was only for one moment" she says,
shyly blushing, and now she no longer at
temptS to withdraw her hand.
Evelyn" said again, paSsionately, still
kneeling by her side and looking up into her
sweet blue yeS-''Evelyn, do you love
MacPhOOle?"
She smiles, she looks at the floor, the
walls, anything, and at last at me. ''Place
aux dameS," she says kindly, II want to
ask you a question. What has been to
matter with you tonight"
Il was mad;7 1 say, feeling poor and
shame-faced under her clear gaze, ''mad
with jealousy and love, because, Evelyn, no
man ever loved before as love you" She
does not frown; she does not draw away
her hand. And l was so mad that l lost all
control over my brain, and my head grew
full of wild fancieS. They told me that
when there are thirteen at dinner the first
to get up dies within year, and broOded
and brOOded on this till believed twas my
sacred privilege to give my life for yours by
insisting on being the first to rise"
She gently lays her hand on mine, which
still tightly clasps her other. This sweet
action so bewilders me that l hardly know
how l get through the next words. ''And
it was not till had actually got up that
saw what a fool 1 was"
''POor-Jack," she murmurs, softly.
''And you don't love MacPhOole?" 1 ask,
hardly knowing what say.
Perhaps there is something in it. -
she says, shyly. with the prettiest hesitation
in the world, quite disregarding my question,
stiff" here she only whispers, quite close
to my ear, IF ever L should become-Eve-
Iyn Trevor, Evelyn Bellairs wOuld-be
dead, wouldn't she?"
cannot speak. rise and kiss her on