West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-03-12

who constantly whispered devilish ideas
IN my ear.
Finally Sinclair began 10 build.
Millicent was radiant with delight, and
they were constantly making plans and
talking of the new home, and Sinclair
would ask me every now and then for
suggestion; but / always had some
excuse to take me away.
One day we stood before "A tall mir
ror together-quiteb by accident. was
struck by the difference i'm our faces
We were just of an age, but my selfish,
mercenary, jealous and envious feel
ings had married my face, until looked
almost ten years her senior. Nature
had made me much the handsomer of
the two, and yet | could see that she
possessed tenfold the attractions did
at that time.
This only increased my hatred. and
If could have married her features
then and there with some terrible scar
l would have done it. ALWAYS i'm pres.
ence of Sinclair, tried TO appear kind
and cordial, for l did not want him to
read my mortified pride and wounded
love, though now my love for him had
turned into dislike. Since he belonged
to her he was hateful in my sight.
by and by new cause of misery to
me was added. There was TO be ere
many months passed another tie to
bind her to Sinclair and Colonel Mon
roe.
When | realized this | felt madden.
ing fury take possession of me.
Little by little, unconsciously vet
surely by the force of her own worth
and her many virtues, she had crowded
me out of the place had grown to
think was my own.
My stepfather worshipel her; Sinclair
loved her TO idolatry; and ev, the ser.
wants and the neighboring people could
talk of nothing but sweet Lady Milf
cent" L was thrust aside, sighted,
forgotten. Yet it was my own fault.
Nobody can help loving a sweet, smil.
ing, unselfish and amiablc person in
preference to n black-browcd. frown-
ing, cold, selfish being. / had not made
myself worthy of love, and hated her
because she had; and now she was to
bestow last priceless blessing upon
the race, blessing which / had been
denied the right of bestowing.
One evening just in the cleaning l
walked down the garden toward a rus
tic seat near a large rose tree. In order
to reach the seat l had to descend sew
eral steps. They were fiat steps-cut
from quarry stone, and brought and
laid there. AS | placed my foot on the
second stair it tottered and tipped UNI
der my weight. There had been a Sc
we're storm recently, and the earth had
washed away, leaving no foundation
for the slab to rest upon. fell as the
step gave way beneath me and bruised
my knee.
II must tell John about this to-
night, thought, land he must attend
to it tomorrow. It's a dangerous
place"
sat down on the rustic bench. 1
had scarcely seated myself, when | saw
Millicent approaching with her basket
ana SCISSORS she was coming to gather
roses to decorate the house.
AS she neared the steps | was on the
point of calling out TO her to be careful,
when the devil in my heart babe me be
silent
Let her look out for herself" he
whispered. Its none of your bust
ness. If you had not come down here
you would not be responsible for what
happened to her, and she can not ex-
pect you to follow her about to guard
her from danger"
While the evil spirit whispered, it all
happened.
She stepped upon the treacherous
stone, it tipped under her weight and
precipitated her forward upon her face
ran to assist her to her feet, now thor
oughly frightened and Mortified at my
own wickedness, but she did not seem
badly hurt, only slightly bruised
That Is dangerous place." she
said. John must attend to it to-mor-
row"
Even then at that moment it made
me angry to hear her speak in such a
tone of command concerning the prem
Uses and the servants
That night the household was
alarmed by the sudden illness of Lady
Millicent. At dawn, i'm spite of the
best medical skill, she lay dead, with
her tiny dead infant upon her breast.
l was Mortified at the result of my
wicked silence. Yet the full punish
ment came later in the day.
During the afternoon the sharp re-
port of pistol sounded through the
pines. 1t came from the room where
Lady Millicent and babe lay robed for
burial. Rushing thither we saw Sim
clair, lying over the casket which con-
tanned the two silent forms. The pistol
which had taken his life was still smok-
ing in his hand.
Colonel Monroe followed them all to
the grave before two years passed. By
his will j was left heiress of all those
fine domains of both estates and OK
the pines. My avarice was gratified
There was no other woman left to
awaken my jealous feelings, or TO mock
me with her happiness.
No living being suspects my guilt;
but the dead know it, and often i'm the
night they come close about me, ac-
cusing me of my sin.
/ abhor life, yet ] dread death. for
then j must meet them face 90 face,
with no vail between. ED EHp Wheeler
WicO1. IN ~ T. Star.
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a PETRlFIED BODY
The Valuable GenIugfoor a.......t