Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-05-03
CROPPING IN DARKNESS
BY JESSIE ETHEL.

q III S4 delicately scented note
EACX at q table near the open
VIZ y window of the tower
F1O room of an antiquated
S>4but 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 a dark-eyed man of sinister
face was Watching her.
His surveillance was apparently IN
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 a low, shy
tone, sweet and mellow as golden beads
dropped into a crystal dish.
"My love-" it read simply, "Our
dream is ended! For the last time,
meet me at the trysting place-RaVen
Cliff.
It was directed Victor, and it was
signed "Adrienne." She folded the
note over and over, until it was small
and compact as q lOZenge. Then she
took up a piece of narrow silk ribbon,
secured it round and round the missive,
leaving the long ends free, and went to
a wicker cage in which, pecking at the
bars as if pining and fretting for 1iber-
ty, was snOW-white dove of perfect
plumage.
It futtered, yet fingered In her grasp
as she gently drew it from the cage and
attached the note to its neck by secur-
ing the ribbon about it. Then she ca
ressed it and set it free, with the sigh
ing words:
lake kiss to my own, swift mes
senger-the last mission of a hopeless
Lowell"
She saw the carrier dove pierce the
ether, straight winging its fight into
the face of the dazzling sun, watched
it a speck beyond thicket and dale, and
then, leaning her fair head on the ta-
BILE, wept as if 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
and rage of baf1ied, chagrined plot
ter
$50 this is her means of communi-
eating with the man 1 hate!" went on
the harsh, grinding voice clocks and
bIibed servants do not avaiI-lOve
laughs at obstacles! Shall I tell her
father of this? No, no I will wait
I will watch will learn all! To
night ends all With another day,
doves, lover, and mansion viii 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 a rustling sound at the window,
q soft, cooling note, and a second dove.
steel-blue in color, futtered to heI
bosom, and her trembling hands un-
1OOsed the return message secured al
ats 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
sinister, cruel smile, as he Lit a cigar
wandered from the house, crossed &
lawn, threaded a narrow, daisy-starreC
path that led to a bluff overlooking the
lake, and, secreting himself amid some
bushes, waited, and waited, as might {
fowler, sure of his prey and his snare
alike.
Dusk came down with slow, trailing
garments of gray, sweeping the rec
from the sky and the gold from tn
forest aisles. A second form, that of
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. Tn
soft caresses were fearful, the tone
that spoke tremuloUs. The cruel eye
of the watcher glowed like lurid flame
as he heard the bold, cheering word
of the lover, the Responding accents o
the girl.
NO, no, Viotor!" she quavered
"better let love die in sadness, grief
hopeIessness, than add to it SOM
dreaded token of revengs that vii
break my heart. It is useless to aU
peal to my father; this man Despair
has him completely under his influence
He has promised him that I shall we
him. and Despard has induced hin
to leave here. Should they so tc
niUht-"
"To-nightl" echoed Victor, with
gasp Of dismay. Il must know if the
do. They shall not bear you away
and I never know to what misery the
have condemned you. Promise,
they seek to leave, you VIII send
message-the carrier-dOve
81 promise, but Of what avail
Would you follow us2 Then Despair
VIII do you some deadly injury. AS
is, he thirsts for revenge on the man
can never cease to love Fietorl Vi
cor my heart VIII break"
Signs kisses tears, q last Promise