Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-01-28

I NOo &NV OuC w III CNtI see Uu
ourselves See-I have drawn it up al
ready. and It wants only your sigma
sure"
She took little perfumei sheet o.
note-paper from the table as she spoke
and held it up before him. He took i
and read 1t through without a word
there was not much 20 read.
1--WE, Captain Richard Lucas, ii
Laucers, and Lady Isabel Dacre o
Woistenholme, hereby pledge ourselve;
to ignore and forget all that took plac.
! between us at Nordenfjord III the spring
OF Is, not, If we can help it. to eros
each others path, not to mention eacl
others name.''
Lady Isabei's signature was there al
re;s1y, running in bold careless charac
ttTs across the coroneted paper. Captain
Lucas, STOPPING, added his, and without
a word turned to the window again.
Isabel taking the paper in her hand
paused to look at HIM for moment
where he stood with bowed head now
gazing out into the darkness, as if un
decided whether to turn back and SPEAK
to him or no; then. with head erect and
musing face, grasping the little paper
in her hand, she passed quietly from
the room. ana so faded away poor Cap
tain Richard Lucas's dreams of happi
ness.
lie did not appear at dinner that
evening, and it was not till some hours
afterwards, when the moon had risen
and the darkness Of the library was
changed to the silvory glamor the
white Lady" brings, that young Lord
Talbot found him there, still standing
with bowed head and death-pale face
before the window.
He was not well, he said his old
wound troubled him sometimes in cold
weather; and the next day he reioined
his regiment, though week of his fur
Tough was still unexpired.
"Who's that, Tom-the man who
looks like soldier-there, on the gray
horse 2''
"That? Why, that is Captain Lucas
Sir Richard, as he Is now, since the
old man died He left the army a
month ago, and looks as if idleness
would kill him, If it were not for the
evil spirit In him that keeps him alive. +"
That Lucas Why, 1 saw him at
Falrlegh's last summer, looking as
healthy and strong as need be. and now
L would not give two months purchase
for his life. He's as thin as lath and
rs white as chalk, and, il ever a fierce
black fiend looked out of mans eyes,
hn ia ha NUh.ffS
him ?''
''How should know, boy In debt,
or in love, or something; you'll know q
deal more about such things when you
come out into the world"
Don't be so cOcky, Tom; you're only
twenty yourself, ami can't make enough
money to keep a fellow in cigars 4! Come
OF your stiits and tell me what's the
matter with Lucas'
1t was a warm bright day in the
height of the London season; we'll
dressed and well-mounted men and
women, and carriages speaking silently
of wealth and position, thronged the
Row.
Tom" was Government clerk with
extTavagant habits and small income,
but great expectations. He was lean
ing now in all the glory of perfectly
fitting gloves and faultless hat over the
iron rail, watching the paSsers-hy and
endeayorIng to satisfy IN his own con-
descending way the curiosity of his
younger brother, an overgrown Eton
boy, who, by some peculiar tactics
which he employed with great success.
al ways managed to be at home for the
best part of the season,
AS they spoke, Captain Richard Lu-
cas- was riding by, holding Wooden in
with steady hand, though the splendid
animals strong gray limbs quivered
with excitement, and he was evidently
longing to break away from the noise
and hurryiDg life on every side of him.
There was indeed great change in
the Captain since he put his name TO
Lady Isabel'S bond in the library of
WOlstenholme. His face was white
and thin-nOt with the thiIness which
would come from the hard lighting aud
ScAnty food of campaign, but with
wan drawn look, scanned with deep
lines, as il the fiery soul within were
trying to burst the bonds which held it
down to earth.
Captain Lucas knew both the lads
leaning over the rail but he did not
speak tn either of them, though he had
turned Wooden in their direction for that
express purpose. Just as he was about
to rein up, the Ladies Dacre of VOL
stenholme rode by, attended by their
brother and quite a beyy of male
friends; be caught just a glimpse of
Lady Isabel's handsome chestnut, of
the braided hair and the sweet proud
face, flushed and animated now, for
Major Fitch of the Royal Irish was
telling her one OF his astounding anec-
dotes of personal adventure.
He turned his wan face to get q last
glimpse of the dark riding-habit soon
lost among the proud riders of the Row,
and Tom noticed with surprise that,
though his brow was dark, his mouth
twitched, and he shifted uneasily in his
saddle, as with sudden pain.
After this there we're strange tales
told about Captain Richard Lucas. In
the BrownlOw steeple-chaSe he had rid
den in a mad reckless way which brought
hack to the minds of his men the bad
& shtiuy days in India. He had lamed
Modem and killed another horse by his
fooIhardy riding with broken billiard
cue he had thraShed Flashaway within
an inch or his life, and he drank deeply
at club and hotel every night now.
Lady Isabsl had never awakened
yet from the rose tinted
dreams that schoolgirls dream her
brain teemed with poets idle fancies of
blameless knights and kings in shining
armor vino knew no guile and, while
she unused over the Princess" in her
odornlls rose gardens, she never guessed
how Clptain Richard Lucas was pacing
his little barrack slttiag-room with
damp white brow and wild scared eyes,
clasping and unclasDing pistol in his
uerveless hand, seeking to take his own
life, but always held back by something
within hun which raised warning
voice and called him "Sulcide."
= a ssrot in the dark, the shouts of
angry men out il the thick wood just
a little way from the great doors, and
them the alarm-bell OF Wolstenholme
rang out upon the night-alr, seeming to
cast the tidings from its changing iron
throat of fire and maddened rage and
a.