News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-12-26

u hoIlils pdsseu. UeOHfey Argent
! came he more to Brockholt. sent no
/. word to his cousin.
;. Meantime, strong, new currents be-
Il gan to throb in Adam Brockholt's
: veins. He forgot his old intirmities.
Il His eyes grew bright, his gaunt figure
T. erect and buoyant.
"What is all this hocus-pocus, Es-
5 ther?" he cried, with a gay, boyish
5 laugh. 81 ought to have died long
a ago. Daddy Hagan surely left his
Z elixir here, and you have administered
1 1t to me in unseen doses. You will
t grow tired of waiting to become my
widow"
'.Don't!" she implored, and turned
her face that he might not see the
: moisture gathering under her dark
lashes.
: 1t was Christmas eve again, with
streaks of crimson sunset burning be-
hind the Norway frs at Brockholt, and
lights already shining i'll the stone
tower. Along a frozen walk, under
the evergreen-boughs, Esther Brock
holt, wrapped in furred mantle, was
pacing along, softly humming to her.
self the lines of Christmas hymn.
At the end of the dark ening walk
man stepped out from the shelter of
tir-tree, and tried to take her hand.
esther" said Godfrey Argent,
''pray speak a civil word to mel"
She started back in sudden fright.
Coward! traitor!" she cried, in
dignantly. GLOW dare you come here
again?"
He hung his handsome head.
Necessity knows no law, Esther.
My debts must be paid, and, unfortu-
nately, Adam is the only person to
whom | can apply for help. Heaven
knows | had no wish to enter Brock
holt while you remained here! I've
been skulking about the grounds for
an hour-actually afraid to approach
the house. Adam still exists, | sup
pose, for l have received no notice of
his death, and you do not wear wild
ow's weeds. Just powersI are you
not growing little tired of that gal
vanized corpse, and its tenatious hold
on earthly things? 1 could curse my
| self for the past, as | look at you'll
Remember, hardly more than a year
ago, you were ready to die for me-"
A man decended terrace under the
stone tower, and approaching the two,
laid hand on Agents shoulder.
81 have been waiting for you, Geof-
frey" he said. 81 knew that Christ |
mas would bring you back to Brock
holt. Look at the galvanized corpse, |
my boy, and tender it your congratu-
lations."
Argent looked and groaned. He
saw restored Brockholt, strong and
erect of figure, with a bold, bright
glance, and dash of healthy red in
his cheek.
''In Heavens name, what have you
done to yourself?" stammered Argent.
Brockholt made gesture toward his
wife.
''Behold my cure!' he said, smiling.
Then, with sudden gravity, he bent
and looked in her pale, beautiful face.
81 am glad we three have met here
tonight, Esther. For year you have
been my wife; for year have loved
you madly, silently-for how could
talk of my passion while the shadow
of this man stood between us? / have
also carried in my heart a load of fear
and doubt. In Gods name, lift it now
tell me the truth-what is Argent to
you! what relations have you borne
him in the past?"
His voice vibrated with passion and
pain.
She met his gaze without f1inching.
81 would have told you BEFORE" she
said, .'but 1 feared you might despise
me, and l could not bear that. Your
cousin was pupil at my fathers
fencing-school. We loved each other.
When L was left orphaned and penni-
less Godfrey Argent urged me to marry |
him Time and place were appointed t
for the ceremony L waited in vain /
ne never csmc-
'Blame my empty purse, Esther! !"
croaned Argent. alt was impossible !
or me to burden myself with por- !,
ionless wife =" -
81 was mad with modification and !;
disappointment" she went on, calmly. !;
Il ran to the river and cast myself in. =
t was Daddy Hagan who drew me out. f
from that episode originated his story
If rescuing me from the grave"
"Forgiye me, Esther!" implored Ar
rent. az did love you desperately; L =
would have married you, but for my
poverty"
She gave him plying look.
"On this dear night of peace, acill d
forgive you," she answered, gently; Y
'and it is no hard matter, Godfrey, i
for with all my heart l now rejoice h
hat you forsook me at the church q
loor!"
Adam Brockholt snatched his wife
% his breast. q
"Your loss is my gain!'' he said to V
MS cousin. '
"True," acknowledged the other, 4
Glad kept faith with her, v
you would have been in your grave a
this Christmas-eve and l master of i
b