The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-09-11

SdNc Jlle lilllsulng touches 10 Jne neatly
laid table, Joel Vane and his boarder
came in
Montneath's eyes met Miles for a
moment, but there was no look of ques-
tioning at the sight of her pale, tortured
face, and the girls heart sank like lead
in her bosom as she sat before her un-
tasted meal
1t was over at last.
Millie had finished her tasks for the
night, and was standing in the kitchen
doorway, her hands clasped, and an ut
terly woe.begone look on her youag
face, when a cautious step drew near,
and a low, mUdulated voice breathed,
rather than spoke in her ear.
Get your hat and come down with
me to the cliff, Millie! Slip away so that
your father will not see You. l will be
waiting for you at the turn in the road"
For moment the blood surged holly
in the girls veins, and then seemed to
recede, leaving her cold as ice.
1t was the first time she had ever been
urged to an act that involved anything
clandestine or deceitlul, and the whole
force of her hitherto pure and innocent
life arose in silent protest.
But alas! ouly for moment-then
every other consideration was lost in
the one oyer-powering desire to be with
him-to hear his voice, and look back
the love that glowed in those dall, fas-
cinating eyes,
"Slipping quietly back into the house,
she secured her hat and light shawl,
and passing swiftly out, sped down the
road like frightened deer.
Mr.. Montneath was waiting for her.
Without word he drew the little
trembling hand through his arm, and
they walked on until they reached the
cliff-a broad ledge overlooking the sea,
and entirely inaccessible from the
water
A few large stones scattered about
served as seats; and on one of these
Montneath seated himself, drawing the
trembling girl down beside him.
"Millie," he said, in low voice, edo
you know am going away?"
Millie bowed her head in silence-she
could not speak.
"Your father told me tonight that l
must leave his house. For some reason
| he seems to have taken an unacc0unta-
BILE aversion to me; so | must go-but
must it be alone, Millic?-or-will You
90 with me?"
CAS- your wife, Arthur" brcathed the
agtated girl.
Certainly, little one--what else?" She
did not see the cruel compression of the
lips under the dropping mustache, ol
the strange glitter in the dark eyes, fol
her face was hidden on his breast, tc
which his arm held her close. "Will
you leave your home-your father-and
be all the world to me?"
"Yes-yes" she murmured in par
oXysm of delirious JOY.
"Then'we must go at once-to-night
Millie-ere your father finds way tC
prevent" he, said, rising with his arm
still around her. "Return home now
and at twelve o'clock meet me here
again. Be prudent and careful, and ii
a few hours more at most, we will be OF
the way to-
"To the perdition you have earned
false, black hearted deceiyerw rang ou
in tones that froze the marrow in thei
bones, as they turned to face the intrud
era tall, splendidly formed, regallI
beautiful woman, but transformed by
excess of passion into veritable fury
standing with her form drawn up to it,
fullest height, outlined against the eve
ming sky, wilhelm her right hand, lev
elel directly at Montneath, was gleam
ing pistol.
Up over the mans face crept a gray
ashen pallor, while his knees smot,
convusively together; but save for tha
involuntary motion, he stood as if par
alyzed by the sudden apparition.
Look you last upon that setting sun
Arthur Montncathw went on the
Nemesis-like voice, that shining weapon
still looking death into his eyes. g
swore to track you and the siren wh'
had won you from me-your betrotheC
wife! With your kisses warm upon III.
lips, l warned you against any triflinl
or unfaithfulness to me- will keel
that vow! You haye broken your sol
emn pledge-wrecked my lfe-tramplet
my heart beneath your feet-and yol
shall pay the prce-you and the woman
who has caused you to forget and deser
mer
As the last words left her lips, ther
was a flash-a reyerberation-aud stag
gering dizzily backward, Montneath fel
to the ground.
"Oneri said the desperate woman
, with blood-curdling deliberation. Girl
look once more upon your lover ere yol
are stretched beside himp'
, Once more the weapon was raised ant
leyeled; but at the same instant tn
, paralyzed girl felt herself flung to on
side, while moment later Walter Nor
p wood tottered to the edge of the elf
and disappeared, pierced by the bulle
he had received in her stead.
/ That was the last thing Millie saw
% then, with a wild, frenzied shrek. tina
went cchorng along the cliff, she sanl
/ senseless upon the ground.
| Back from the border-land of death
where he had been lowering so long
! Walter Norwood came slowly, painful.
at last; and his thin white hand wan
! dering over the coverlid of his couch