River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-04-23
SIlYITG FOR LOVE.


the air, unbroken save by the hum of
the bees and twitter Of the birds in the
trees.
Under the branches of dropping
tree a girl was standing, a girl fair and
young, more than passing fair Only
at this moment the beauty of her face
was married by the expression Of bitter
hate that darkened it, while her eyes
rested on slight eminence that rose a
few steps away.
She was in the shadow, and on the
hill another lady and gentleman were
standing.
The girl, Cleta Manvers, watched the
lovers, for such Hester Leigh and Guy
Singleton most certainly were, her eY
glowing, her breath coming quick, her
short, little hands clenched convulsive-
~.
"Sbe will never be his wife" she
cried passionately; "before that would
take her life with my own hands.
Suddenly, almost at her side, there
broke forth, clear and sweet, and full
of an almost agonizing pathos, girls
voice in the ballad:
.'Do not hust him gentle lady,
Though his voice bs low and sweet;
Heel not he who kneels before thee,
gently bleeding at thy feet
A swift change passed over Cleta
Manver's face. and she turned in the di-
rection Of the sound and came face to
face with the singer, a GYPSY glr! of
about eighteen, a girl with rich, dark
lovliness, but whose face was pallid, and
whose r., dark ewes were full of pain
aua despair. as we'll 81 madness.
Clata laid her hand on the girls
shoulder
Have you seen him yet" she said +;
have Won seen Cry Singleton ?"
The girls eyes grew wild.
Il viii never find him, never, never
/ have wandered far and near, but /
see him not. He IS gone, gone forey-
cr; Int [ must find him." and then
she turned in the direction she had
come and fled down the pathway.
Cletl looked after her.
"Is love wOmau's curse?" she said.
HAS it been yours as well, fair Gle
5a?" and a pair Of dark, flashing ewes
were looking into hers, and a dark,
hooking face smiled at the terror that
actually whitened her lips.
A low cry left her lips.
vernon Singleton alive" she gasp
ed.
"Alive and we'll, and as angelic as
ever" he answered.
CAS- fendish." she said; then sudden
lv: Il thought you dead, and you are
here.
and gloried in the thought, no doubt !;
and here | am. my beloved wife.
Her ewes flashed.
do not dare to repeat that" she
said. q am not your wife. There was
nothing in that ceremony that bound a
child to you-a child, mad with passion
and pain"
yet woman enough for that pain to
come from love, and unrequited love,
as it is still, / see;" and his eyes rested
on the eminence where Hester and Guy
still stood, unconscious of the watchers.
/ am afraid he is lost to you for GER
tain. now-even if did exist no longer.
| think You may give up, my dear.
Then changing his manner: Listen
Cleta. he said; Il will never claim you
if YOU help me in this plot.
"What is it?"
Vernon talked low and earnestly fol
while, ana Cleta listened silently.
aAIeot me here tonight, he said in
conclusion, "and we viii settle the best
way to manage it.
The next instant she was alone again
"a new tempest Of rage in her bosom
"The fool !" she said; does he thinl
would trust him? He has signed hi
own death warrant.
She met him that night, and listened
while the he further explained his plan
The moon shone pale and high, but
as lie turned to leave her passed behinC
a mountain of clouds, and then
Then pistol cleaned in Cletas Whit
hand. a shot rang out on the night air
and tine man fell forward dead-sho
through the heart.
The woman bent over him. Yes, h,
was dead.
Down below the river ran deep an(
dark, and without a moments hesitation
with almost supcrhuman exertlon TO.
her. she dragged hmm towards it.
1t was terrible work, but she neve-
paused. though her face grew pallid
aer ewes wild with fear.
One last effort "a terrible ominou
fhud. The body had sunk below The
water.
She went home and entered as sh'
had left. unobserved and then threw
herself on the couch but not to sleep
but to think of her crime and wOnde
was she safe.
She WAS aroused, however, in few
hours. for she had fallen at length int
a deep do2e, by the cries of Hester.
Come quickly" Hester cried; ''un
Gle is dying BE quick Cleta.@
Clcta leaped 10 her feet, her hear
beating. Only an old man dying. All
heaven. what had She feared? Even t.
her soul she feared to whisper that.
Yes their uncle, or more properl!
speaking. their gand-uncle, was dying
nav. almost dead, the kind old man VIII,
had brought them M from childhood.
where is-where is Guy? ~ the dyln:
man said
Ina few minutes his adopted son stoo,
at the bedside
The old man, who had been NOR
than i father to hlm. and a distant re
lati0n. for the true name rs well a
name bv adoption OF Guy was Singleton
was almost past speaking, but he point
cd To the girls.
Either Of them, Guy, for you--yo1
He said no more his soul had passe,
TO its God
Two days later they laid him TO res
in the grave, and then, in the dim oil
library. the viii was read.
He gave and bequeathed all he pos
sassed 10 his adopted son, Guy Singl.
ton. on condition that he wed Clet
Mauvers, or Hester Leigh, WITHIN IL
wear To his other srand-nlece, til
one whom Guy d.d not marry, he lei
ten thousand pounds, to be paid out {
tine estate on GUYS wedding day.
Ii c. IA Nanvers was a beauty, ;
was Lester. Of a different type, dit
ftre at and a nobler.
CIeta was fair as lily, with gOlde
hlir and eyes Of cerulean blue, Will
testers eyes we're deep, soft brown
uer hair chesnut. thick and wavy.
Cleta's face oas rose-tinted and din
pled. while flush seldom stained til
.,ir, pure palIor Of Hester's delicat