The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-11-21

in his teeth-"shall he not, my star,eyed
senoritaW
She looked at him tmidly, fearfully,
as with down bent head and hands
clenched as in convulsion he stood
there, his whole undisciplined soul seem.
ing in harmony with the tempest that
crashed and shrieked and tore abroad.
Clarence, she knew, was some place in
the house, for i. was his home more than
hers, she being but ward of his father,
and she trembled lest he and Alvarez
should meet ere the latter had somewhat
curbed the demon that looked out from
his dark eyes.
As the fear smote her clear musical
whistle in the hall without pierced
through the fury of the tempest, and in
another moment the door opened, the
whistle ceased and Clarence Aram en-.
tered.
He, perhaps, was not so handsome as
the Spaniard, but there was that in his
frank, mirthful face which has won love
from women since Time was young-a
touch of poetry which did not mar its
strength, strength which did not scorn
the fairer, finer dreams of life, sunny
temper under which slept force and
power, the tightening in the summer
| Clond.
He and Cola Alvcrez had met first
year before in distant city. They had
grown into friends, aud when Cola, whose
land had disowned him as too turbulent
a son after he had implicated himself in
plot against the Crown, appeared in the
neighborhood of Clarence's home that
home had opened its doors to him aud
for month he had been an honorcd
guest there.
Yet as the heavy rains fell on the world
outside, and the fierce, frequent flashes
swept dazzlingly over him, he watched
Clarence enter as he would have watched
the most deadly foe of his life.
The young lover did not at first observe
him, but fastened toward Hilda, with
outstretched hands and eyes alight
"My dear love, are you all alone?" he
asked softly, drawing her into his en-
brace; "does not this wild tempest alarm
you? Why, child, you tremblo like a
leaf. Fic! for storm that will pass in
an hour to CULVER sol"
Smiling fondly, he stroked the fair
head of his affianced, which was very
near his breast. He had not looked be-
yond her, had not observed the lean,
dark, fierce face of the man whom he had
treated as brother, as it glowered on
him from the Shadow of curtain almost
at his very side.
Hilda was about to whisper him that
she was not alone when Cola Alverez,
darling forward, caught her by the Shout
der and tore her from the circling arm of
Clarence.
So unexpected had been the move.
ment, so fierce the grasp of the Spainard's
hand upon her, that the girl gave sharp
cry, while her lever seemed for a moment
too astonished to move.
sShe is mine" cried Cola in voice
that cut through the room like rapier,
although it was not loud; 81 love her!
| would rather see her dead before me
than in your arms! Renounce her; she
is mine,'
"Hida, what does this mean?" asked
Clarence, his face suddenly set and stern;
he did not look at the burning eyes and
writhing lips of the man, but fixed his
gaze on the terrified face of the girl, who
was striving vainly to free herself of the
cruel hand on her shoulder.
II do not understand" she faltered;
she is hurting me, Clarence; make him
release me; | am--am afraid
"Let her go'' commanded the young
man to Cola.
II love her." repeated the Spaniard
between his set teeth.
"Clarence!"
She put our her hands to him with the
hushed cry.
Again he commanded Cola to release
her, and again the half mad Spaniard re-
fused to do So
With a muttered execration, his tenn
per aroused at last, Clarence lifted his
clenched right hand and struck heavy
blow upon the full lips Of Cola Alverez
which made him stagger back and re-
lease the trembling girl.
In an instant the hand of the Spaniard
was thrust into his bosom, and with
mad spring and the fiercest oath of the
Spanish tongue he was upon Clarence,
one hand upon his throat, the other
lifted high above his head, a slender
knife grasped in the sinewy fingers.
Htlfln frnyo ~ to n oh fIo{
rang wild and loud through the building;
then a weird, white fame seemed to en-
velop her, to fill the room, to stream, red
and binding, upon the descending blade
of Cola's knife crash which seemed to
rend the world sounded about her, and
she fell unconscious to the floor.
When she recovered Clarence was
bending over the sofa on which she lay,
his face as white as death, his form trem-
ulous, but life still throbbed freely in his
every vein, love in his eyes.
Others were in the room, but she saw
only HIM.
"You are safc" she questioned, family.
II saw the knife-oh, my darling!" and
she chung to him tremblingly. ~ thought
that none would come in time to save
you, for knew you were unarmed."
GOOD saved me-" he said, reverently.
''Hc is dead, dear, but not by human
hand. The lightning. struck him before
he could strike me. ] think the steel of
his knife drew it. Hilda, my dearest
one, only you and l know Of the madness
of his last moments. Shall it not re-
main a secret, known only to us?
loved him once as brother; he lies be-
low"
eyes" she answered softly; "none
shall know he did not die your friend. :"
And none did, until now.-Me,o York
Mercury.