Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1888-12-20

dear" she said, anxiously and caress-
ingly. You look dreadful"
eyes" he answered, in a strangely
quiet voice, ga long sleep will do me
good" Then, suddenly, kiss me,
Marjoryi"
"Ah, my own dear, disappointed
boy !" she cried, throwing her arms
round him.
He held her to him tightly, and
kissed her again and again.
"My darlingi" he said hoarsely.
"My own darling"
Then he let her go, and went away.
| She heard him go up stairs, and his
footsteps echo in the room above.
Marjory sat at the window for long
time, and watched the stars grow bright
er and clearer in the soft dark sky.
Somewhere in the distance street organ
was waiting out an old hackneyed waltz
tune. 1t stirred her heart strangely.
She remembered dancing that waltz
with jim, so very, very long ago-ike
everything else that was bright and
hopeful. Even Marjory's brave little
heart was heavy tonight. What would
become of them, she wondered. God
only knew.
The clock on the neighboring church
tower doomed ont on the night air; and
as the last stroke died away there was
sharp knock at the door. 1t was the
postman. Mariory took the one letter
he held out to her, and closing the door,
she went back TO the sitting room.
With trembling fingers she lighted the
candle and examined the envelope Gag
erly. Yes--it was Mr.. Lyle's handwrit-
ing Marjory recognized it without
difficulty, for It was peculiar hand.
With beating heart she stole softly
up stairs-she did not take the candle,
for fear of waking Jim, should he be
asleep-and peeped into the bed room.
All was still. In the pale starlight she
could just make out the dim outline of
his figure on the bed.
"Jim, she whispered.
No answer. He was evidently asleep.
All 1t seemed pity to wake him,
she thought; and perhaps, after all, the
letter held bad news. She softly laid
shawl over him In the semi darkness
and crept down stairs again.
After looking at the fateful envelope
for some time, she slowly opened it.
She could not wait; and she knew Jim
hOulu nON
she uttered little glad, involuntary cry,
and her lips parted in joyful, half in
credulous smile. Could it be possible
Yes, Jim's design had been selected as
the best; the premium would be his
And this was not the only good nows the
letter contained; for Lyle went on TO
say that he had heard of vacant ap-
pointment, which he thought he could
through his fathers inluence-se secure
for Carol.
Marjory hid her face in her hands;
for moment the reyulsion of feeling
was almost too much. Then in passion
OF tears and thankfulness she fell upon
her knees. But she could only say,
"Thank God Thank God !"
An hour passed. The moon was drift J
ing among the stars, aud streaming in
through the uncurtained window on |
Marjory's face wet with many tears. |
The candle had burnt itself out.
All, what Joyous waking Jim's would |
be Should she lay the letter on his
pillow to surprise him when he awoke |
Or should she rouse him Perhaps he
was already awake.
She lit fresh bit OF candle, and, still |
holding the precious letter, went up
stairs. She laid the candle down Just |
outside the bedroom door, and entered /
very gently.
How deadly still the room was
Jim I" she said softly.
But Jim did not answer. How sound
" he slept
Marjory came nearer and bent over
him in the throbbing darkness. The
lslInv. IArualF IN..htn1 I
solitary cloud.
"Jim pa little louder.
Still that strange, weird hush. A
vague fear stirred her heart. She did
not even hear him breathe. What If he
lnd tainted
The moon sailed out again, illumining
part OF the room, but leaving the bed in
leep shadow.
Jim, darling" leaning over him and
aging her arm across mis- neck, "a letter
has GOMEZ 1t is" With sudden
iickening terror she stopped and raised
ierself, for she felt-that her sleeve was
ceH
Snatching up the candle she held it
,ver the bed, and by its Pickering light
he saw--ah, dear heaven, what did she
eel
Not her Jim, surelyl
A white, dead face-a dark-red stain
IN the coverlet-a CHASTITY wound-and
old, nerveless fingers, still holding
DhaL
All, cruel Jiml
A long, shuddering cry rang out on the
autumn night = wild agonized de-
pairing. Again and again it echoed.
Then all was still.
In the asylum at S. there is fair,
lender woman, with solemn, child-like
yes and sunny hair.
"Hushl" she says to the doctors every
ay, with lowered voice and uplifted fin
er. "Hushl Jim is asleep. / must
ot wake him. He is so tired, poor Jimi
lie does not know that the letter has
ONE. You will take me to him, will
on notl Not now-but when he
iakes"