The Saline County journal., 1889-02-14

II 0ll1 NlAM40 u MACs - AUMIot nIIUHFNI
spo4lezs name had been % tarnizhed by
the events of the last fortnight a. 20 nah,
lt certain none would ever again thinh
bee1 beId 10 Be.
With the blood tingling through ersry
vetn, with nerves at extreme ten.ioa
and heart full Of bitterness, CbesteS
4 Harding passed away. Something told
him that the tale. black and dismal as Il
| was, was likewiss true. When Jane told
him the story of her fstber's crime ana
Its punishment, Harding felt e II there
had fallen between him and his pruspect
~ Happiness . veil that made n fook
doubtful and uBreal The Riri's firmpe~.
in telling him the truth, and the as.er-
tioa OF her opinion as 20 the proper baar-
ing and consequence Of that truth ou her
relations with Harding, had assuredlV
deeply impressed and comforted him. II
vps something 70 face, after all. and
even In California, this wedding the
child Of . murderer and feIon. Yet her
own perfect goodness was the iustilca-
ton and would BE- the reward Of such an
sct But when Jsnsis goodness itself
was in question u was no wonder that
Hsrding's heart sank within him. He
waS no coward, but his experience had
taught him distrllst; and be waited FOR
the stipulated hour 10 pass In an agonT
Of doubt and pain.
Ths Bella Union had two long wings.
perhaps thirty feet apart. running nj
right angles with its facade toward the
rear. In the second story Of one wing
there were sleeping rooms. Both stories
Of the opposite wing were occupied by
the theatre. The latter was quite dsrf.
and hither Bellario conducted HARDING
after they had met In the saloon below.
Be silent" whispered the Demon -
when they met-"bs silent and follow"
Up two winding staircases, then
through long psssAge. and they stood
IN gallery over the stage sud directly
faciug the other wing
'LookT said the Demon" has there
now! He still whispered, for toe night
was hot and windows were everywhere
open. Through one Of thess directly on
Posite Harding distinctly saw Miss Tin
sci She was talking earnestly with |
some one not In sight. Harding cared |
breathlessiy and listened. Presently a
second figure came between the window /
and the light within. IL was that Of a |
tall, handsome man with dark eyes. He /
replied TO the girl with earnestness equal
TO her own, but In tones As carefully sup Il
pressed. As the eyes OF the observers /
got used 10 the situation. they deserted a
bed on the further side Of the room. On
this Miss Tinsel, after q time. sat down.
The man followed and seated himself by
her side. A moment or two more. and
be took both her hands and clasped them
IN Ids own They still talked, obviously
with deep feeling, and at last Miss Tin
,el threw her arms around her compan-
on's neck and kissed him.
Enough" hoarsely exclaimed Hard
ng. 'Enough-and more than epourhT-
You'll wait no longer" asked the
Not an instant. Can't yOu conceive,
nAn-you who profess yourself to have
AIRED for her-what hell this isY'
I've been through Il before" NUT
cred the Demon, and the wound
snt quite 30 fresh
They descended In silence 10 the o.
oOn, and there Harding spoke more
RELY:
See here-yOu've saved me from a
reat Peril-and although think had
lther yOu had shot me outright, YOU de-
erve no less gratitude. II you want help
-mODey--for instance
The Demon waved his hand In lofty
sfusal. .
As Claude MelnOtte says, cir, I Raye !
Ou revenge-l did not sell Il. There
10 better men than I in the world, and | /
To Of them. But try TO do as I would /
done by-at least In q scrape like 4
lie. ] wish you good night, and / hope 6
'ull take comfort. After a little itll }
em easier TO you. Certainly the '
news should come easier even Z
~ than il would afterNard. As b
hello saws. ''Tis better as it is.' 2
He bowed and passed away. Ascend '
Z 10 the apartment Of Miss De Monta- 1,
Ie. he made himself 30 agreeable as 20 | o
able 20 borrow from that lady dozen
ining eagles; and. thus provided, de- \
ended promptly 60 Mr.. Copperas' bank, 3
lere he whiled away the night-assist-
by copiOus drinks and unlimited Il
Ias-at the ealIvening game Of faro. q
for Harding, he went 10 the bar Of =
saloon and took what was for him q A
y glass Of brandy. Then he turned ~
ruptly on his heel, and without send ri
| his name before him, marched a,
night up TO Miss Tinser. room. n
She met him at the door with a glad a,
then shrank hack abashed. Si
i see, she muTmured, In a low. a.
eet voice. you don't care 10 have me IN
'ulse you again. You have thought Il "a
y"u agree that lt is better b
ie came just inside the door, but did 40
sit, although she motioned him TO q a.
Iir. A
i agree. he repeated mechanically nz
agree-with you that Il is better not bC
en- he booked suspiciOusly around the IL
IN. There was no one there-but q bO
" opened into another room beyond. &C
se followed his ewes. That 10 Mi1 Ell
Aontague's room, she said; I'VE are br
avs next tO each other" "
And she Is there now ia
Hes-with Mr.. Bellario-he 10 calling bu
her." ~
larding paused 4 minute, and then ON
lt Ou In a hard, constrained voice, ha
one who repeats q disagreeAble on
on. IL have thought it right to zee ws
now, for the last time-and sayI
III u beSt-and right-that we should Ior
ane turned very pale. and the old ov
We look Of hopeless pain came over WI
face. But she answered with In an
le softness and humility: loy
II 10 right-you know I thought % mis-
II the first You should not marry . bes
convict's daughter" brr
Il Is not because you are . oonvictis for
ghter."
The reason Is sufficient" tbe
repel u, he cried Tehemently; 81 haS
have none OF It'll told you 20 be- An
II repeat it now. Listen, and be loo
sed the room swiftly and closed both ito,
n Co;
loved you for yOurself-deariy- tar
'ly. What did it matter to me-what ber
{ was il OF yours-what other people Of |
or what OF where they weres In the
grand. new country. men-some TIA
/. at leaSt-haVe grown high enough Wit
strong enough 20 shake Of such pal the
pre- eiudices ss those. To me they are the
othing." con
iou led me to think So" Jane said bef,
". the
Why should care for your being q sfss
Z dancer-or for the other thing, dets
n you had never disgracsd YOURSELF The
now Il u different" sfte
low it is different!- she echoed IN ord
cement. -
INHERENT in this. pursued he with hsv
ing excitement. that before you strt,
pure girl-pure - snow-every- lun,
aid that-and now you are-are- bow
lrumised." 6sor
e blood rushed In q torrent up to avs
lair. A
Tho says itg' abe demanded. now bor,
showing warmth: who dares besi
II
las, Jane he replied. don't make
p worse by deception at parting