River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-02-26

tld1ngs that my father lay at the point
of death-the doctors had given him
up.
At my fathers death my brother would
inherit all the vast estates of the Flem-
ings, for they were strictly entailed.
l went back again perfectly ambition
less, for every hope of my life had fed
with Arelie's falseness-went back to
what?
1t seems foolish after all, to open old
sores, but the memory of that home
coming is back with me now even
stronger than the memory of the hor
rors that followed. Therefore must
tell 1t.
went first to see my father. He was
propped up with pillows in the bed, his
face CHASTITY All yes death had most
surely placed his hand on him.
He looked at me with eyes in which
strange lustre cleaned.
A cry broke from my lips. That glare,
that strange quick twitching of the
muscles / had seen once before in India
NY father had been poisoned by one
of the most subtle drugs known to
science-its effec', indeed, almost I'M
known, save by some one who has seen
another die with it.
My heart grew cold with horror
horror unspeakable- why was it
my thoughts so suddenly reverted to
the beautiful wife of my brother?
my Cod" cried. "am too late to
save HIM ?" / knew the antidote: but
was it too late to use it?
Scarcely needing the questions asked,
went and got the antidote, which, if
he were not too far gone, would save
him
As [ came up the avenue again, my
thoughts full of my father, lady came
along the shady path below-a tall.
graceful woman, / saw at a glance, with
something strangely familiar about her
carriage.
She came out from the dense shadow,
and as she did so my brother overlook
me, coming up behind me, and his eyes
fell on the lady as we'll, who at that
moment stepped into the sunshine.
THAT is my wife, Guy" he said, as
she not beautiful enough to make
pardonable my mesalliance, as they call
it,"
Beautiful enough All, Heavens Yes,
for that moment / saw the perfect
features, the crown of wavy hair, the
crimson curving lips of the woman /
had loved. The lovely dark eyes of my
false wife were looking into mine.
4 sharp cry left my lips.
Ny eyes did not deceive me. Clad
in silken robes and costly lace, Arelie
stood before me. Stood before me only
for moment-and then | saw her lips
grow white, her face grow pallid, heard
the low, frightened cry, saw the pas
sionate, pleading look-the next mo-
ment she had thrown up her hands and
fallen at our feet.
NY brother looked at me.
you have frightened her, Guy, by
the way you looked at her think you
must be crazy. You did not seem to
know what you we're doing"
He lifted Arelie IN his arms and
carried her to the house, while [ fol-
lowed, almost doubling the whole oc-
currence.
First l went to my fathers room
gave him che drops | had gone for, and
then went down to the library to seek
Vernon and tell him Arelie's story and
mine.
entered by the side door and came
face to face with Archie, who held an
open paper in her hand.
What do you intend to do?" she said,
the paper dropping from her fingers,
which | saw at a glance was my fathers
Will, for he owned other wealth besides
the entailed estate.
At this instant a servant entered, and
Arelie stole out without hearing my an
swer.
/ left the library then as well, and
went out into the grounds, walking up
and down in deep thought, when the
sweep of dress told me some one was
near. and | turned to meet her again.
"You will spare me, Guy? You will
not bet:ay me?" she cried, clasping my
arm.
shook her off.
do you think 1 would be party to
your crime ?" | said.
But still 1 shrank from telling Yer
non, for he was perfect devil when his
temper w as aroused.
Meet me here tomorrow night" |
said. land l will give You my decision;
but Archie, dare to attempt my fathers
life again, and as sure as there is a God
above me, will hand you over to the
law. Oh, woman, could you not wait
few short years."
| did not dream that at this moment
pair of eyes-Vernon's eyes, dark
with sudden-bor jealous rage-were
fixed upon us; but Archie must
have seen them.
She pushed me back.
''You must not tempt me to leave my
husband Guy Howard" she cried.
Vernon, where are you, to save me
from this man?"
You would steal my wife from me,
you scoundrel!" ! heard Vernon's voice
cry, as he leaped forward beside us.
But | will send bullet through your
cowardly heart"
saw a pistol CLEAN in the air |
felt sharp, sudden pain in my side,
then as l fell l thought l heard wo-
mans scream and the second report Of
the pistol, and then 1 remembered no
more.
When l awoke to consciousness
again | was what | am nOw-the lone
~ master of all this vast estate, for /
had been too late to save my fathers
life, and as Vernon had raised the re-
volver the trigger had caught in an
overhanging bough and the other bullet
had entered his own heart.
[ never married again, never wooed
nor welded another. People call me
misanthrope, but never, thank God,
cynic, and wonder why it is so, but none
ever dream of what Vernon's wife had
been tome.
never married. though [ was at lib
erty to do so, for after my recovery Ar
ellie went away, and four years after l
looked upon her dead face, all ita beau
ty marred, all its delicate perfection
gone by the life she had led
This is the story of Fleming Hal, and
the reason why /, its master, have new
er been charmed again by the light of
woman's eyes, nor won by a smile on
her lips.
What Cow!
Boston Post