Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1889-05-15
CROPPING IN DARKNESS.
BY JESSIE ETHEL.

BY JESSIE ETHEL.
81 BEAUTIFUL girl Of
NrJI eighteen sat writing 9
q NT delicately scented note
kAW HI at table near the open
W. " window of the tower
H room of an antiquated
\S,but pretentious mansion.
located on the lake shore
a few miles from the city of Chicago,
and hidden by heavy vines in the gar.
den below q dark-eyed man OF sinister
face was watching her.
His surveillance was apparently I'M
suspected, for the maiden seemed alb.
sorbed in her task, and her rich color
came and went as she read the few
lines she had written in low, shy
tone, sweet and mellow as golden beads
dropped into crystal dish.
My love-" it read simply, "our
dream is ended! For the last time,
meet me at the trysting place-Raven
Cliff
1t was directed @Victor," and it was
signed "Adrienne." She folded the
note over and over, until it was small
tbEo CODQ JbCb DIS u loL0uk0s AhCh oAAN
took up piece of narrow silk ribbon,
secured it round and round the missiye,
leaving the long ends free, and went to
a wicker cage in which, pecking at the
bars as if pining and fretting for iber-
ty, was snow-white dove of perfect
plumage.
It fiuttered, yet fingered in her grasp
as she gently drew it from the cage and
| attached the note to its neck by seeur-
ing the ribbon about it. Then she Ca
ressed it and set it free, with the sigh
ing words:
"Take kiss to my own, swift mes
| senger-the last mission of hopeless
Lowell"
She saw the carrier dove pierce the
ether, straight wing.ng its flight into
the face of the dazzling sun, watched
it speck beyond thicket and dale, and
then, leaning her fair head on the Ia
BILE, wept as il her heart would break.
"Confusion!" A fierce, kissing anath-
ema, ground out by the lurking spy in
the shrubbery below. The word
seemed to express the pent-up hatred
fapd rage of baffied, chagrined plot
tef.>
$50 this is her means of communi.
eating with the man I hate!" went on
the harsh, grinding voice. "Locks and
| bribed servants do not avail-love
laughs at obstacles! Shall I tell he,
father of this? No, no! / will wait
| I will watch! I will learn all! To-
night ends all. With another day,
| doves, lover, and mansion will be many
leagues from Adrienne-and here
venge! ere my plans are consummated.
An hour went by. The girl had not
changed her position. Suddenly there
was rustling sound at the window,
soft, cooling note, and second dove,
steel-blue in color, futtered to her
bosom, and her trembling hands un-
loosed the return message secured at
its wing.
With swimming eyes the girl kissed
the few brief words that told her that
her lover would meet her as desired.
Then she placed the dove in its cage
and left the room.
The man in the garden smiled o
sinister, cruel smile, as he Lit cigar,
wandered from tho house, crossed q
lawn, threaded narrow, daisy-starred
path that led to bluff overlooking the
lake, and, secreting himself amid some
bushes, waited, and waited, as might a
fowler, sure of his prey and his snare
alike.
Dusk came down with slow, trailing
garments of gray, sweeping the red
from the sky and the gold from the
forest aisles. A second form, that of a
man graceful as an Apollo, reached
the summit Of Raven Cliff and lin
gered there.
Then quivering form, in light,
pretty muslin, came to meet him. The
soft caresses were fearful, the tones
that spoke tremulous. The cruel eyes
of the watcher glowed like lurid flame,
as he heard the bold, cheering words
of the lover, the desponding accents of
the girl.
mo, no, Victor!" she quavered
"better let love die in sadness, grief.
hopelSssness, than add to it some
dreaded token of revenge that will
break my heart. II is useless to APP
peal to my father; this man Despard
has him completely under his influence.
He has promised him that shall wed
llAls uuo Dc5phio Aiup lAuuCO4 Aliii
to leave here. Should they go to-
night
Tonight" echoed Victor, with a
gasp Of dismay. Il must know If they
do. They shall not bear you away,
and never know to what misery they
have condemned you. Promise, il
they seek to leave, you will send q
message-the earrier-dovc?"
II promise, but of what avail
Would ron follow us? Then Despard
will do You some deadly injury. As it
Is, he thirsts for revenge on the man !
can never cease to love. Victorl Vic
tor my heart will breakp
Signs. kisses, tears. o last Promise
ron will send me the messenger and
then the lovers parted, and Despard
clenched his teeth venomously.
Tortured" he groaned out. .Ah,
my lady, you shall leave tonight. AMI
you, Victor Dane-look your last on
the love you stole from me, for my re-
venge Is very nearla
One hour later. broken, helpless
creature, Adfienne Dacre, stole to the