Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-21
CHAPTER III.

But the darkest. heaviest cloud of all IS
lowering over her young head, ana one
evening as she is adjoining herself tor nor
husbands eyes. it being nearly time Tor his
return, with a happy song on her lips, a
carriage Is driven rapidly % the door, and
from it springs one of Mr.. Arielgh' clerks.
At the sight of him Marjory's heart dies
within her, but she goes to the door her.
self
Something has happened to my hus-
band.n she says quietly; but the look on
her face startles the young man.
Yes" he answers; he has asked for
Without another word she steps into the
carriage. Her beautiful head Is bare and
her pretty evening dress is hardly sulta-
bic costume in which to drive through the
%|is he dead?" she asks, and her pale
lips can hardly form the words.
No" answers the young man gently.
with pitying glance at the still agony OF
her white face.
She does not speak another word during
the short drive. The carriage draws mp
before the door of Mr.. Arlegh' office, and
before her escort can rise TO help her ont
she leans from the vehicle and darts up the
steps. At the door she pauses an instant
and lays her hand on her heart u quiet Its
wild throbbing. In that instant the door
is opened from within and Mr.. Arlelgh
stands before her with look OF compass
sion on his kindly face. She raises her
eyes to his. and in the aConizcd entreaty of
their dark depths he read the question that
her pale lips cannot form.
"He is alive and Conscious he says
gently. and taking her hand he leads her
forward. In one corner of the room on a
lounge she sees her husband. His eyes are
closed and the seal of death Is on his pale
countenance. Conquering her emotion by
an almost supeThuman edOrt she goes Tor
ward. a grave-faccd doctor and another
gentleman make way for her, and ne drops
on her knees by his couch.
"Bclovcd.n she says in low, tender
tone hardly above a whisper.
He opens his brown eyes quickly, and
there Is q look of deathless love on his palo
face
Sweetheart" he says softly, have You
Gomez Kiss me my own, and put your
arms around me, ] want 10 die with my
head on your breast" She slips her arms
gently beneath the bOnny brown head,
whose every curling lock is dear 10 her
heart, and lifts it gently to her bosom,
while she presses wordlcsS kisses on the
pale liz, aud the broad brow. After a short
pause me opens his eyes again:
a. am diving. love- he says IN whisper.
"The spark Of my life will 90 out before
the sun has set" looking at a pale ray
which is shining on her bowed head. it ~
hard to 60 and leave YOU, my darling; but
remember, sweet. that | am not afraid to
die. There is light shining IN the dark
ness, and II VIII uiumlnc ali the dark
valley.
MariOry can only clasp him to her break
ing heart with a wordloss prayer to the All
MercfJl One to spare him 10 her.
Marie sweet wife, hold me closer, kiss
me once again. " and Wltha sigh and one or
two quick Ureaths he passed over tne IVer.
Poor fellow says the doctor. he is
dead" And when they 20 10 LIT 3laIJory
they fnd her as dead TO all appearances,
as her husband.
They are taken back TO the pretty cot
ta-e-the dead young husband and the un-
conscious wife. Mrs. Arlegh, who Las
been sent for. goes with her. An inquest ls
held. and as IS generally the case when a
mortal dies suddenly OF any Of the hum
dred and one diseases of the human sys-
TEN, the verdict is hcart-disease.
After the funeral Mrs. Ari2igh takes Mar
iory home with her. and for weeks her
spirit hOvers between life and death. But
grief seldom kills ard though she longs
and prays TO die, her strong young frame
battles bragely against the destroyer and
wins the conflict. After many weeks,
wasted and worn TO o shadow of Lei
former self, and weak and helpless As an
infant. she creeps slowly back to healt Ia
and strength
After She has fully recovered she ask
Mrs. Arlcigh 20 allow her TO resume IT
former position a. govcrness To the chill
dren. that position being stu untitled.
Tins the kind woman will not hear of, hat
saws that she shall ligc with thoin As their
own daughter
But Mariory tells her that il she cannot
give her OCCUPATION she must leave her aud
seek il elsewhere. for she must find cm-
ployment Tor her hands and brain or size
Will go mad.
And so Mrs. Arleigh is brought TO con-
sent, and Mariory resumes her old place
and things return 10 their old course, but
with what a difference Who could recC &
nize in the sad, grief-stricken woman the
bright beautiful girl 10 whom one short
wear before life had looked so fair and
promising? Time goes by-MarjOry hardly
knows how-until more than year has
passed and she is now twenty.
About this time she meets Maurice Ches-
ter, who is great fayorito with the ar
leighs.
There is something captivating about a
small, black-eyed woman--a witchery that
most men find hard 10 resist. And so, ike
poor Fred. Heath, Maurice Chester falls
captive to Marjorys big, black eyes-they
are sad and mournful now, but none the
less loyely--and her silky, curling locks.
He becomes "a constant visitor at the house
and finally wooes Marjory, with the result
already stated. -,
He is right when he thinks that she likes
him; for.he Is so frank aud genial that few
could help but like him. Bat liking and
loving are as far apart as the poles, and
Nariory has no more idea Of marrying him