The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1885-11-13

!
! ence to her brother-a man of fierce
passions self-willed, and revengeful
The evening meal over, Maurice
| Northcott prepared to start for Keswick
1t was only occasionally he could run
down and visit his young wife. The
health of his father, q wealthy Man
chester merchant, kept him tied to that
town.
Often had ho started as now about to
do; but this evening he fingered as
much as Laurie hesitated to lei him 60
The sun was setting, and she trembled
at the thought that he would have to
traverse the hills and fells in darkness.
Laughing at her nervousness, he
moved from her, then came back to
! take llcI unce more i'll his arms, ;,.4I to
kiss her again and again.
Finally he broke away, and strobe NJ
the path, turning every few yards to
wave his hat.
How pretty she looked, his dear little
wife, soon to be n mother, standing
there, the rose verandah rs back
ground.
With one white hand she shaded her
eyes from the red suns rays, while the
other waved her straw hat in response.
Thus was she photographed i'll his brain
to be after remembered in soil ude and
sorrow, for those two never again be-
held each other.
But the Book of Fate is closed to
! mortal eyes, and soou his spirits re-
gaining vigor with the exercise anG
/ cooler niI, Maurice Northcott strobe
hurriedly OH, for he had sadly delayed
I during leave-taking, and already dark
ness was creeping up the valleys to the
moors, and Keswick was ten. miles
RNay.
More than half the distance had been
Travelled. when, as he proceeded along
q wild hillside, at the foot OF which
bright little brook was flowing, he per-
ceived man coming towards him.
His walk until now had been solitary,
and he wished it had continued so, for
as the figure came on quickly through
the gathering gloom, Maurice Northcott
seemed to think it familiar. A few more
yards covered by both, and, with q
sense of angry annoyance, he was sure
of it. The man was Laure's brother
Arnold
Strong and powerful of limb, he
halted in the path, his arms folded.
$50 he said, cit is you, is it? ]
have tracked you at last"
"Tracked mel replied Maurice,
calmly. 81 was not difficult to find"
"No-not at Manchester but that
was no good" retortod the other with
q fierce laugh. II Should have had 10
proof. y falschood is easy enough to o
fine gentleman like you"
'Have q care, Arnold Wentworth !
And tell me- now that you have found
me, what it is that you want with me-"
"Revenge! was the prompt reply.
"You have brought dishonor on my
name"
1T is false!" said Maurice quietly
False! Do You mean to say it was
not with you that Laure went ?" cried
Arnold Wentworth" that it was not
you who took herr"
Arnold Wentworth, will you hear
reason? ?"
"No. Iprefer justice" was the ans
wer /; g or, better, revenge. Maurice
Northcott, do not part from you this
night until I have avenged my sister
Laure"
eff she needed any to avenge her,
that right would belong to me, her
husband"
"Her husband Do you imagine I
am to be so duped, that am to believe
that 2"
cit is the truth. Your sister Laure
is my wife"
''In that case, where is she? Why is
she hidden away-see, I've learned all
about you-hidden away ike-like some
woman whom you are ashamed to OWN"
''There are reasons, which, if they
satisfy Laure, are sufficient
"No they must satisfy me. It's the
old story, of course with mocking
hugh. &" Fear of disinheritance if your
wealthy family should find you have
married such as Laure. If that's the
excuse you intend to give, save yourself
the trouble, Maurice Northcott, for I
should not believe it..
" do not intend to give you any ex-
cuse," retorted the other his anger
rising "There requires none. Laure
is my wife that must content you.
AS he ended, he made as though to
pass. With a spring, Arnold Went
worth caught his arm.
mo you shall not go!" he cried
"Where is Laure? ?"
"Unhand me! You have been drink
| ing" said Maurice flinging him off.