Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-28

she had wed would never be able 20
quicken her pulse, stir her soul with q
single throb of passion.
And there she lay in her disarranged
bridal robes; her sweet face white and
tear stained; her long masses of brown
hair flowing in dishevelled waves about
her sh pely shoulders; and her breast
besieged by many spirits of unrest.
Some knowledge of his wife 3 trouble
had entered Mayhem s mind at the out
set, when he and Ashton had discovered
Nellie and Nancy standing there in the
church porch with evident sIRns of dis
tress and doubt written on their faces.
But he had said nothing. All that he
desired then was TO make the girl his
| wife-to bind her TO him with chains that
no power could break. For her love he
cared little at that moment. When the
words were spoken that would make
them one the girl must perforce forget
the past and live with him i'll the future;
and as his wife-his constant companion,
| she would learn to love him as she had
loved the man whom he had displaced.
And when victory was assured, when
| the marriage was an actual fact, Walter
| Mayhew's jov was past all measuring.
At the wedding breakfast he and mine
| host had helped themselves freely to the
| good things provided; and when the
Ashtons had betaken themselves home,
and Nellie had sought her room, the
! elated bridegroom remained behind to
smoke, drink, and gloat over his, own
| triumph.
In the afternoon Mayhem had sent a
servant to tell her mistress that he wished
to see her, but Nellie had excused her
aa1f in mo Nil Of
ness. Mayhem had laughed on hearing
this. The captured bird was only half
tanned yet-wsll, he could afford to wait.
Slowly the hours slipped away, and
still Nellie remained in her room. Below
her husband was still RECALLING himself:
thinking over his great scheme as he
waited the white smoke wreaths from his
lips and slipped the tumbler of potent
liquid at his elbow.
At length the afternoon merged into
evening, the evening wore on to night,
and the gaslights in the Warringham
streets were Pickering, the stars and
moon shining clearly overhead, and here
and there people were discussing the
quiet wedding which had been solemnized
that morn in the parish church.
Then Walter Mayhem cast the butt end
of his cigar into the CRATE, drained his
glass, and putting on his overeoat and
hat went forth, after telling the servant
to inform her mistress that he had gone
out for a stroll and would be back
shortly.
Bank house, the residence of Mr..
Richard HARDWOOD, lay little further up
the green lane in which the newly mar
ried pair had taken up their abode, and
it was towards the home of the Warning
ham halloween that Walter was now
making his way.
1t was lovely evening. A thousand
scents of summer fioated in the quiet
wind that laZlly sang among the thick
leaves; and the warm stiffness of the
summer night was only broken ever and
anon by the low murmuring of rambling
lovers voices, the lowing of COW in
the fields near, and the sharp cry of
some watchful dog at one of the adjacent
farms.
Bank house was pleasant enough |
place in the season of summertide. 1t |
stood back from the hlghroad about fifty |
or sixty PAGES; in front there were lawn |
and flower beds; here and there old wide |
spreading trees reared themselves; and O |
fine orchard and garden stretched out in |
the fields behind the house.
His relations to Harwood had often |
taken Mayhem to the place, and, con- |
sequently, the young man knew his |
way about it. Entering the grounds he |
took the narrow path which led TO one of |
the side doors, wondering as he paced the
white gravel beneath the dark trees
if he would find his master at home.
Suddenly, as Mayhem drew near the
house, he saw Richard Harwood ap-
preaching with noiseless slippered feet.
large dressing-gowu, carelessly donned |
encasing him, and q cigar IN his
mouth.
''Good evening, Mr.. HARDWOOD. A
lovely night is it not?''
The young man g voice had In it a GER
tain unusual ring rs as he paused be-
side the mill owner, who had come to
standstill also; his fiorid face was lit
tie paler than customary, and his smslI
ferrety eyes scintilated beneath his
haXen brows.
"Hullo, Mayhem! That you?' Har-
wood cried as he took his weed from his
lips for q moment and addressed the
other. Eyes, it's splendid evening.
Was just taking a turn after dinner and
enjoying q cigar. You might try one.
l suppose you wish to see me?'
eyes, MIR. Harwood, L wish to speak
TO you,'' Mayhem responded, as he
|
the cotton spinner extended.
There was a tremplous shake in May
hew's voice which bis companion could
not avoid noticing. Now that Walter
was face to faoe with the work he had set
himself its difficulty and unpleasantness
seemed to increase tenfold.
"what about2'' HARDWOOD asked.
Then he added in a quick way, "Why
had forgotten all about this mornings
business. Allow me to congratulate
you, Mayhem, on your marriage. Sup
pose we go inside to- talk over this mat
ter about which you have come to see !
me; and also TO drink your pretty wife's
h4alth?' II
As he spoke he turned towards #79sf
house, but the other stopped him.
"No, Mr.. HarwoOd. What 1 have to
say had better he said here-where no
one will interrupt US; and where no one
can hear what passes between u.s..
The halloween turned round suddenly
upon the speaker, and his dull eyes fixed
themselves earnestly, questionally upon
the younger man 3 face.
cit is a matter of Importance then?'
be said with q marked change of tone.
''Of great importance! was May
lew's laconic and Iowly uttered re-