The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-07-31

before he had fallen hundred feet.
He was given but few seconds to
contemplate his impending fate, when
his captor again seized him. This
time not to lift him up and
bear him safely over the place OF
danger as heretofore, but to push him
slowly, relentlessly, nearer to the awful
death which awaited him on the rocks
below. He tried to cry out. but no
sound escaped his lips. He struggled
fiercely to free himself, but his limbs
seemed to be pinioned as tightly as
if they had grown fast together.
After time he resigned him
self to the inevitable and sent
up a silent prayer to his Maker for
mercy. The next instant he was top
ping over the edge of the precipice.
His captor had left him, but freedom
was of little use to him now, and after
one desperate, but unsuccessful effort
to regain his balance, he closed his
eyes, expecting to open them in eter-
nifty. At that moment a hand, gently,
but firmly, grasped his arm and drew
him back to the rock upon which he
had been standing. Turning quickly
to see who had rescued him. he beheld
the beautiful form of his angel wife.
She was changed beyond expression,
yet every feature was as easily recog-
nizable as when she was in the
flesh. There was no sign of trouble
or sorrow about her, no sign
of disease, but to perfect physical
form and feature was added that
heavenly grace which "passeth under
standing" The light of the old love
was in her eye, unmixed with regret
or reproach. Her general appearance
and the expression of her features in
dicated q condition superior to DAN
forth's fondest Imagination of heavenly
life. AS he saw her now, the embodi-
ment of happiness and contentment, no
felt satisfaction greater than he had
ever before experienced in the efforts
he had made to secure her earthly
happiness.
81 will henceforth," he mentally re-
solved, consider those few years of
married life the best spent of all my
earthly existence"
With a graceful gesture his heavenly
visitant babe him follow her. Taking
another way, which soon left the noun
tain far behind. they traversed quiet
lanes and green pastures where the tink-
ling of little sheep bells, mingled with
the music OF running brooks, recalled
to Danforth's mind the rural scenes
of his early childhood and made him
wish that he could return again in fact,
as well as fancy, and be always a boy.
But they were going with the speed of
the wind. and these pleasant scenes
soon faded and they found themselves
within the limits of the city. On and
on they went, over Danforth's home.
over the business streets till they came
to the Maybury mansion. Here at the
lighted window in the second story
they stopped.
Look" she whispered as she caused
the curtain on the inside to move quiet
ly upward.
He obeyed without question and saw
on the opposite side of the room fig
ure reclining on bed in an attitude of
deep detection. Soon the figure rose,
and, with quickening pulse Danforth
recognized Gertrude Maybury. She
was pale and sad, and her inflamed
face and eyes showed that she had been
weeping bitterly. Advancing to a table
near the light she drew photograph
from her bosom, regarded it wistfully
for moment and then, kissing it pas
sionately. she tore it into bits and
dropped them into the waste basket.
The curtain noiselessly resumed its
place and Danforth turned to his guide.
What does it mean?" he asked in a
puzzled, anxious tone.
"You are blind" was the reply.
'She loves the man who. tomorrow is
to become her sisters husband"
The revelation was so sudden, SO I'M
expected and carried such an endless
flood OF happiness into his hungry soul
that he awoke with start which nearly
cost him his life. He was not in
his own room, nor could he at first tell
where he was. BY degrees he became
aware that he was in the open air and
that he was hanging from the limb of
tree. The limb which he was grasping
desperately with both hands, was
swaying to and fro and creaking
threateningly. As he looked around
for some means of escape from his per-
ilous position, he saw light streaming
from window a few feet above his
head. He could see that the curtain
was raised several inches; but he was
too far below the lighted space to look
into the room. The limb to which he
was clinging brushed against the build
ing making a sharp grating noise which
evidently attracted the attention of the
occupant Of the room for the curtain
vas Immediately drawn down. Sud-
lenly dog began barking furiously in
he yard below, and for the dyss time