Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-12
her intensly. Gould she be dsceivins

ner intentIy. Couid sne % deceivihs
me?
What do you means" she asked,
rs II troubled.
"Do you know that he carries q pho
toeraph Of yourself in his note-case?"
] can scarcely describe the change
that came over hes beautiful iAcs ~
these words. She turned sshy pale,
staggered back, and wonld have fallen
had not put my arm round her.
What is it?" l cried, terrified OF
Der pallor. "Are you i'll? Ethel, my
darling, tell me what there is between
this man and you that can so unnerve
you?"
She recovered herself with an effort;
then, with q sudden impulse, turned
aud furg her arms around my neck.
"T,ll me again, "she whispered, that
you love me. | am very wretched,
very miserable. At times | think |
;hsll kill myself--but then remember
ycu."
Her voice died away and her head
sank on my breast.
lupttuous, hot-headed young fool |
was / forgot that she had given me
no reason for her extraordinary agita-
ton, but, intoxicated by her beauty, |
clssped her in my arms and assured
her a hundred times OF my undying
love for her. After pause she con-
iinued: Sometimes fancy what our
life might be if we were together far
away from here-just you and | to-
geibeI-alone."
Sand Why should not that dream be
realized 2" | asked eagerly.
81 dare Do,-I dare not" she re-
piled, looking round fearfully.
"Ethel, ] know there is secret in
your life, but | love you so much that
| am content to wait until you choose
to tell NE what it is. You say you arc
unhappy here; then let me be the one
to give you happiness. At any time
you like | will take you away and make
you my wife,"
/ spoke with impassioned eagerness,
and as / ended her lips met mine. Yet,
at that supreme moment / knew | was
sealing my own death-warrant that |
was pledging myself to an act Of mad-
ness against which my inner conscious
ness, my common sense, rebelled.
Before she could reply, a figure APP
preached us from the end Of the ter
race. II was jim Dalton.
"You will excuse my interruptiUg
you" be remarked CURLY, "but,
Brooke. we want you for pool, and as
my sister is rather delicate, think It
IS we'll she should 60 in"
His eyes met mine with glance of
unmistskable defiance and hatred,
which astonished as we'll as annoyed
me.
However, | said nothing; he drew
E,hel's hand through his arm and led
the way to the drawing.room. As
they entered | fancied a faint cry of
pain escaped her; later on knew it to
be grim reality.
We found Chalmers turning over a
portfolio of epgravings in a corner Of
the room. Some Of the men had ad-
iourned for billiards, and excusing my
self from playing, | went over to Der
rick and stood beside him, Miss Dalton
having thrown herself ia lounging-
chair rear Us. I thought she looked
worried and anxious, and her color had
quite faded. Chalmers Was fall of al
miration at the eDgravipgs. | discOy-
cred that he was bit Of an artist, srd
decidedly enthusiastic on the subject.
Presently we came to an etching; il was
q cottage interior, so finely, so exqui-
sitely finished AZ to be quite marvellous.
Chalmers did not join in my praise Of
it; he was very silent, and found
that his attention was fixed upon the
representation Of form, most deli
cately etched in one corner Of the pa
per.
"Who is the artist here, Miss Dali
ton?" be asked presently, holding Il
~.
Ethel glanced at it and started tbsn,
after a slight hesitation I" | did that"
"YoU?" exclaimed why, yon
have hidden Jour light under bushel.
I bad 10 idea that you were capable Of
such work. 1t Is wonderful"
"You see, you done know every
thing, Cis," laughed Chalmers "Ill
be bound Miss Dalton had some good
reason for concealing such 4 gift, for
young ladies' are not 50 reticent gene
rally"
was somewhat surprised at hi,
words, and on looking at Ethel saw
Ter flush crimson. She rose, took the
drawing from US, and thrust it away be-
meath a pile of music then turning,
bowed coldly to Chalmers and wished
him goodnight. To me she held Gu.
her hand, and for the first time per-
ceiyed upon her lovely rounded arm
a deep crimson mark, as if heavy
gold bangle she wore had been pressed
roughly into it. My heart swelled wish
pity and Indignation, for ] knew that
ber brothers grasp had hurt her, and
it vas with difficulty that restrained
my rage and disgust sufficiently to al.
low me to part with her calmly. as u
Chalmers, could willingly have cursed
him for being present, for lcuged for
few last words with ny darling.
v.
1t was after this that Chalmers gave
up shooting and took to long ramble>
with his sketch. book. | placed pony
at bis disposal, and for week he dis
appeared every day until diOner-time.
He seldom showed Us any results Of
his outings, bat gave us to understand
that be had Miss Dslton's permission
to sketch the priory for picture in a
magazine in which he was interested.
greatly envied him. | was so despe-
rately in love with Ethel that | was il
clined to be jealous Of any one who
approached her.
But saw good deal Of her at the
time, for scarcely an evening passed
that we did lot meet either at the prl-
DRY or a. my house; and | regret to
say that a considerable deal Of nay spare
cash found its way into the pockets OF
the Daltons, pere st fills.
1t was after hot night at cards that
wa sat in my billiard.room smoking,