The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-04-22

AslC WIN SlIOhc W prevent
my mad purpose. remembered moth
ing more. A sudden crash-an up
hcaving that heralded the violent end
ing of the wOrld-the flying of a myriad
fiery particles in the air-and then,
oblivion. When | recovered my senses
heard that a terrible accident, mex
plicablc to all but me, had occurred,
and that my wife and her paramour
were killed, with a score Of other per-
sons. Upon earth i was never to see
their faces again"
At that moment William, looking
toward the house, saw for the third
time the mysterious shadow on the
snow. In some unaccOuntable way, il
inspired him with unreasonable resent
ment, and nothing but the strong in
tercst he took in Stephens story would
have deferred him from pursuing it.
''When | arose from my bed of sick
ness / was q changed man. l had
tasted the sweetness of life, and it had
poisoned my blood. / closed my door
upon all humanity. The shadow of
death was hanging over my hOuse-for
oh, William Fairfield! when in my de-
spair had dashed my baby beauty to
the earth, had not killed her, but l
had manned. deformed her beyond all
mortal cure, and she grew into what
Won see her now. She does not know
that it is | who inflicted this bitter grief
upon her. Mercifully it is hidden from
her, as it has been hidden from all
Others until this night. 1t was sup
posed that she met with an accident for
which no human hand was account
able; but ], her father, made her what
she is. |, her father, wrecked her
young life upon the rock of my despair;
and /. her father, hour after hour, day
after day, bear within me the seeds of
remOrsc so strong and agOnizing that /
would tear myself limb from limb could
atone for the blight that have
brought upon my child"
The night had grown very still; no
sound of merriment floated from the
house. The shadow had disappeared.
As William noted this, there stole into
his heart a suspicion which made him
shudder.
"Do you wonder row that l am
morose, Sullen, uncharitable? Do you
wonder now that l shun my fellow
men-that | hate them all, scOrn, dis
trust them all? But not to excuse my
self have | spoken. Take warning that
Won are not betrayed as Twas betrayed.
1t is the soul, not the face, of a woman
that constitutes the happiness of man.
If you ask why | have told you my
story, l may in some part truly answer
that it is to save you from fate SINH
lar tc that which fell to my unhappy
lot"
ITO save mel" exclaimed William.
GAY" returned Stephen; ''you love
Laura Harrild's face as loved the face
of my wife. She is fair and beautiful
AS was my wife. Learn from me
that every fair woman is alike in this
that she so thirstS for admiration that
the love of one man viii not suffice
her"
- You wrong them. you wrong
them, murmured William.
:" Believe so, and dream your dream
till 1t is too late. This woman that you
adore PLAYS love and devotion to you
when Won are together; gives you
honeyed words when you and she are
alone; smiles upon you. presses your
hand. yields to your embrace-she does
all this. warrant; and yet tonight"
"To-nichtr' echoed William, look
inc around with a bewildered air.
This very night" said Stephen, in
n tone huShed perhaps in compassion
for the misery depicted in the young
mans face. this very night l saw her
,clasped in another mans arms"
You lier' cried William, in an az
.onized voice. You lie! AS there is
light in Heaven
u speak the truth. By my child's
life swear it!''
1t was solemn oath solemnly ut
tered, and it was accepted as direct
testimony by the younger man. He
held up his hands mechanically in
pitiable appeal for silence, and Stephen
,obeyed the motion. In the few brief
moments that ensued, all the glory of
the night faded away in William Fair
fields sight The moon lost its bright
ness, the clouds their beauty, the white
snow its purity. Stephens whispered
<lefilcment had defiled the place and
season. Yet a duty had TO be per-
formed-his manhood had to b. vindi-
Gated But first he would make sure;
perhaps he had mistaken the purport
of Stephens accusation.
Repeat" he said, in set, logged
tone, land briefly, whist you have
already said concerning Laura Har-
rid.
Two hours since, 1 saw her yon-
der said Stephen, in measured tones.
pointing to the spot where William had
seen the shadow, pressing man to
her heart with rs fond affection rs false
woman can show. You can best say
whether that man was William Fair
field"
II was true, then. He had not mis-
taken the meaning of the accusation.
But two hours sincel What was he do
ing at that time? With an effort he
collected his thoughts. 1t was at that
very time he had seen the shadow OF
the man on the snow, and had called
Laura's attention to it; and she had
implored him not to go out, and had
then left him for fully half an hour. For
what purpose? To meet her secret
lover, to weep and smile over him, TO
WELD to his embrace. Had not Stephen
seen them? This man, whom all the
world condemned and looked upon
with aversion, had proved his truest
friend. Utterly blotted from his men,
'ory was the pledge he had given to the
woman of his choice: Put me to Sc
we're test, and see me smiling at you
with perfect trussfulnesS, as do now,
loving you, believing in you, though all
the world were against you" He
looked Vacantly into Stephens face.
Have you anything more to tell
me?"
"You viii not be very pleased to hear
Ii; but you should know, for it may
lead Won to evidence that can not be