Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-12-07
IN SWEEPING ROBES.
BY ADA PENLEY.

You viii marry me, Edna Sher-
wood, or yourself and father shall be
thrust from Brookdale."
Have mercyl'
The words dropped pIeadingly, de
spairingly from the cold lips of the
mans companion.
Have mercy" Edward Falkland
reiterated with a harsh laugh, his black
orbs riveted upon the peerless lowell
ness before him. Did You show me
mercy when L lay my love at your
feet?" ne continued in low, passionate
tones, Selling the girls hands, his hot
breath scorching her pale cheek. mo,
YOU trOd upon my love, cOOlly telling
me you loved another" The velvety
pansy eyes, fixed upon the distant cot
ton fields, filed with scalding tears. Il
swOre vengeance then, my beautiful
struggling dove, he went on, Kissing
Iy. You wOve your silken spell around
me with your wondrous beauty and in
nOcent, cooling ways; fool that I am,
would risk my soul to call you mine
As for my handsome nephew" he said
between his teeth, crushing the Jew
eled hands cruelty between his strong
fingers, "I'll kill him-yes, you, too
before viii allow him to win the only
woman / ever loved from me"
With a smOthered cry the girl sank
upon her knees among the blue-bells,
her dainty lace-trimmed robe lying in
soft, heecy pillows around her, the
warm June sunlight resting upon the
rings of golden curls falling about her
shoulders, the faint, sweet scent of
orange-grOves floating up from the
clustering trees in the vale below. To
the left stretched immense cotton
fields, looking in the distance like one
vast sheet Of snow; birds twittered
and chirPed in emerald-clOthed oaks
and elms, and upon the warm summer
AIR was borne the mOurnfu1 requiem of
the ocean, as the white-frilled waves
broke upon the pebbly shore beyond
the belt of woods.
ooh, be mercifull' she walled, rails
ing her eyes implOringly. q cannot
be your wife, Mr.. Falkland, for as
you know, II love yOur nephew. We
We're engaged long before you returned
from Europe; forgive me, I never
dreamed you cared for me. Only be
patient, perhaps we may yet find the
receipt. Papa and L Will search day
and night; viii you not wait few
weeks? Oh, Mr.. Falkland, you
know papa paid off the mortgage.
Why viii you not give us another re-
Eeipt? Don't-don't turn us from
dear BrOokdale! The house where I
was born and mamma died"
The sObbing, girlish voice ceased,
and with a despairing glance at the
hard, glittering eyes bent upon her,
the girl struggled to her feet, leaning
like broken lily against the gnarled
trunk of a huge elm.
-,.t,A H.
der stone cliff by a touch from vou,
pretty white hands as to plead to me
for mercy. Hear me once for all, Ed
ma, he went on, his cold, merciless
Zones falling upon the iiower-scented
mir like the hiss of serpent IF YOU
10 not marry me, 1 viii fOreclOse the
mortgage, and your father and self shall
90 forth homeless. nay, beggars, for
BrOokdale is mOrtgaged for more than
ats value. L also have, as You are aware.
a lien upon your fathers remaining
property. Now listen, my pretty one. :"
Bending nearer the shrinking girl he
continued rapidly: "Your father did
pay the mortgage. A month ago to-
day he handed me the money in my
library. Some time after his departure
L found the receipt / had given Mr..
Sherwood lying in the hall, where he
undoubtedly dropped it as he passed
out. Then it was that I thought OF
the scheme by which L might win YOU
whom / secretly worshiped for months
/ viii keep my promise and hand you
the paper the moment we are pro
nounced man and wife.
"Nillainp she cried, with blazing
eyes, II will expose you.
"What VIII your simple word weig
against mine, the richest Landowner
an the cOuntrv?" he sneered. You arr
to be present tonight at the ball
give in your honor. If you wear crust
roses / shall look upon it as an accept
ance of my suit. If not. expect nC
mercy from your humble servant.
With q hooking bow, the speake
swung around and threaded his wa
among the dense trees. The girl STOOD
like a beautiful piece of snowy statu
airy, the sound of his receding foot
steps crashing upon the underbrush
striking duly on her ear.
ooh, God is there no escape from
the network that villain has wovel
around Door papa and me?" she pant
ed. "Must / sacrifice my more THAI
life, or else see papa turned adrift up
on the wOrld?" The words ended IN
dry sob.
"Histj" rang out Iowly, cautiously
The fragrant, Towering bushes wer
pushed aside by a slim, brown hand
and a graceful figure, clothed IN som
-soundless material, glided out.
There is q way to escape the Vi