Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-17
IN AN EVIL HOUR.

Ihe mouse was blazing with lights.
No gayer nor more aristocratic gather
ings were held In Landerville than
those given by MIR. Cranscomb. His
two daughters were beautiful girls, and
won all by their natural charm of man
ner, which holds and fascinates when
beauty is no more.
In the midst Of the harmonious
blending Of sounds, when clocks and
watches ticked recklessly on into the
''Wee sma' hours ayont the twarl,"
when hearts beat wildly, when music
strun,med madly, when trim feet leap
ed to 1t skurrying time as though each
darting slippered toe were tossed by
some impish sprite-when, in truth, all
was going merry as marriage-b bell"
(much merrier in soothD, there sound
ed through the long drawing-rooms a
piercing scream!
What was itp
The answer to this startled question
was found in the PROSTATE form Of
Miss Burdleigh, whose white silk gown
had measured its length upon the floor,
as she lay swathed about Ike q mer-
maid. pure in her firm blonde beauty.
as though newly washed up from the
bright sea-foam of which she seemed
piece.
After her came young Faulkner. the
handsomest young man in the town.
whose attentions to Miss Burdleigh
were well known. She had fallen for
ward from window, within whose re-
cess she had been seated with Mr..
Faulkner.
The young man, pale as death, lifted
her and laid her upon sofa in an ad-
joining apartment.
Something frightened her, scarce
know what" murmured the young
man. Something she fancied she
saw"
Even when the young girl recovered.
she turned her head aside with groan,
and asked to be taken home.
1t was a warm night; the windows
were open, and the one at which Rosa
Burdleigh and Allan Faulkner had been
seated opened upon a narrow wooden
balcony, whose steps led down into
finely kept garden.
The moon had bathed all things with
her snowy light, leaving queenly roses
to weep in silence at their submerged
beauty, and naughty, gaudy, garish
beauties OF the day to sulk in moody
rebellion. Only the fountains well
coined the ethereal radiance that turn
ed their glancing waters into wreaths
Of diamonds.
Near the gateway of this garden,
broken by terraces and clumps of foli-
age, stood a woman.
She looked woman fully forty years
of age, though she was one who had
evidently never felt the innocent glow
of youth.
She was now casting glances full of
evil at the house she had just left.
A sneer settled upon her mouth.
"She fainted," she said. "rhe fooll
Good for her! I had thought to kill
her-but in life-life I shall have o
greater revenge on himr'
As the woman spoke, she still felt
and smoothed the deadly weapon she
carried-a small but costly revolver.
1t was, indeed, not pleasant face,
this one that had peered in at Rosa
Burdleigh.
Nor were the words that she had ut
tered pleasant ones:
leave him, or your life will be the
forfeitr'
"What did she meanp" was the ques-
ton which rose to the girls lips, when
for moment she and Allan were again
alone.
II cannot tell you now, love. Wait,
and will explain ALL"
The following morning Allan Faulk-
ner left Landerville; and Rosa Burd-
leigh, watching as weeks and months
passed, remembered still these last
words-"Wait, and will explain all. :"
Had she not waited faithfully Was
1t not time she should have this mys-
terry explained, which had SO cruelty in
terrupted the fairest and sweetest love.
dream that ever girl knewp
As time wore on she grew despon-
dent A persistent voice seemed ever
to mock her hopes: 'Wait you for a
lover who leaves you thus. without q
word OF his return or promise Of con-
stancyp" But her heart answered ev-
er: "Yes, yes, she would await him
through all the future years of her
life" Who, indeed, could take his
One day there came note to her. It
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no.o sne.; .. swo I;ocA to-norIow. Vn,
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Iae, emoi..ered, anu caie,worn: AZ
,an aosancea 10 meet tne giIi ne IDOL
iAG9. ohe; .oo. was cnahgea.