Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-04-27
CROPPING IN DARKNESS.
by JESSIE ETHEL.

| INV eighteen sat writing ,
q NS delicately scented not.
kNW at a table near the opeI
NS ~ window of the tower
| (AO room of an antiquateG
~\&>but pretentious mansion
located on the lake shore
few miles from the city of Chicago
ard hidden by heavy vines in the gar
den below a dark-eyed man of sinister
face was watching her.
His surveillance was apparently I'M
suspected, for the maiden seemed alb.
sorbed in her task, and her rich color
came and went as she read the few
lines she had written in a low, shy
tone, sweet and mellow as golden beads
dropped into crystal dish.
"My love-" it read simply, "ou1
dream is ended! For the last time,
meet me at the TRUSTING place-Raven
Cliff"
It was directed Victor" and it was
signed "Adrienne." She folded the
note over and over, until it was small
and compact as lozenge. Then she
took up q piece of narrow silk ribbon,
secured it round and round tine missive,
leaving the long ends free, and went to
wicker cage in which, pecking at the
bars as if pining and fretting for iber-
ty, was snow-white dove of perfect
plumage.
It futtered, yet fingered in her grasp
as she gently drew it from the cage and
attached the note to its neck by secur-
ing the ribbon about it, Then she ca
ressed it and set it free, with the sigh
ing words:
"Take kiss to my own, swift mes
senger-the last mission of a hopeless
loven
She saw the carrier dove pierce the
ether, straight winging it's fight into
the face of the dazzling sun, watched
it speck beyond thicket and dale, and
then, leaning. her fair head on the ia
BILE, wept as if her heart would break.
"Confusion!" A fierce, kissing anath-
ema, ground out by the lurking spy in
the shrubbery below. The word
seemed to express the pent-up hatred
and rage of bafled, chagrlned plot
ter
$50 this is her means of communi-
eating with the man I hate!" went on
the harsh, grinding voice. "Locks and
bribed servants do not avail-love
laughs at obstacles! Shall I tell her
father of this? No, no! I will wait!
I will watch! I will learn all! To-
night ends all. With another day,
doves, lover, and mansion will be many
leagues from Adrienne-and here
venge! ere my plans are consummated.
An hour went by. The girl had not
changed her position. Suddenly there
was rustling sound at the window,
q soft, cooling note, and a second dove,
steel-blue in color, futtered to her
bosom, and her trembling hands I'M
!oosed the return message secured at
its wing.
With swimming eyes the girl kissed
the few brief words that told her that
her lover would meet her as desired.
Then she placed the dove in its cage
and left the room.
The man in the garden smiled a
sinister, cruel smile, as he Lit a cigar,
wandered from the house, crossed q
lawn, threaded narrow, daisy starred
path that led to bluff overlooking the
lake, and, secreting himself amid some
bushes, waited, and waited, as might a
fowler, sure of his prey and his snare
alike.
Dusk came down with slow, trailing
garments of gray, sweeping the red
from the sky and the gold from the
forest aisles. A second form, that of
man graceful as an Apollo, reached
the summit of Raven Cliff and lin
gered there.
Then q quivering form, in light,
pretty muslin, came to meet him. The
soft caresses were fearful, the tones
that spoke tremulous. The cruel eyes
of the watcher glowed like lurid fame,
as he heard the bold, cheering words
of the lover, the Responding accents of
the girl.
NO, no, victor!" she quayered:
Nbetter let love die in sadness, grief.
hopelessness, than add to it some
dreaded token of revenge that will
break my heart. It is useless to ap-
peal to my father; this man Despard
has him completely under his influence.
He has promised him that I shall we'd
him. and Despard has induced him
to leave here Should they 90 to-
night"
Tonight" echoed Victor, with q |
gasp of dismay. Il must know if they
do. They shall not bear you away,
and l never know to what misery they
have condemned you. Promise, If |
they seek to leave, you will send Q |
carrier-dove?"
Il promise, but of what avail |
Would you follow us? Then Despard
viii do You some deadly injury. As it !
Is, he thirsts for revenge ON the man I |
can never cease to love. Victorl Vic
oof! my heart viii break!"
Sighs. kisses, tears, last promise!