Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-04

seemed TO feel my change Of mood: for hel
voice no longer trembled when she asked me .
question.
Margaret, and she smiled cheerfully in return,
| The ioyous notes of a waltz resounded through
the house, and in my delight grasped my
partner about the waist and whirled her to her
seat.
/ enjoyed myself immensely for time.
was fond of dancing, and, being popular, re.
ceived many favors. With nckieness which
all about Rodney, all about fatigue and lack of
sleep. and remembered only that Margaret was
mine, that music and beauty and sweet odors
affected my senses. and, ike iotos eater.
abandoned myself to the moments pleasure
with an enthusiasm that threw my foolish little
partner into ecstacies-
figure, and frowned playfully, as though she
o. Youth and Health and Pleasure, what
gods ye are, my mind cried out: What care l
their sleeves, as though they would cheat the
world If they could Such men cannot dance.
Such men must skulk away as the fun grows
apace and eat out their wicked hearts in
solitude Currents, did you say? What cur
rents do we need that the hot blood, the gleam-
ing eyes, the full, flushed cheeks do not beget?
Currentsi Reserve them for the telegraph, the
telephone the cable, kill men with them If you
like but come not to us and measure love by
volts and carry hatred in dynamos
Such triumphant thoughts filed my brain as
the music ceased. and motioned a waiter to
bring us some lemonade. The german was
well led, the favors were handsome and could
see by the expression on Margarers face that
she was enjoying to the uttermost her last ap-
pearance in the world as girl heart.free. As
/ sat slipping the cool drink and listening to the
gossip of the girl at my side, suddenly Marcus
Rodney appeared at the opposite doorway.
GOOD Godp exclaimed, ana my partner
jumped as though had struck her.
Straight across the room strobe my rival. and
I observed with dismay that he held both
hands i IA
made a scene would have been absurd. "Per-
haps he has no evil Intentions" l thought.
perhaps his hands are at his back from force
of habit. Perhaps-but no. He makes straight
for Margaret Heavens, what shall dof What
can do?'
Was ever a man placed in such position as
I held at that moment? knew that my fiancee
was passing from me. that a power greater
than any could bring TO bear had her in Its
grasp, and there I sat compelled to sip lemon
ade and talk nonsense to alight-headed girl
Rodney stopped in front of Margaret. and
smiling said a few words to her. 1endured the
tortures of the damned. For could see that
she was strangely affected. though the express
sion on her face was one of repugnance. HIS
will was stronger than hers however, for she
arose and took his arm. Then boldly down the
center of the room they walked together.
What could dor The apartment seemed to
be going around in circle, and the men and
women before me seemed to dance about as
though they mocked me. l seized my partners
lemonade and swallowed it at a gulp. Perhaps
of dismay at that instant rung through the
house. 1 recognized the voice. 1t was Mar
garets.
rushed down the room and tore back the
portiere behind which Rodney and Margaret
had disappeared. As did so my fiancee fell
tainting into my arms. laid her upon a sofa
ran for water, and upon my return found that
she had regained her senses.
Mr.. RodneyF" she said to me conyulsively
as / came up.
He is dead" remarked someone in the
crowd, and Margaret again tainted.
1t was true. Marcus Rodney was dead, and
no one not even Margaret Durand, ever knew
what killed him. Do 1? you ask. Perhaps,
though am not a scientist. Is it not well nigh
certain that by adding to his natural affection
for Margaret a scientific one produced by his
device he overtaxed the powers of his heart?
leave the answer to older heads than mine
On his monument 1 have had the sculptor
carve an electro-magnet, a broken heart and
the letters %. E. D."
[The End.l