Daily Republican., 1888-08-03
A MI, rrnM PnMALrL
Br ELLA RANDALL.

ner Oreant heaved unanimously, and
abe cltnohed her jeueled hauds. aT'- =
The oAuEe Of this emotion was the Ap
p6arAnoe OF two young people on the
walk below, q Rrsonful, fAir-hAired girl,
and handsome man, who bent over his
companion " th an sir Of Abto ute de-
votion.
The sound d. their voices reached the
girl who WAtdhed them, and the bit her
scarlet lip, while her face alternately
flushed and pAltd
Blanche D arsion, how 1 hate youI"
she muttered4 "You came bet cen us
- be is mint mine till you beWltchec
hin with 20 nr doli-lIke beauty aud
won him from me, Nov 1 am deserted, /,
while you hASk in his love. Ah,
HeAyenl could kill you both ere
could reconcile myself 10 this daily tor
tuFsl'
Just then the fair girl looked up aud
saw that dark face tnat quickly chang
ed expression.
"An, Oousin Iu e." abe cried, come
down. We have besn looking for
you."
When IntE D&rston Joined them she
Was all radiance aud smiles. She had
never allowed Ralph Marley to guess
the depths OF her passion; he did not
know how his nsRloot IRukled in her
heart, how ste oherlshed bitter desires
for vengeAno1; else he wonld not have
trusted her.
He thought OF her simply ~ BlAnohe's
cousin, . rarely beautiful girl for whom
he had entertained q passing fancy, and
who was still bis friend.
eve wan; your EdVIce about the
fete," said Biar cha, smiling, "You
have 30 many original ideas aud excel
lent suggestionB TO make, IntE Let us
stroll down ttwSrd the river"
30, talking Of the fete, they walked
sway, and nd ono would have guessed,
70 look upon lthe radiant fEoe OF Int 2
DArstonI thai 1t was . mask for heart
seethinR With smouldering fires OF
AWfHl passion
On tho Iiy yes bank they paused to
rect, and Re pm strolled away n few
pAoes to gather the blue lilies that greR v
In abundance there.
Blanche, slated on the mossy slope,
leaned hsr blonde bead upon her hand,
and for the hrst time her oompABion
notiosd the ornament she wor6--a
quaint, twiatHd bracelet set with jewels.
The clasp was drsgon's head, and on
the forehead burned single red stone
like drop oi blood.
A strange lD9k fl tied over IntE's face,
and she stAtIedi lhen leaned nsarer
with o smile
"Whst RFeyou wearing that for, ,"ahe
asked.
,'Fhls biactle,2 Why, I admire it."
said Blanche. "But III tell you g te
crei-l stole u out of psps's cabinet"
sit Is q uuriuus t-inE," said Incg,
bandina sill lower, and there was
glsam in her ey5s like tie CLEAN Of the
red jewel.
"Yes, I Just discovered 1t. PGpS al.
ways keeps bis cabinet locked, he 10 SO
isaital of his precious curlos, but most
OF them are too ugly to oOves. This
muai have bden sens from India by
Uaole Jasou"
"lt is certainly o! foreign origin, !"
said lnsz e Do you know ths legend?
-is-ia there One2''
Il never h tsrd, )" said Blanche, OPEN
ing her blue Py(s trfls. II will Aak
psps TO- -ntGh1. He will sooid me, no
doubt but II thGre is a legend, Il Eust
know It,.
Ines raised her dark eyes.
Ralph was wandering further of, and
Blanche WAS looking after him ten er-
ly. For IN Instant the brunette sat In
silence. then ahe leaned forward sad
raised her oOHsln's hand.
"Isls very curioua," she repeated.
That dragol's head is almost repul-
siVe"
Her taper dDpeI touched the RlarlnR
Jewel; at thh instant Blanche utteIsi
= low cry and turhsd deadly pale.
"Wnat is W. asked har cousin.
Il Ielt somsthinR-A sharp, BunRIng
pain la my WriEt," Blanche answered,
~ Is over NJ W.; Why, 1 cannot un.
fasten she brtoelet.'
''It hAs . p,inR In the fastening, no
doubt" said IneE "Your father VIII
remove 1t for you"
Ralph retained with the blue lilieE,
which he DIVIDED beswesu the two
eOustnS, and they prepared to return.
'"How pa 70 you are, Blanche" he
said. Are you il.?"
She AnBw6ted In the negative, but
after few sVsDs. rested her hand on his
arm.
Her fair fAoS had lost Its rosy hue,
and somehow 10 ,ksd gray And wan.
II do not AnoW what has ooms over
mas abe esiA At LAST, pansiuE As II
wears. VI feel 50 BlrAngely-so
weak"
"Xou have walked too far in the
sun, dear, aald Insz, placing her arm
round her. cry to
reach The house"
Supported By her two companions,
Blanche orsHt on, but whittier she grew
and weaker lItr Bteps; her head dropped
like howAr on its stem, and her lovely
blue sya1 took on strRnge, flmy stare.
tHka ia falDt Dtina - xJhiHnnfad TnaU
they reaohsd the steps.
Ralph htooptd and raistd her In his
arms, aud In another instant her form
roposed on wide WilloW Hettee. Some
thing In the attitude, In the AMY look
on the lovely face, made him start with
q CRY.
BE touched her hand; Il Was 10y oold;
mot pulsAtlbn moved ths lace above
her hear.i hst features we're riRidly set,
and white ~ marble
A step sounded In the hall without,
and 40 elderly man approached Ralph
tanned with hnriEh,ed Razs.
"Dr. LRttrop-herR, for Heavens
BAksl" he cried. "Miss D4rsbon Is mp
The doctor stepped quickly to the
ssttes, and bsnE above the senseleaS
my God. man." he exclaimed,
out Of his usual aomposurs,
''she is dead
30 ended the young life OF Blanohe
Darston. Heart disease, they aa,d; and |
II in the sEern eyes Of her father |
cleaned light Of signihoAnoe when
the subject WAS mentioned, his lips |
were sealed
For tImo Ralph Marley Was incon. |
Iolsble; he had one frisnd, ,one oOm forter |
through It al and out OF q sense OF |
gratitude, q 1oAr Of loneliness, . sort of |
Indifference tip the disposal OF his future,
he made Ines Darston his wife.
Thraa waarL rnaaaaA