The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-03-21

relaxed. for a moment his cadayerous
cheeks were tinged with color. tho eyes
closed and the lips trembled as IL in ecstasy.
Again his lids rose. and the look of dread
returned to his face. He shrunk back i'm his
chair. and blinked his eyes rs though strug-
Cling to give them light; then suddenly he
smothercd cry OF impotcnt rage buried his
face in his hands. his long. thin fingers
pressing the throbbing veins which stood
out knotted and hard upon his temples.
what Is tho matter. old mnn2" ] asked.
putting my hand on his shoulder.
He started. and answered impatently:
Nothing. nothing dreaml" And then
he askel ssvasely: who watches you in
This is not the night" replied, fame cying
he was yet but half awake.
Isn't it?" he asked. turning his eyes from
one side to the other; then stretching out
mhai ns hands tSs as nabt to heaven he ced Then
I tried 70 engage him in conversation. but.
np ia s his Hs Wag ga1' to the dna
Go down." he said; Miss Lascelles is
more pleasing 20 the eye than I am: she
must be beautiful. for her voice is music.
do You keep the diamond~is it saie?" ''''
/ told him that now kept 1t in a belt
buckled to my waist.
strap 1t to your wrist again: IL Ia safer"
he said; and then bending his head aside.
continued. in a lower voice: They are
talking together down there. Creep down
and listen. tell you we are not safe here
see that through my blindness. have
faculties in place Of that / have lost. Do
you hear them? Come closer, Thorne:
there is conspiracy In this house--a plot
to rob MS Of our treasure, and turn us bog
gnrs e again IN, upon the street II could trust
thief who has the power to steal.
1t was not the first time had heard him
talk in this vein. AZ Natal. on the ship, he
had been in constant dread Of being robbed.
passed the head Of the stairs in going to my
room. fdistihguished the soundstoo. dis
tsns before e 3s AR9n TS Ssll earoi Sir
iinslzQ 1ibrRf ts below. After dressing, I
satslssssa in fAes essss asscriS' ss aSRspa Sss1IG
ne %ni%G eaad II bs IA SSieSe ibd Se
On the 18th. Sir Edmund, Miss Lascelles.
and rode over to Southampton. Miss.
Lascclles was in her Cayest, happiest mood.
AMI In her riding habit looked more charm
ing than ever.
In returning we met friend OF Sir Ed
munl's; he accepted the invitation to take
lunch at tho Abbey. and roio beside the
baronet ahead OF us. We two took tho hill
so slowly that. coming to the crossroads.
We could not see Sir Edmund and his friend.
There were two ways to the Abbey. After
a little delibcration, Miss Lascellss laugh
ingly consented to tako the longer one.
The morning was superb; the woods were
glorious. The rich. warm tints Of the red
dening foliage were reflected on my beauti-
ful companions check; her eyes seemed TO
catch the glitter OF the dew that still hung
on tho gossumc:s. / forget what we talked
about, but she was full OF mirth and now
and then tho still woods rang with the mu-
steal cadence OF her laugh. But suddenly
the smile died from her face. and she said:
I'VE forget poor little Lola.A
/ hn
up her presence. the girl appeared, swiftly
trees. Wo stopped, and called:
Lola, dear. come and speak TO me-.
She stood still. and looked rs IL irres-
olute whether or not to respond to my ap-
peal.
Il will stay here. Go to her." said Miss
Lasceles. softly.
Lola shook her head mournfuly. as she
had done before, and going her way WAS
presently hid by tho tall brake. AS we
crossed the opening where we had prcvi-
ously seen her, looked back, and perceived
her standing in the same place gazing aftcr
us. II was easy to conceive her misery.
and tho bitter feelings of her heart. She
was unaltc. ed but / was no longsr1he rough
toilcr. grateful for Al tin OF water fetched
from the stream. All that was past. l
was no longer her companion. / should
never. never more share her hard fare, and
look TO her TO lessen the hardshps of exist
cncc.
On the 10Th we went again into tho woods.
but on foot. Miss Lascellcs and |, straying
thithcr without purpose from the garden
where we met. We came to II stream
bridge6 by single plank supported in the
middle. There had been a han l-rail, but il
had fallen Away in decay. I gave her my
hand. the fear of falling made her clasp my
fingers tightly. She seemed to enjoy the
little danger; 1t animated her face and eyes
with the pretticst. most bcwitching express
sion Imaginable. Her hand seemed to cVD
municate the quickcned pulsation OF Fef
heart. But IL was not fear--it was intoXica-
tion--that agitated mo: and when she put
her foot in safety on the bank. and looked
my head completely. I kept her hand in
mine and when she tried to withdraw il, /
forced IL 10 my lips. and pressed kiss upon
II. The color left her check, and in tone Of
reprcach she exclaimed: "Oh. Mr..
Thorno!" and was ashamed. We walk ed
home, and were very silent on the
way. / sought Sir Edmund at once.
and. finding him alone. told him
that i wished To make his daughter my
wife. He wds thunderstruck by.this sudden
and unexpected announcement.
Il love your daughter" said. AMI C m
not stay in this house Keeping my passion a
secret"
We'll" said he. with rather rueful pleas
antry, you have lost no time. Mr. Thornr;
hut il would have been a poor compliment
to my daughter had you failed TO perceive
her charms"
Il should be dun. indeed. had she failed
to impress me-" ] replied.
We talked for some time. ana finally he
said, with cmotion:
Il must give up my dear child. sooner OF
later. Her happiness is dearer to me tn IN
anything. and I can wish her no greater
blessing than to find IL good and worthy
husband"
At that moment Edith opened tho door;
hut. seeing us, sho stopped in tho en-
trance.
Come here. Edith" said Sir Edmund
And. taking her hand. he continued: "Mr
Thorne. wishes you to be his wife; is that
your wish also;"
She buried hcr burning face in her
fathers shoulder: she could neither say yes
nor no.
1T il question that should not bo de
cidcd hastily tho baronet con;inu ID; tax.
time, my dear. Meanwhile. see no reason
! for your leaving the house" he added. adj
dressing m"
"Unlcss-" faltcrcd.
-'T'nIcsss. Edith wishes it," tho baronet
said. helping ME out. True. Shall you
feel more at ease. dear, IL Mr.. Thornc goes
awav--for u certain time. say? Shal
! ho go?"
| still screening her face, Edith shook heI
! head. AMI then l knew tlat | had won 4
| treasure greater than tho Hcsper diamond
| In tho afternoon of the 9th Sir Edmund