Telegram-herald., 1889-05-30

ALICE READE SANK To THE FLOOR.
often the sole dependence of the family
for food Tying his horse TO the railing
that led up To the porch-there w@s not
a post left in the yard-he mounted the
steps and Knocked at the door. He wait
Ell some time for an answer and then
Knocked again.
Who's there:" said a frightened voice
from within. He recognized it as Alice's.
"a friend-Arthur Howe"
The bolt was withdrawn and the door
thrown open. There stood Alice Reade,
almost breathless. Worn with excite
ment during day in which she had
dreaded being with her invalid mother
in the midst of a battle field, and after
wards in momentary terror of stragglers,
she had nerved herself 10 answer the
knock at the door as she would sum-
mons TO execution. The reaction at Sec
ing a friend, one whose image had never
left her for day, scarcely for an hour.
since she had first seen him. was too
much for her overstrained nerves. She
grasped at the door for support. Howe
caught her in his arms.
"Alice! childr' he exclaimed; "you're
frightened" He couldn't help it; he i'm
printed kiss upon her cold lips.
She did not speak. The sense of rest,
freedom from terror, protection, was
like an elysium into which she had sud-
denly awakened from q dreadful dream.
O that she could lie in those strong arms
forever!
Howe led her, almost carried her, to
the room where they had spent an even
ing together year before. The carpet
was covered with dirt; the atmosphere
was laden with stale tobacco smoke; the
room was almost bare of its former SIM
pie decorations.
"And you have remembered me all
this timer" he asked, sitting by her.
He looked into her eyes and knew
what words alone could never have made
him believe. How in one short evening
he could have uncOnsciously, uninten-
tionally won heart, was then and ever
afterwards a mystery to him. All he
knew was that it was lis; why. be could
not conceive. And Howe was strongly
drawn toh her. There is something strange
IL alluring in the first consciousness of
possessing a heart; and love comes quick
in young days. Then Lieut.. Howe was
q gallant fellow, reckless and prone TO
follow every generous impulse.
"Alice, sweetheart" he said, "you
gave me your heart and have not taken
it away: though mine has been full of
forgetfulness and careless sellishnoSs. L
will atone for this. You are my love;
my first, my only love. | viii never
have another. We will enjoy peace,
when it comes, together. / viii take
you with me; / am rich: we will travel;
we will see foreign countries; we will do
nothing but go about viewing all that is
beautiful in this beautiful world"
40 Arthur, please don't talk so; you
frig'ten me. Peace hasn't come. 1t
may never como for us" She clung TO
him rs though some invisible demon Of
fate were lurking to separate them.
They sat perhaps an hour, the girl un-
conscious Of all save what had been real.
then n long dream, now doubly real
again; the man feeling himself to be in
the presence of an unconscious inuo-
cence, a pure love, given freely, yet
without hope. He was too young to
reckon what this love which had met
him in the midst Of a hostile country.
where he had expected only bloodshed,
might bring him. lie reioiced in IL with
all the ardor Of unthinking youth.
"And are you going away again to-
morrow morning." she asked ruefully.
How can tell. Alice: 60 where I
am ordered"
"Oh, how 90 wish this war would
end"
1T viii soon be over. This campaign
will end it" he said, reassunngly.
IL fear it viii never end"
Howe did not reply. He seemed sud
denly - have caught the spirit Of her
foToboding.
There is a scene OF only Eve OF six sec
onds duration. which when It stalks into
the chamber of Arthur Howe's memory
other recollections fee before it a. from
q spccter It is the one event of lis life.
Without It existence would be 2 pleasure
. him: with it there is scar upon his
heart that uars the spiritual beauty of
Lis world
Ia had drawn Alice q him 70 say
good night Her check rested against
his. and they were whispering again and
again their partings Tie nis 1T vas still;
the negroes were all quiet in the under
Story: the mother vas sleeping IN an ad-
joining chamber Suddenly the pair
heard Tire sound II horses hoofs. Then
4 vcice directly under the window:
Take The cruer III JOIN you st The
cross roads The TRAD Il retreating
hoofs told Hewe that his horse was gone
Ten a neavy step On she porch. Alice
slunS 20 her lJ7sr ~ terror.