Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-06-03

l k"U SSui danced with un- l Y%Y ~ flasginG ardor. and | the mirth waved nigh and reckless. The mill had been de- serted all through the days hot hours The old mother had gone to the bridal feast, the farm laborers had been holiday making In tho quiet twilight there was neither sound nor voice to waken the echoes or disturb the stiffness.
 As the long shadows fell from the swayine branches. as the gloom deepened round the old gray house and through the quiet cham. | oers. mans figure crept stealthily beneath the hedgerows and gided velvet-footed into the deserted kitchen. His clothes were dusty and disordered, his face darkly flushed; hi s eyes glanced from side to side as If in deadly | terror. Through the sweet summer air came tho echo of glad voices, the ring of sirlish laughter. He started and shook in every limb, as If the fear and horror so long struggled with had now completely mas stored him.
 What to do nowr' he muttered. as he stood there in doubt while the stars looked through the open easement and the roses nodded In the evening breeze. With Q sudden impulse of desperation he
 
 the room which Rose Michel had decorated Tor the coming ot the bride. He hurriedly | concealed himselfin one of the oaken presses just as footsteps sounded below. and the laughter and welcome to tho new-made wife rang out on the evening air "The women come first" he thought. She will save me She mustp
 Presently light footfall came up the stairs; radiant girlish 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 her farewell to the merry group below. came in and wont straight up to the table where the oval glass reflected her glad young beauty, and the deadly and ominous herbs threw their poi sonous 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 a man sprung out and threw himself at her f eet.
 Terror held her silent. Her lips parted. but no sound came.
 "You herel" she cried, at 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 all Its glad and joyous youth. "Is this thing truep" she gasped.
 ''I swear it Is As you hope for happi- ness. as look for pardon, by every claim by every right possess oyer you, Nlnette, you must save mo now"
 But he-my husbandf tho pale lips fal- tered.
 "lf you breathe word, you know the con- sequences. Hasten from this there is not moment to lose. Will you do what ask?"
 Heaven help me" she moaned "I have no choice P
 ''Then come. Our time is short q few mo- ments more. and he will be here"
 Follow mo-" the said. calmly, though her ashy cheeks and quivering lips showed the terror that held.her in its bondage. She stole down the stairway, the man following her like a shadow. With the shrinking motion and covering step of guilt or fear they hurried through the dusky paths.
 Quick, quick; hear their voices P cried tho man, as he seized her arm In n rough grasp.
 That Is the place." the girl whispered. pointing to a boat-shed in the heaviest shadows of the willow-trees. Lie there till come. l will row you to the ruins half mile further up the river. No one ever goes there; tho people all say they are haunted. You will be safely concealed till the danger is past"
 "You will not fail, he cried, hoarsely, as she turned away, land you will not betray me?
 Have not promised
 "He would give me up remorselessly, re- member that. My blood will be on your head and Ninette, you loved mo once."
 Do not fear me-" the young, sad voice half walled, half sighed. And now fare we'll"
 He crept into the boat-house silently, while, sick at heart and crushed with a dark fore- boding of coming ovil, tho girl flew back home.
 She was barely in time, even then. The villagers who escorted him thither were noisily chorusing their songs and well come at tho gato. but never noticed the flit- ting figure that glided into the dark old porch and stood white and trembling on the thres- hold of her home once more. God help me-" she sobbed in her terror and her an- guish. ''What can do2" If am discovered we are both lNst. On my head his blood would lIe-se ss -n,d. Oh heavens and the tie between us is ono that he will never forego-tha can never forget. Oh Pierre, if you but knew the secret that hold, you would spurn mo from your home, your heart, foreverp