The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-05-14
HER UNlSEIENTIN FOE.

Lou! Louise! louisiana rang
the voice with the clear silvery tone OF
bell along the broad corridor OF one
of the oldest houses in Georgia.
A great solid piece OF architecture
was this mansion. with deep piazza and
a row of massive corrugated columns
that, more than anything else, lent the
structure lis ancient prestige.
The owner of the musical voice ran
along the large hall, and leapt her fair
arm upon the balustrade as she stood
waiting the reply expected from above.
But no reply came, and she repeat
ed the musical refrain, ending with her
fanciful cauenza on the last word.
Again the young girlish head was
lifted in expectancy. again her call re-
manned unrewarded.
With light fleet steps she tripped up
the stair. and entering the half-opened
door of a chamber near. she came un-
expectedly upon a scene which to her
dying day she never forgot.
Lying face downward upon her
chamber floor, whose high polish glis-
tened from the flashes of q sumptuous
hearth-tire, and was relieved here and
there by rich southern rugs, was the
the only daughter of Colonel Alverson,
and heiress to his estate and farms.
Partly upturned was the beautiful
face, its waxen pallof contrasting with
the dark hair. whose heavy coil had
loosened and fallen across the bare
white throat. where the crimson wrap
per parted in careless folds:
The perfect arm, its solid creamy
contour revealed by the open lace-lined
sleeve, lay stretched out from her side,
while clasped within the hand was a
missive, evidently freshly opened, for
its leaves were uncrumpled, and the
envelope lay upon the couch.
For an instant Marian Stallard re-
coiled in alarm, for Louise was not
subject to attacks of fainting; then her
brave heart came to her aid, and she
stopped and lifted the usually proud
head upon her lap. But the cold touch
of the face, and the stiffened ridigity of
the form sent chill through her blood.
She placed her hand upon the heart
no answering throb met the pulses
of her own live touch.
What could it meanP
Startled, she sprang to her feet to
leave the room for assistance.
But as she was about to do so, her
eve fell upon the letter clasped still in
the death-hued hand.
She had seen that writing before
she knew well whose hand had penned
those lines. Long had she mistrusted
its owners heart. Long, too, had she
known from her cousins condolences
that Louis entire love had been in his
keeping.
IL the wound which had thus laid
low this stately creature had come
through these words. better that she,
in whom her cousin had SO long con-
fided, should discover it than that an
other should learn the secret OF her
modification and crushed pride.
Taking the letter from the taper fin
gers, she hastily read this message so
fraught with cruelty. Omitting the
preliminary forms. which were so
mockingly empty, the letter ran thus:
Forget the past-it is better So L
hope. in fact. that since our separation
voG have come to see that it will be
best for us both. You must, of course,
know Of the coming event, so / write 1t
to YOU E1yself. l am about to be mar
ried to Miss May Leonard, daughter OF
Senator Leonard, OF --.
"You will ask, in womans senti-
mental fashie2, if l love the one L am
about to make nay wife. l cannot say
that ] do entertain any decided tender
ness for her. but as l long ago told
you, my career holds my main interest,
and her father 5 position is OF vast i'm
portancs to me.
..Nretoht, mutteFed Marion, with
oasping breath, aud thrusting letter
aud envelope within the folds of her
dress, she hastily summoned the house
keeDer and servants.
Colonel AlVerson was absent from
the house. Nesi | state the awful fact
that Marion's beautiful cousin, the rich
social belle of the city. Was beyond all
human aid?
Her friend. her youths companion
kor they had attended school together
while children-her loved and admired
e0anSin, was dead-slain by the cold,
eru,.l hand OF a deceitful man.
Passing over the horror and dis
tnrbal,ce which followed this event,
and which caused the colonel to Leave
the homie so long cheered by the COM
u,aniolshfp of his accomplished daugh-
ter and their friends, we lind Marion
rseturned tG the Northern city wherein
n Eer own home, and which she had
so secently left to spend season with
her Southern relatives.
Within his law-ofss=e, a man of per
haps thirty years is walking the fiooI
in as lnrh Il state of excitement rs one