The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1885-10-31

piled. trying 70 smile. you know =
goose i Al home 20 the water
The day closed With al the GLORY q =
harvest sunset A beautiful and pro.
loBged twilight ushered In the night
One by one the stars peepod out from
the grand old dome above us and the
turbulent lake, now sottened 10 a gen.
he swell, reflected The silyery rays In
shlvering streams d light We we're
miles from the shore The sail d the
Mystic tapped lAnguidly agalns, the
mast a. the boat rose and fell with tho
heayihg surface Of the rsisr, but not a
breath crossed u path 10 propel "a on
ward Of homeward We we're be-.
calmed.
Leonard Was In ecstasy. Twas In tears.
A. the night advanced and darkness
d%eepened, ! earnestly aud iearfully pray.
ed Leonard TO thru shorcvard. but In
vain this hour a startling chabge had
come over him lie was no longer the
ardent hdmirr, the tender lover. but
like = tiger crouching within sure sad
eertsin reach Of bis already wounded
prey. and watching with grim .Ati.isc.
ton IL iruiiless efforts % escape. he re-
tanned his place In the stern 81 the boa,
needless o! prayers snd tears. lsughiug
unnaiurally At my fears sud whnging
my heart Nth ridicule
A thick. cold, clammy mist gradually
crept around H., shutting ont the llzht
Of the stars and enyeloping everything
In impenstrable gloom A light shawl
afforded little protection. and | was
o o chilled 10 the bone. Ny teeth chat
tered. could not keep them still
Leonard laughed, $ hard. heartless
laugh.
could not comprehend the meaning
Of his behavior towards me. He had
always been so very Kind. In the early
part Of the night he WAS tenderness
it'elf. Now his conduct was positively
cruel. felt convinced most Of the time
that he had some great surprise in store
for me. and that his apparent heartless.
ness was necessary 10 the success Of his
Joke. lie was very fond Of surprises.
But here we were away out 10 the lake
In darkness and fog. with no wind, no
the semblancs 81 an oar or paddle en-
board. Then wha, surprise had he in
store for meP
"Mary.' he said. after a prolonged
silence, during which he scesed wrapt
In thought. his voice now chiinged to rs
natural tone. Il am sorry ydn arc cold.
| would take you home quickly II /
could. but am powcrlcss. Here, take
my coat, snd wrap yourself in it-and
pardon my cruelty, | am not feeling
vel tonight Let u. hope tina, a breeze
NilI spring up soon"
Here was the explanation | had so
long waited for.
You are not well. Leonard. I know"
said. Keep the coat. You will need il.
he sure ! am grateful added. fear
ing that he might misapprehend my
meaniug. Il should be sorry 10 force
you 10 risk n serious. illness by depriylng
You of the projection now more than
ever required"
lie urged me strongly 10 take Il. As.
sefilng that be was not in the least cold,
and ! extended my hand for Il. for | was
suffering keenly; but | failed TO get Il.
for some reason be had changed his
mind, and muiiering something unin.
teiligible To me, be laid the coat beside
him on the seat.
;" have something that I must say
sow. he remarked. after \ brief silence.
The hArsbness Of his voice had returned.
Mary. ! have brought YOU out here
foF 4 purpose. have something i'm.
portan, To say TO you. aud I don't want
others 10 hear ms. II Is Of no interest 10
any but ourselves"
lie paused 4 moment. during which
he fumbled his coat. ana | heard him
place some hard. metallic article upon
the seat near him.
Then he went n Pour \ ago
registered a solemn vow that wonld
some day ask you for your hand and
heart and would not brook refusal. |
swore that II you rejected me you should
never be the wifcoi smother. Tor | would
Nil YOU"
lie spoke the words with great dclibe
ration aud emphasis. hut quickly chang
ing his manner he continued In an earn
est. suppliant tone;
MARY, ] have already twice asked yo,
TO be NV wife. have offered you al
that have Ia give my fortune, whicl
IS ample for Us both; my home. Of which
IN times past you have often espresso,
admiration. and the devotion II q hear
that has waycred In its love 70
YOU. You won't refuse me this time
Mary. will youpn
This i quite unexpected. Leonard.
l answered. You mus, give me tim
10 consider"
II have already waited months. I ca
not walt "A hour longer"
wait I'LL we get home,"I pleaded
lie made no Immediate reply. IN
metallic noise. before referred to. aeai
came from the seat beside him. RI
~membering that he had sworn 10 tax
my life u refused him. | was intense
~ alarmed.
Il must have your answer now. Mar,
, right now, without any equiyocatior
J Say you win be my wife"
! oh, Leonard" | cried. ''how unlik
yourself You sre tonight You are III
Have patience and al will be well. Il
: me think over the matter. II Is nc
kind-lti s most ungeneruus 10 treat m
thus. II you loved me- you wouldn'
be 80 cruel"
! Here are two Pis,ol.nMsry Ga
Tor you, and one for me.
shrieked with terror.
shall they be discharged harmlessl
into the lake, OF shall they dispatch on
souls simultaneously into eternityp
IL for you 10 say"
/. The truth was o before me. va
alone snd poserless with q mailman
He. . strong man. nerved BY the lnssn
eonviction tkat he Va. RICH, and DO.
sessed Of the right 10 knf. snd srms,
with deadly weapons. |. q woman
with woman . nerves. beyoud the r,sr
u human assistance and bsnumbed Wit
cold What wonld I 1oY What ...l