The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-05-17

|
old mother had gono to the bridal feast, the
farm laborers had been holiday making. In
the quiet twilight thero was neither sound
nor voice to waken the echoes or disturb the
stiffness.
As the long shadows foil from the swaying
branches. as tine gloom deepened round the
old gray house and through the quiet cham.
bers, mans figure crept stealthily beneath
the hedgerows and glided yelvet-footed into
the deserted kitchen. His clothes were dusty
and disordered, his face darkly flushed hi 8
eyes glanced from side to side as if in deadly
terror. Through tho sweet summer air
came the echo of glad voices, the ring Of
| girlish laughter. He started and shook In
every limb, us II tho fear and horror SO long
struggled with had now completely ma astered
| him.
''What to do now?" no muttered, as he
stood there in doubt, while the stars looked
through the open easement, and the roses
nodded in the evening breezo.
| With sudden impulse of desperation he
stole up the narrow stairs, and crept into
the room which Rose Michel had decorated
for tho coming Of the bride. He hurriedly
concealed himselfin one Of tho oakon presses
just as footsteps sounded below, and the
laughter and welcome to the new-made wife
rang out on the evening air.
"The women come first" he thought
She will save me! She must"
Presently light football came up the
stairs; radiant girlsh figure, candle in
hand, stood on the threshold. She came in
with the laughter on her lips, and the light
In her eyes. that had echoed hor farewell to
the merry group below. came in and went
straight up to the table where the oval glass
reflected her glad young beauty, and the
deadlyand ominous herbs threw their poi.
soncus fragrance around. AS her eyes fell
on them she started and turned pale as
death.
"Who put them there?" she cried, half In
wonder, half in terror. AS the words left
her lips tho old carved press suddenly opened
and man sprung out and throw himself ut
her eet.
Terror held her silent. Her lips parted,
but no sound came.
"You here |" she cried, Mt last.
He caught her hands and poured out rapid.
eager words, words that paled her check to
the hues OF death, and robbed her beauty of
MI its glad and joyous youth. sis this thing
true?" she gasped.
II swear it isl As you hope for happi-
ness, us look for pardon, by every claim, by
every right possess oyer you, Ninette, you
must save me now"
"But he-my husband2" tho rale lips fal-
tered.
"If you breathe word, you know the con-
sequences. Hasten from this there is not
moment to lose. VIII you do what ask?"
Heaven help NO." she moaned. "I have no
choice"
"Yhen come. Our tme is short !; u few mo.
ments more, and he will bo here"
"Follow no." the said, calmly though her
ashy cheeks and quivering lips showed the
terror that hed,her in ;ts bondage She stole
down the stairway, tho man following her like
Il shadow. With the shrinking motion and
covering stop OF guilt or fear they hurried
through the dusky paths.
"Quick, quick; hear their voices r. cried
tho man, as he seized her arm in a rough
grasp.
"That is tho place." tho girl whispered,
pointing to Il boat-shed in tho heaviest
shadows OF the willow-trees. Lie there till
1 come. will row you to the ruins half n
mile further up the river. No one ever goes
there; the people ull say they are haunted.
You will be safely concealed till the danger
Is past"
"You will not fail, he cried, boarsely, MS
she turned away, "ana you will not bctray
me?"
"Have not promised?"
she would give me up re,norselessly, ro-
member that. Ny blood will be on your
head; and Niuette, you loved mo once"
"Do not fear me-" tho young, sud voice
half walled. half sighed. "And now fare
WE'LL"
He crept into the boat-house silently, while,
sick at heart and crushed with dark fore.
boiling OF coming evil, tho si,l few back
through the quiet starlight to Eer husbands
home.
She was barely in time, oven then. The
villagers who escorted hin thither wero
nolsily ehcrusing their songs and woi-
come at the gate. but never noticed tho Hit
ting figure that gl!ded ;Eto the dA:.i old porch
and stood white and trembling Gu the ,hroa.
hold OF her homo once more. "GoI he.p
me-" she sobbed in her terror AID asr ar-
guish. "What can do?" II Rm discovered
we are both lost, On my heal his blood
would lie-so he said. Oh heavens ! and the
tic between US is one that he will neyur
foreso-that l can never forget. Oh Pierre
il you but knew the secret tina. hold, yoa
would spurn me from, your ious. your hear t
l0Eeverr