Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-09-01

form, and surely no woman OF them all
could compete with the sumptuous
beauty he was clasping In his arms as
they whirlcd around the room TO
maddcning waltz tune which the band
was playing. She was n dazzling
brunette, dressed in y gorgeous pink
satin which displayed her creamy heck
and arms with n startling liberality to
Mary's astonished gaze. A circlet of
diamonds clasped her round throat and
solitaire diamonds cleaned at her ears
and scintillated i'm her dark hair.
In an interval of the dance this couple
paused just inside the window at which
Mary was watching. He bent eagerly
toward his companion and said In fer
vent, excited tones, rs he lightly WELD
cd her jcwclcd fan.
"Havc tired YOU, dearest? Forgive
me. IL has been so long since have
held you to my heart-and have miss
ell YOU so-and longcd for you-and
been so wretched and lonely without
you"
How the fine eyes, that Mary loved
so, cleaned as he said IL! How the
dark cheek flushed! How fast and
eager came the deep-drawn brcaths,
He looked at her with an excited. fervid
look, compared with which the fond
and tender gaze he had so often be-
slowed on little Mary seemed weak and
meaningless.
"Have you, indeed, been so wretch
cdp" asked Darcy's companion, with
splendid CLEAN of her dark eyes. IL
might perhaps have doubted that, from
certain hints let fall"
what hintsp" asked Darcy, sud.
denly.
"As to certain rustic beauty, with
whom Captain Darcy has been seer
walking in quiet and scquestered spots"
Mays heart beat loud and she list.
encd breathlcssly.
scnse?" said Darcy, lightly, gazing al
her with fond Representatives,.
IL did not listen to tor, il l did, il
was only to laugh at IT," returned his
companion, showing her cleaning teeth
in dazzling smile. mo. indeed II
ever conclude to try the undiverting
pastimc of being jealous, it will be OF
no rustic beauty. know you too we'll.
The luxuries and refinemcnts of life
are all potent with you. Rusticity and
poverty are not for you. Cleopatra
sailing down the Nile might possibly
cause one pang or so, but no rural
Phyllis"
"You know me well, rs you say, nv
beautiful one" he answered. .'What
created being could ever charm me after
you? You will have to acknowledge at
least that you are my destiny, as l am
yours.
Mary heard It all and her heart seem
ed turned to stone. She did not, fol
ono instant deceive herself She moi
only felt and knew that Darcy did moi
love her, but she perfectly realized that
she never had loved her. And she com.
pretended, ut the same time, as she had
never done before the depth and LEM 9Th
and hight and strength of the great love
he had awakened in her.
But now once moro those strains OF
music smote the air and Darcy put his
arm around his beautiful companion
and they iloatcd away among the merry
whirl of dancers. The rapid motion,
the confusion of colors, the mingled
sounds seemed to take away little Mary's
senses and she sank into sitting pos
ture, almost fainting. In few minutes
she was reused by hearing voices, and
when she recognized Ben Woods in one
of these, her strength seemed to return
to her, ut n bound, and in moment,
she was eager and alert. Listening in.
tently, she was made aware of the plan
which these two men were plotting-a
plan of such rccklessness as only crazy
men would have attempted They had
resolved to watch Darcy, and, when an
opportunity offered, to fire at him, and
then make their escape. In few min.
utes, they passed on, without having
seen Mary, who was screened by the
shadows of the house.
She sprang to her feet, animated and
resolute. A present, immediate danger
threatened the being who was still al
the world to her, and although she
knew now that she was nothing to him,
she was ready to do and dare anything
to save him. She bent forward to the
window once more, and sought, with
eager eyes, for the couple she had re.
Gently been watching, but they were no.
where to be seen. Convincing herself
that they had left the room she slipped
noiselessly from her place and stole
around to the other side of the house,
There she caught n glimpse, ahead a
her, of two figures walking of towards
the sca-wall that skirtcd the garrison OF
one side. Trcading lightly over the
grassy path, she kept them in view,
herself quite unobscrved, until she
reached little clump of bushes very
near to where the wall ran, and us they
passed by this and kept straight on, she
resolved TO screen herself there until
she could think of some expcdicnt &c
warn Darcy. From here she could SEQ
every movement of the handsome
couple, as they walked up to the sea-wall
and stood a moment gazing out over
the waters radiant beneath the silver
moon.
For moment they stood there in
silence, her hand within his arm, their
faces turned seward. Then, ut the
same instant, they turned toward each
other and their eyes met. For an in.
slant Mary felt as il she must cry Out
in her agony and dcsolation, and she
might have done so had she not that in.
slant become aware of certain sounds
that rcawakcned her fears and made
her forget herself.
Ben Woods and his accomplice were
standing within few feet of her, and
as she stood breathlcss listening TO
their muttercd words, one of them
raised pistol and took deliberate aim al
Darcy.
But before the click Of the trigger
L T. H..
place of conccalmcnt and thrown her.
self forward. She was Just in time.
A second more and Darcy would have
been dead man; but he was saved.
The bullet, aimed ut his heart,
was turned aside, and little Mary had
received il in her own. She fell for.
ward, almost without cry, and as the
murderer turned and fed, Darcy caught
her in his arms.
"Maryr' he cried, dimly comprehend.
-. -. A. ,xx,.l.t 1t he xn,,t