The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-12-25
THE DARK HOUR BEFORE DAY.

How long I slept I know not, but I
was lying only half awakened when l
heard very gentle tap at the door.
The moon had risen, and her great
white disk shone clear over the trees,
throwing broad light into the room.
Tom heard the tap and sprang up on the
instant. By the moonlight saw that
he was dressed as when he first threw
himself down, and could not have been
to bed AS he opened the door gently:
"Sh-h, dear TomI' said d soft voice
I'M the hall. 'The moon is up, and I
heard Bosley take the sleigh over the
Snow about ten minutes since
I'm all ready, Bet dear; won't be q
mar ute.''
I couldn't trust the servants, Of
COURSE, and fearing you'd be too late, I
Thought I'd call you myself" Bette an
swered
Great heavens! what an escape had
made- How had I misunderstood that
girl. Here was a bride elect on the very
verge of q runaway waking her lover
herself, urging haste in his movements,
and generally being as cool as cucum-
Der.
''That's right" she added coolly.
"Anna's all ready, and the old lady
sleeps like William Tell; so hurry, dear"
I breathed fraction more freely. At
all events, she was to have another fe-
male in the escapade. That would be
more respectable, perhaps, when the af-
fair came to be talked of. But how had
she persuaded that little milk-and-water
thing to brave her Argus and the pro-
prieties at such an hour and for such q
purpose?
actually pinched myself to see if l
was really awake. The whole thing
seemed like an ugly dream, and 1 could
scarcely realize that a single day could
have crowded into it the overturn of all
my hopes that had almost grown to GER
tainties; the substitution of so unex-
pected rival; and, more than all, the
unheard of fact of Anna Bolton stepping
so far out of her modesty as to make me
formal declaration of love!
No! I was wide awake. The whole
series was only too real, and there was
Bette Blythe standing at our door in
the gray dawning. She was really going
to run away with her cousin. She had
in very fact driven me to desperation,
and she had actually persuaded the
White Mouse to rebellion.
1t WIS really remarkable what Won
derful sway she could exert over all who
came within her influence. And yet
there was no tremor in her voice to show
the slightest agitation. By George, she
was going to clandestine matrimony as
she would to her breakfast!
Hes ready. He's going with us, of
course" Miss Blythe definitely said.
~'You told him would settle THAR
An irrepressible groan of rage and
d. spair burst from me. They did not
nc ice it as Tom answered:
."Oh, yes. But you must be careful to
exI lain fully as soon as you can"
".Leave him to me-" was the short an
swel Now wake him"
s.h one minute; he's all dressed" Tom
reptile d, cheerily. But you ought to
know that he thinks He stepped into
the ha II and drew the door gently behind
him.
He as only gone moment. A sound
of wins pering and half smothered sob
came yer the transom: light step
tripped up the hall, and Tom re-entered
with his hands pressed over his face.
Then knew he had told her how had
spoken 1 felt thrill of triumph that
she heard l had borne the news SO calmly.
Wake up, old fellow"
Tom sto ID by my bedside, and saw in
the moonli yht something of the express
sion Oh his face it had worn the night be-
fore. 1t dh ID out, however, as I spoke.
Il am awake. l have no dressing to
do" said, s.loomily.
We were soon ready. Walking stealth
iiy as burglars, Jones and reached the
foot of the broad stairway. The back
door stood wide open, and tine moon
light. family reflected from the dark
panels, showed two mudied and yelled
fgures zsFaitiag rs.
You'll take Bet" Tom Whispered
hoarsely in my ear. Once more he
pressed both hands against his face as il
to rcpress his feelings.
Like an animated statue advanced
aud offered my arm to the yelled figure
nearest me- For was resolved! She
should never have enc ray of triumph
over me to brighten the blackness o: the
wrong she was about to do her dotin
father
noticed the little hand she rested
my arm trembled slightly. Sh/
some feeling, then: It was mo-
had suspected. but I only
and stonier. l set my fac
Tom approached her cQ1
or;atlx Irouy har arm ~
with SUCH weak