The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-05-24

very abandonment of joy and glad relief.
She thought she was safe.
Safe2 For all that Loves blindness might
have discovered she was; but she never
thought that Hate has tn ousand eyes, and
and watchful.
"I would have speech with you, Pierre Le.
roux." The young miller started and turned
toward the speaker.
"Is it you, Rose Mchel7 Have you come
to see Min ette2"
"No;I I have come to see you."
1t was close on sunset Pierre stood by the
riverside, where he had halted moment for
est and GOODNESS after the labors Of the day.
Smilingly he turned to the woman who had
so abruptly addressed him. His heart was
so light, his life so happy; he had neither a
fear no "a care in the world now, savo
touch of anxiety for the week.
old wife, whose face was paler than he
cared to see-whose eyes were less bright
than their wont, or so it seemed to his fond
fancy.
"To see mep What is it?" he asked care
lessly, and all the time his eyes rested on the
rose-covered porch where the fairy figure he
so loved was used to stand and watch for his
Homecoming.
sit is matter serious enough-you have
enjoyed your FOOLS paradise week. Do you
care to come out of il now2"
"What do you mean2" he asked, with sud.
den anger.
"The earth and air are good2" muttered
Rose Michel, "but the heart Of woman is
evil"
A vague fear stirred within the young
mans breast; his eyes left the solitary porch
and turned to the brown, harsh visage be-
side him.
"Say on" he said, mechanically.
"You will not thank me for opening your
| eyes," the woman ans wered, coldlY. "Thos,
who love never do; but it is we'll to ask you
II you are aware that your wife goes out at
midnight to meet-a lover. have seen hor
twice with my own eyes-and she your wife
but week"
The mans face grew white q death: he
leaned forward-his hands clu tchig tho
boughs before him. his heart and pulse
seeming to stand still, as il the very lifo in
him was suspended by the az ony he suf-
fered
"What foul lie is this2" he hissed between
his close-set teeth.
at is no lio, it is gospel truth" repeated
the woman. "Twice within this W eek I have
seen her steal away TO tho riverside, unloose
the boat and drift away down the river-how
far I know not--she returns just between
midnight and dawn. How comes it you have
| F,;o
at is false" he gasped. "Come with me
straight into her presence, and there repeat
this lie ii you darep
"For what purpose2 That she might
frame some pretty tale to hoodwink you still
further? No, Pierro Leroux, can do better
than that. You may provo the truth of my
words yourself. You have but to watch and
wait. The third night from this she will
again 60 on her midnight errand. You must
take heed you slumber not so soundly as of
late follow her to the watersido where the
boat is kept; if my words are not true, then
proclaim me through all the town as the
foul-tongued slanderer you have called me.
| Tho face before her grew dark with rising
passion.
"If you were but q man p he muttered, in
the lower fierce tones of an anger and !ndig-
nation too deep for expression.
| "You would kill me, suppose, for daring
to show you that the girl you deem so per-
feet is no better than many Of her sex-per-
chance worse"
"silence |" he thundered. Dare not breathe
such words of hcr in my ears"
| "You arc hard to convince" she sneered
maliclously. You believe everything she
lmay choose to tell you. All, well, you are
not the flrst-perhaps you will not be the
ast."
"You called yourself her frieud-once," he
Said, flashing contemptuous glance on tn c
woman's dark and vindictve face. The re-
buke touched her. A flush of shame rose to
her brow-then she laughed.
"Her friend, yes; that was before knew
her as she is. Besides, pity you. You have
cast all your heart on her. You love-there-
fore you are blind. 1 said so before. Oh
course, you are bitter against mo because In
to your darkness bring the light of truth
Men are ever so-where they love-"
He shivered in the bright, warm sunshine
His eyes turned bindly, darkly, on the deep
brown waters at his feet, on the radiant
azure winged butterflies poised on tho lily
stems, on the scaret-throated birds that
darted in and out OF the feathery blossoms oi
the lines. 1t was all so fair, so peaceful, SC
still. A few moments before he had looked
on it with eyes so glad, and heart so thank.
tul, and now-now a hideous darkness GOV.
cred all. terrible burden lay on his life
which his strength could hardly bear. Yer
even through the misery that crushed and
the pain that maddened him, his first thought
4 was to defend her-to hurl back the foul as.
persion he had heard. He loved her so Ut
terly. so trustingly, doubt could not 1lnd an
easy resting place within his loyal soul.
"Have you said all?" he asked.
"Alli Is it not enough?"
at is too much to be passed over lightly
i This matter ends not here. But for the pres