Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-11-19

tons had given her. She rested her ell
bows upon her lap and hid her face in
her hands. Just then q rich, manly
voice called her name
'Rosalief
It was 80 infinitely tender and musicall
She looked up quickly, with great
throbbing in her breast.
"Rosalie" il repeated
Ellis stood before her, dressed in a
short gray jacket and loose trousers, a
brown sportsman's shirt and dark
scarlet scarf; heavy top boots and wide
brimmed brown felt hat completed his
attire, and he bore in his right hand
long alpenstock, while on his left shoul-
der was slung light rife There were
those same fearless dark eyes, the olive
cheeks. the dropping mustache, the firm,
well set chin, the tall. strong form She
almost leaped to her feet; then, feeling
sudden weakness, sat down again.
Il dreamed last night that you would
be here in this dear place, and have
come all the way over the mountain to
find you. Rosalie." He said this slowly,
with vibration in his voice that gave
it great power
you ought not to have come" she
responded, meeting his eyes with an ap-
peal in her own, and throwing some
thing almost of bitterness into her tone.
a did not want to see you"
why, Rosalie, whyS" he exclaimed,
sitting down near her; "what have l
done to offend your Tell me, tell meP
he was already growing pale.
She sprang to her feet; she was weak
no longer; her eyes flashed.
"You are murderer, an assassin, and
dare to ask me what you have donel
You who struck Colonel Talbot in the
night when he was"-
miss Chenierr' he exclaimed, rising
as he spoke; what do you meanr'
She looked steadily, passionately at
him. Presently she cried;
What do meanf You know what l
meant Oh, Mr.. Ellis, could not have be-
lieved you 80 wickedr
'Rosalie-Miss Chenier-you are GER
tainly laboring under some horrible
mistake" he said in hoarse voice and
involuntarily taking a step nearer her
won't you EXPLAIN
Let your own conscience, if you have
one"-
miss Chenier, do not know what
you mean," he emphatically cried.
"What lmeanl what / mean" she dis
dainfully repeated
"Can it be possible" he slowly ex-
claimed, asif something were dawning
upon his mind, 'can it be possible that
you are accusing me of doing that injury
to Colonel Talbot from which he is still
so mysteriously sufferingf Good heavens,
Rosalie" he added after few moments
of silence, during which time his eyes
did not turn from her face, "how terri
bly, you have wronged mel"
Her eyeg@earched his with an inten-
sity that nothing but utter innocence
could have withstood, it would seem,
and yet he bore it without waver
He seemed, indeed. to meet it and well
come it,
81 would rather you would kill me
outright than for you to insinuate SO
awful a charge" he went on feeling the
poverty of language in So -alt a need.
His voice began to gather up it's fascina-
| ting sweetness and hexibility,
Rosalie faltered and trembled as the
magnetism of his unshrinking face over
came her, She sank down upon the
stone pale and exhausted.
He was by her side in moment.
Explain this mystery, this dark, hor-
rible insult to my honor, Rosalie" he
pleaded, speaking rapidly and passion
ately. How could you get such thing
into your mind2 Who has been poison
ing you against me by limiting such a
malicious and unfounded accusation%
mo one" she said; mo one. IL
thought you did it. "
But how could you" he impatiently
cried; q can't see how you could.
Whatever started you to thinking itf"
/ I'VE saw you following u.s." she said
scarcely above whisper.
Following you-us-whom do you
mean?'
Colonel Talbot and me-" she an
swered
Following you where"
THAT night in the street.-the night
he was hurt.
Following you the night he was
hurtl Why, Rosalie, was not in Sa-
vannah that night. did not know he
was hurt till | saw the papers next day
was at Jessup that night"
There was such ring of surprised
and injured innocence-such a reproach
in his voice-that she felt her heart
shrink and flutter.
"If you are innocent--if | have
wronged you = forgive mel" she ex-
claimed She rose as she spoke, and for
moment stood before him in falter-
ing attitude. sit may all be cleared up
some time. cannot see you any more
until it is l hope you are innocent
but, but-l-I believe you are guilty"
He sprang up. The pallor in his face
was awful His eyes shot clear flames.
His cheeks and forehead seemed to
shrivel.
st is liel damned internal liel
will not bear it'll" His lips were fecked
with froth. And this from you, Rosa
lie" he cried; from you whom love
more than all the worldl My God, can
you believe this? II all the world were
marshaled against me to believe lie,
would turn to you for"---
"Hushl" she said, almost sternly; and
yet the regretful gentleness broke through
her voice. Hush! If you are innocent
time will prove it. Go back to Savannah
and solve this mystery. Go back and
find the true murderer or would be MUIR
derer Of Colonel Warren Talbot, and
then | will hear of your friendship. and