The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-11-15

WE SHOVELED AWAY THE MOUND.
horses took the sack in his arms and noise
lessly entered the house. He laid his bur-
den on a sofa, and retiring into the next
room went to bed
| George Dascar was handsome, clever,
passionate, weak; and, because he was
weak. cruel He loved Annie Morse blind
ly. madly. She we'll, she was young, and
| If she felt reciprocal sentiment Tor q
Young man who besiegcd her at every
available opportunity with fierce love, who
could blame her! She knew not her own
heart, to tell the truth, and vascillated be-
tween the taciturn p. OfessOr at the medl-
| cal college and the handsome grain buyer.
Sometimes she thought for long days how
happy she would be if Arthur Denver
would smile and cast his brown eyes on
| her Away. And then Dascar would come
| into her mind and all his windy signs anG
protestations of how he certainly should
die unless she would love him in return.
At this stage in her reflections she would
| look at herself in tho glass and wonder
what any one could see in her to love so
desperately-all of which showed that Das-
cars flattery had not fallen on stony
ground
That same gray morning, after the
stormy night Dascar came down to his
office with unusually light step. The office
boy was surprised at not being kicked
The dog caught his masters good humor,
as dogs will, and ii, himself into beau
knots on the floor as an evidence thereof
Poor Alce!" muttered Dascar to him
self, as he picked up his morning paper and
koI To MI r.,
"Poor Alice! She wasn't bad girl l
should have wanted her to live, had it not
been for that miserable secret On the
whole, she acted very well about it Though
she always opposed my paying attention to
Annie, yet she never did any thing to in
jure my prospects. Now she is d. ad, and
the last mouth is closed that could blab
any thing of that cursed business I wish
the memory OF it had died with Alice
Well, bars and bolts of certain institutions
are as strong as the grave and keep secrets
as well"
He read his paper. He threw it down and
sauntered out along the street to see if he
could get a sight of Annie He had often
/ passed her house before at even more un-
reasonable hours than this to catch a
glimpse of her. This time he was success
full She was on the porch just starting to
| town.
Mr.. Dascar, of all menu
And why not Mr.. Dascar?" Offering his
arm and closing the gate for her.
Who would have thought of seeing you
at this time of day? I should have i'm
agined you immersed in business and to-
bacco smoke by this time. Papa always is
And here you are, without the scent of a
cigar, actually! What will happen next
when"
She would have chartered on, for she was
in happy, laxative mood, but he inter
rupted.
II told you ould not smoke if you dis
liked it. would do amy thing for you.
came by on purpose TO see ii not you, at
least the house that sheltered you last
night in the dreadful storm envy it."
He spoke softly, yet with a peculiar
abandon and incOherence that was pretty
silnulat on OF emotion.
20 dear!" said Annie, innocently enough
George Dascar's brain worked fast Out
OF the many thoughts that rushed through
it came this conclusions: Tell her now, be-
fore that other fool does. You're all safe.
The only witness is dead"
Miss Morse-Annie, will say it. Have
you not seen it? I must marry you You
know love you to my death Do not tell
me nay know this is queer time and
place for proposal I can not help it. My
feelings Overpower me. 1 dare not look
you in the face. I shall call this evening
and learn my fate. I leave you and turn
here. No. do not answer" And he was
gone.
Annie stopped moment gazing at his
receding form. Her heart fluttered; she
was dizzy. 1t was only for a moment, how.
ever, for she hurried on her errand, 6
bright flame burning in each cheek.
That forenoon there was a terrific battle.
The arena was Annie Morses heart; the
combatants, George Dascar and Arthur
Denver. Not literal hand tO-hand com.
bat, as in the days of chivalry but Annie
would now think Of one and then of the
other in dazed way that bespoke her the
subject of cross mesmeric influences
Arthur Denver was to come that after
noon and take her to see the new city
library He would have a chance to i'm
prove his prospect Would he do it? If he
didn't-well, she didn't know what, If he
didn't
The afternoon passed, but no Arthur
Denver came, Notwithstanding he hat
pleaded with her to make the engagement
and to do so she had broken several others
She was I1qued
When George Dascar came he had tha
much in his favor that he knew not of. HI
improved his chances well, and when ht
left her house that evening it was with the
promise of her hand
Things went on smoothly. The weddine
was at hand. Arthur Denver did not show
himself
When Arthur Denver awoke from hi
slumbers and came back into his ante-room
he saw an empty sack lying ON the floor.
Where has it gomez" he exclaimed.
His first sensation was a peculiar COLI
wave commencing along the lower part O
the spinal CO 'umn and terminating promis
cuously among the roots of his hair. The,
strange numbness about the knees: ais,
some trembling there. In short, he wa
scared. He recovered partially, however
In moment. and-looked under the lounge
This trait he probably inherited from hi.
maternal ancestors OF course he did mo-
expect to see any thing under the lounge
out tie exertion relieved his mind and be
arose and wondered why ''it' had beer
taken away in broad daylight He went t.
see Morton and found him in bed. He
called on Prof Cronin, only to be tolc
that the professor had net seen any thine
OF "1t'-hadn't been in Denver's room thai
morning. Then there was a scene No.
BODY knew any thing of ''it' but those
cnree ana the two hired assist nts It was
Nvvnv@~ ot1-h1 l. IL